A successful new bench installation
— Note: We move off from the meeting point at 10 a.m. —
09 February 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - Any resemblance to last week's task is purely intentional but the site has been changed to protect the innocent. 14 February 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - Bribery is all it takes to get about thirty people out to Owlbeech Wood to assassinate a few silver birch. 16 February 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - Experts Level. Well we should be this time. Third week on the trot. 21 February 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - This is a continuation of the task at the end of January when we started to open up better views of the lake and restore some of the grassland. 23 February 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - Holly is our target today and as it will be chipped, we have to leave it in neat piles to make it easy for the contractors to get hold of and put through the machine. 28 February 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - Our tasks are varied. The wooded/copse area below field 1 which is becoming too overgrown and wooded to be good for butterflies is an urgent job. Also a series of 'open scallops' along the path and some open glades are needed. 01 March 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - Sycamore has those 'helicopter' seeds which are cleverly designed to travel a distance from the parent tree and start growing easily. Fine, except that they can become a bit of a nuisance when there are too many of them crowded together as none of them will grow well. After we have finished today, there won't be so many. 06 March 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - Another chance to help claw back the heathland from the forest. 08 March 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - 13 March 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - the site and nature of today's task has yet to be agreed. 15 March 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - The vegetation bordering a footpath off Lemmingtom Way is to be cut back. 20 March 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - the dead hedge along Forest Walk needs attention. 22 March 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - The Millpond Plantation will be the scene of our activities today, where we continue to make glades. Perhaps we can get some of the tree tubes removed as well. 27 March 2012 10:00 TUESDAY - This task is one of the most useful we can do. We are improving the chances of rare species living on newly formed heathland. The area could be thick with silver birch but isn't, partly because of the 'tree-mendous' work carried out by HGG. 29 March 2012 10:00 THURSDAY - Easteds Lane leads from Cedar Drive and is the old road that was in use before the by-pass cut it in two. Thereafter, it became a path for walkers and although the tarmac of the road is still there, it is overgrown with trees and bushes pushing through the road and encroaching at the sides.
Hedge maintenance & planting at Warnham LNR
The overflow car park, the scene of a previous famous victory, will be our worksite today.
Valentine's Day birch pull - with chocolates at Owlbeech Wood
(Sorry, I couldn't find a pic of a green box.)
Tree planting & Hedgerow maintenance (Experts Level!) at Chesworth Farm
This time, to add extra interest, blindfolds will be issued and one hand tied behind the back.
Meet at the end of the lane, near the depot. If you are late arriving you may not be able to drive beyond the barrier.
Woodland thinning at Southwater CP
Meet at the Visitor Centre.
Holly clearance at Dutchells Copse
There is every chance of visiting this wood again as there is lots more holly than even we can cope with in one morning. WARNING: This is a 'dog-walking wood' and it is obvious that not every owner picks up the mess.
Parking: there will be very few spaces in Rusper Road. Try Copse Close and nearby roads.
Scrub clearance at Butterfly reserve at Warnham
They also want to create some bare ground patches as these will be very attractive to the spring butterflies (bare ground warms up quicker!) and will allow caterpillar food plants and other wildflowers to fight back against the grass species.
Tragically, in August, due to a misunderstanding, much of the field was flailed. Our work is essential to attract butterflies back to the reserve.
Sycamore clearance at Warnham LNR
Meet outside the Visitor Centre.
Heathland management at Owlbeech Wood
Take away a few hundred silver birch (make sure they are either pulled out with roots or cut off at ground level) and eventually heather will start to to grow back, encouraging other bird and reptile species.
Alder felling at Owlbeech Wood
Problem: Alders drink a lot of water which, unfortunately, is needed by plants further downstream.
Solution: Fell some of the alders.
Method: Call in Horsham Green Gym!
It could be a good idea to refresh your knowledge of felling by looking at this first.
Task yet to be arranged at -- yet to be agreed --
Footpath and football pitch work at Lemmington Way and Robert Way
Meanwhile, a spiky hedge beside a football pitch is to be attended to.
Which team has the coffee and which has the biscuits, is yet to be decided.
Felling & dead hedging at Owlbeech Wood
Dead hedges look great when constructed carefully with a stakes hammered in to support them at regular intervals. Plenty of work here for everyone. We have to make a good job of this as it is seen by most people who walk in the wood.
Woodland management at Warnham LNR
Heathland management at Owlbeech Wood
You helped to change nature!
Path clearance at Easteds Lane, Southwater
Our job is to increase the width of the path to give users an easier time.
Plenty of parking in nearby roads - see map. No good parking in Easteds Lane. Meet at the spot where the path is blocked to vehicles by two posts.
