Danesbury Fernery

Researching and Restoring the Danesbury Victorian Fernery

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John Roper

Notice of Work Parties – Thursday 17th October 2019

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Objectives

We will operate two Working parties:

  • Local Nature reserve – Habitat Management
  • Fernery Garden – maintenance and some excavation

Weather Forecast – Long Range

Sunny Intervals and a moderate breeze.

Nature Reserve – Habitat Management

Andrew Beattie will lead this group which will start working in the new area identified by Chris James at the South East corner of the Fernery Field, and described last month.

The area of land between the start of the Public Footpath behind Clock House Gardens and the Fernery Field cattle fence, is owned by the Borough Council and for many years has been undeveloped scrub and grassland.

Earlier this year Maydencroft stripped the area of long standing brambles and scrub in readiness for management of the area and bringing it under control.

It is expected that volunteers will start planning and shaping the area to encourage wildlife, and better use and enjoyment of the space.

Fernery Gardening Group

The Fernery Team led by Harry Ward has been busy over recent weeks in ad hoc groups working on pressing tasks. Details of some of these tasks are included in the Report of the 19th September Working Party; they include opening the Parsons zigzag planting bed, and positioning and planting the recently installed Oak logs on the East Bank.

Tasks for Thursday 17th October are expected to include the following:

  • Planting ferns and weeding with Colin and Sarah.  
  • Working with Jenny on the wild flowers beds.  
  • Raking leaves and twigs off the grass banks and paths. 
  • Work on the north slope; cutting out areas of terram where the mulch has washed away, and infilling with soil and mulch. 
  • Starting to excavate the newly exposed South Bank around the terracotta brickwork to establish its depth and possibly uncover another Parsons bed with a hard base and drainage.  

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.

Report of Work Parties – Thursday 19th September 2019 and subsequent days.

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Two work parties met up at the Fernery to receive instructions from the leaders and to collect tools.

Working Party on the Local Nature Reserve – Habitat Management

Andrew Beattie led a small team which continued previous months’ work in the Ancient Track on the Park Field. Much of the work was to clear scrub on the banks, exposing the natural ferns, bluebells and primroses which were becoming smothered.

It is hoped that now that the Autumn and Winter months are facing us, work for the volunteers in the Fernery Garden will ease off. With more volunteers working in the Local Nature Reserve we will be able to build an interesting habitat management programme.

We do need more volunteers to work on the Nature Reserve, particularly between now and March/April 2020 when birds start their nesting.

The Fernery Gardening Group

Harry Ward led a team which faced multiple tasks. Maydencroft were on site undertaking the final excavation programme for 2019.

Rabbit Proofing

Harry and Alan completed the task of fixing wire all around the extended wild flower beds on the North Bank in order to keep rabbits out.

Excavation

The Maydencroft team had three primary tasks to carry out over two days:

  1. To dig-out the zigzag bed at the North end of the Dell in order to discover if it was an original ‘Anthony Parsons’ bed, with solid base and drainage holes. This would enable the volunteers to test the soils for ancient fern spores, and then re-build it as a swampy bed over a waterproof membrane.
  2. To drill out the three very heavy, but rotten, Oak Logs (felled in recent weeks from outside Waitrose in Welwyn Garden City), and position them on the East Bank ready for use as natural planters.
  3. To excavate the South grassy bank to see if more planting beds, steps or paths are buried under the spoil.

Digging out Anthony Parsons’ zigzag bed

This bed was cleared and we could see the Cement base with drainage holes, in perfect order, just as Anthony Parsons first built it 160 years ago.

To our amazement, the zigzag planting bed precisely matches the description of its construction in Robinson’s Book of 1870. Solid Portland Cement bases presumed to be covering layers of brick and tiles, and with 3″ drain pipes. The side pipes and their bases are about 4″ higher than the main base and drains, so clearly designed to drain to the bottom. But it is not at all clear where the lowest pipe would have drained to, because it is currently below ground level.

Colin took samples of the soils from these beds so that he can start tests for ancient fern spores. The beds were then re-filled with soils over a membrane designed to retain water and encourage wet-loving ferns. But 21 days later on 10th October 2019 it was decided that the smaller ‘arrow bed’ should be left exposed as having architectural and historical interest for visitors.

Therefore, after heavy rains, Harry once again dug out the, by now, saturated and heavy soils (the membrane clearly beginning to work), before fixing temporary safety ribbons.

We look forward to a Report in due course from Colin on his fern spore discoveries, and a Progress Report as he tries to cultivate the ferns which were originally planted in these beds.

Oak Log Planters

We are fortunate to have been offered logs from the ancient Oak recently felled from Hunters Bridge near Waitrose in Welwyn Garden City.

