Over the next few months, we will be continuing our work to remove invasive species such as Tree of Heaven, False Acacia, Holm Oak and Turkey Oak. This will increase the biodiversity of our woodland and subsequently increase its climate resilience. Temporary gaps within the woodlands, created by the removal of invasive species, will improve structural diversity and increase light levels benefiting woodland flora. We will also be thinning out some of the dense stands of Holly, again to increase light levels within the woodlands and allow for natural regeneration of our oak woodlands.
Turning our attention to the older trees found across the Common, we will be working on making sure that our veteran trees (and future veteran trees) have optimum conditions to ensure their longevity and to retain the huge amounts of wildlife that they support. Each veteran tree is a miniature ecosystem that we cannot afford to lose. The work carried out will clear competing vegetation from around the veteran trees, sensitively, and in a phased programme. If you would like to learn more about our woodland and how Oaks are regenerating naturally on the Common, join our Autumn Oak Tree Walk on Saturday 9th November.
On the nationally important Lowland Acid Grassland (LAG), we will continue our work to increase the amount of LAG found across the Common. We will be removing encroaching scrub and tree saplings, coppicing gorse and reducing the dominance of broom. Large amounts of this work will be carried out across the Mill Hill area as well as around the Rocks Lane ‘Ups and Downs’ and the Sports Centre. This work can often look quite dramatic when first completed, but it is essential in order to stop the loss of this rare habitat and its associated species.
And finally, our work on the Beverley Brook. The wet start to autumn saw us having to pause works on the concrete breakout, but we will be starting again soon. More info on the project can be found here. Again, we have also been waiting for the ground to dry up so we can move the remaining soil left over from the CBS reed bed project. Once this soil has been moved, we will be able to install another bridge and the remaining fencing; we realise the area isn’t looking its best at the moment, so thank you for being patient!
As always, please do get in touch with any questions.