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Danesbury Fernery

Researching and Restoring the Danesbury Victorian Fernery

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You are here: Home / 2019 / Archives for August 2019

Archives for August 2019

Notice of Work Party -Thursday 15th August 2019

13th August 2019 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Long Range Weather Forecast

Overcast with a light breeze.

Objectives

We plan once again to operate two separate work parties this month, depending on available volunteer resources

Nature Reserve Maintenance Group

Leader: Andrew Beattie

Andrew and Chris are in the process of drawing up a schedule of work, and priorities, for the Park Field that will include traditional ‘scrub-bashing’ tasks of cutting back overgrown paths, strimming grass edges, pruning, tree management and hedge layering.

Task allocation will very often depend on the weather and the condition of the ground underfoot. However, scrub-bashing in the Park Field is expected to continue until April/May 2020 when birds begin to start nesting.

The Ancient Track (Ghylls Hill) which is in regular public use and provides the main access point to the Nature Reserve from the Codicote Road entrance, is likely to be a regular assignment.

The Fernery Gardening Group

Leader: Harry Ward/John Roper

Andrew plans to complete a session of blowing of leaves, twigs and rubbish before the main work party gets active, and there are many areas needing attention.

Wild flowers.

Jenny reports that Black Nightshade is growing in the wild flowers on the North Bank, and docks and nettles are growing near the entrance and the compost heap,

Other maintenance on the North Bank will include cutting down Weld and Oxeye Daises.

Herbaceous beds

Sarah wants the orange calendula in the Full Stop bed to be dead-headed to encourage the growth of new flowers. Likewise the ensimums (purple shrubby plant on top of the grotto) and their flower spikes cut off.

Weeding and Watering

Despite the recent inclement weather, the ferns and the trees in the perimeter need watering.

Planting

Depending on conditions, we have some new ferns to be planted.

Graffiti

We have a few new attempts at impressionism that might need attention to remove them.

Meeting Place – both Work Parties

All volunteers should meet at the Fernery at 9.30 am where the leaders will allocate tasks and distribute tools as appropriate for the two working parties. Volunteers are asked to decide before arriving which of the two working parties they would like to join, as this helps the organisation.

How to find the Fernery

If you have not visited us before you will be made very welcome. Please read the directions to find us.

Bring a hot drink and refreshments with you, and wear strong boots or shoes and good quality gardening gloves. All tools will be provided.

On your first visit the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (the Owners) require that you complete a personal details Form which will be retained by them for Public Liability Insurance purposes.

Filed Under: News, Notices

Report of the BPS Visit – Saturday 20th July 2019

13th August 2019 By John Roper Leave a Comment

The Danesbury volunteers welcomed our visitors from the East Anglia Group of the British Pteridological (Fern) Society led by Peter Blake.

As reported on 2nd July 2019 this was a return of the Autumn 2018 visit to Norwich which was hosted by Peter Blake and his colleagues.

A group of 12 members enjoyed being shown around the Danesbury Fernery. Peter Blake and Nick Lodge had seen the Fernery on 15th March 2018 and were very impressed with progress since then. As our BPS lead member responsible for the visit, Andrew welcomed the visitors to the site: Colin presented our ferns, Sarah presented the herbaceous beds, and Jenny presented the North Wild Flower Bank.

We were glad to receive many helpful comments and words of advice from the BPS members as they moved around the Fernery.

The Friends of the Danesbury Fernery (FODF) are benefiting in many ways from our association with the BPS East Anglian Regional Group who are very generous in their advice, their offering of plants, and personal donations.

After the visit we all enjoyed the splendid hospitality of lunch at Sarah’s house organised with the help of Hilary and Harry Ward and Anne and Andrew Beattie and others.

Filed Under: News, Reports, Visits

Report of Work Party – Thursday 18th July 2019

13th August 2019 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Nature Reserve Maintenance Group

A small group of 4x volunteers led jointly by Lucy Alexander and Richard Darby with Nina, continued clearing the ancient track, this time at the top (East) end, with Chris James in attendance. Because the strimmer was in use at the Fernery, Richard put our scythe to good use for the first time for very many months/years, and very effective it was too, as the following photos show.

  • Photo by Andrew Beattie 18.7.19
  • Photo by Andrew Beattie 18.7.19

Fernery Gardening Group

Andrew led this work party and the following Report is gleaned from his Safety Report to the Borough Council.

Largely in preparation for the visit of the Anglia Group of the British Pteridological (Fern) Society which took place two days later on Saturday 20th July 2019, 10 volunteers worked in the Fernery mulching, weeding, strimming, planting. Colin put in extra time planting and labelling new ferns. Extra tidying up included the task of cleaning chalk graffiti from the grotto (thanks to Ann Hayden) and removing rubbish in the Dropping Well.

The site was brought up to an immaculate state as shown in the photos taken in the Report of the 20th July 2019 Fern Society visit.

Filed Under: News, Reports, Work Parties

Primary Sidebar

Earlier News

Danesbury Fernery Closed until 30th January 2021

Resulting from the recent extremely wet weather the Fernery Paths have … [Read More...] about Danesbury Fernery Closed until 30th January 2021

Work Parties re-commence

The Borough Council have given us permission to re-commence Work Parties on the … [Read More...] about Work Parties re-commence

A Time to Reflect

The Talking has to stop! On Thursday 5th March 2020 John and Colin gave a … [Read More...] about A Time to Reflect

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