Below is the February 2018 newsletter from Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. If you’d like to see what they do, or get involved, you can visit their website here.
During the winter months a lot of the focus is on cutting back vegetation. We also carry out tree safety works to ensure the site is safe for visitors and the surrounding residents.
This winter we have carried out a tree safety survey which identified the need for some additional Tree Safety works in Great Molewood along the boundary with the houses in the Wick and the Orchard. This involved the removal of some diseased trees leaning over the fences.
There have been 2 volunteer work parties on the heath in the past 3 months with up to 15 people. The following tasks have been completed:
- Scrub has been cut back from all of the paths where fencing repairs are required on the south heath – particularly near the settling beds
- A new handrail has been installed for the staircase into the pine forest in the north heath
- Ivy has been severed on some of the trees adjacent to paths in Great Molewood. This is to prevent the trees becoming overwhelmed with the weight of the ivy.
- A trailer load of rubbish has been removed from the north heath – particularly the pine forest area.
- Some trees that fell in the gales have been tidied up (e.g. the northern pathway on the north heath)
Unfortunately one work party had to be cancelled due to the snow and cold weather.
In the coming months, the following works will be carried out, mostly by our band of volunteers:
- The damaged fencing in the car park will be repaired
- Fencing will be repaired/replaced on the south heath
- A section of scrub on the eastern bank of the south heath will be removed.
- Path entrances on the south heath will be resurfaced
If you would like to get involved with the site please look at our website where volunteering opportunities are advertised or contact me and I will put you in touch with the appropriate warden:
North Heath – Marcella Randall
South Heath – Andrew Wood
Great Molewood – Steve Kiln