Subsequently Colin and Harry manoeuvred the stumps into their final positions in the shade on the East Bank and, after lining the two hollow logs, they filled them with soil mixed with leaf mould, ready for planting with ferns. The third log will be drilled out ready for planting later.

Excavating the South Bank

Unfortunately time ran out before the work was completed.

The brick edged path that led in a curve into the slope did not, as we had expected, run up the slope and end in steps, but mysteriously turned right towards the base of the dropping well, implying a circular platform in front of the grotto. But this needs further testing – and tons of soil would need to be removed.

A wall runs in a large curve left to right half way up the slope, and it became apparent that this wall would have joined the wall in the May Bed, just about where we have introduced one of the new wooden steps.

And just above that wall is another retaining wall which initially looked to be protecting a path running above the planting bed – but this ‘path’ suddenly narrowed and fizzled out into an irregularly shaped ‘bed’. Many large roots were removed during this process and it is likely that whatever path or bed is underneath, the soil will have been dislodged over the years by the Lime Tree.

This excavation has left us with more questions that when we started, and more study of the South Bank is now needed.

Notice of Work Parties – Thursday 19th September 2019

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Objectives

We will again be operating two work parties this Thursday.

Because Maydencroft are scheduled to be on site in the Fernery to undertake final heavy equipment work for 2019, we must limit the number of volunteers working in the Fernery this Thursday, for health and safety reasons.

We therefore encourage Gardening volunteers to work on the Local Nature Reserve with Andrew Beattie’s work party.

Long Range Weather Forecast

Sunny with light winds.

Nature Reserve Work Party – Leader Andrew Beattie

As stated many times before, scrub-bashing work on the Nature Reserve is less likely to disturb wildlife, in particular nesting birds, from September round to March/April each year,

From now until Spring 2020 we therefore encourage volunteers to join Andrew’s scrub-bashing Work Party.

Regular tasks can be expected to include path clearance of overhanging brambles, nettles and tree shoots and runners.

Work on special projects will be agreed in advance between Andrew and Chris James and are likely to include continuation of ancient track clearance down to the Codicote Road, hedge layering, and the clearance and burning of brash left laying around from earlier work parties. Some basic tree pruning might also be on the agenda.

An interesting new Project proposed by Chris James is to develop an area on the South East corner of the Fernery Field into a wildlife study area. The area (outside the cattle fence) owned by the WHBC behind the rear of houses in St John’s Close and the Clockhouse Gardens development and Old Roman Road was cleared by Maydencroft during the year

These are all good seasonal fun tasks for colder Autumn and Winter days as the work of the Fernery Gardening Group falls off.

Fernery Work Party – Leader Harry Ward

Because Maydencroft are on site, we need only a limited number of volunteers to be in the Fernery. Apart from undertaking light tasks, these volunteers will in part supervise Maydencroft’s work in the absence of hands-on WHBC management.

Maydencroft will be:

  1. Mechanically digging out the zigzag bed at the North End and moving soil and turves to other parts of the site
  2. Lifting, moving and installing the three very heavy hollow Oak logs from the North end to the East end.
  3. Excavating the steep South Bank to uncover hidden Anthony Parsons beds.

Scheduled tasks for the few volunteers will include:

  1. Fencing the northern slope where we’ve planted wild flowers and where we’ll plant herbaceous shrubs in October. (Alan and Harry)
  2. Weeding the North Bank wild flower beds (Jenny +1)
  3. Moving last years leaf mulch from the front enclosure to the back one, thus allowing this Autumn’s leaf fall to go into an empty enclosure (Colin + John)
  4. Working with Maydencroft on the zigzag bed, testing the soils for ancient fern spores, and re-positioning the turf. (Colin + !)

More demanding seasonal work such as leaf collection, strimming, grass cutting and general tidying will wait for the October Work Party.

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.

Anglia in Bloom – the 2019 Awards

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On Tuesday 10th September Harry and John joined other volunteer representatives, including the Sherrardspark Wood Wardens, at the Awards Ceremony at St Ives Cambridgeshire. The team from the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council included the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, and Ann MacDonald among others.

Friends of Danesbury Fernery

Mindful that last year we won the Special Award for Conservation Projects, this year our entry had been short-listed by the visiting judges for a Special Award in the Community Project section.

We did not win, but we were presented with a splendid Certificate, which we will hope to show you on 3rd October 2019 at our AGM, after corrections to the typescript have been made by the Organisers.

In conversation with the judges at the end of the Ceremony, we gained the clear impression that had we been categorised in the Conservation then we would have won once again.

The Sherrardspark Wood Wardens

We heartily congratulate our SPWW colleagues who won the Gold Award in the Woodlands Category against stiff opposition from Linslade.

Other Welwyn Hatfield Awards were gained for The Longcroft Lane Allotments in the Grow Your Own Category, and the Borough Council won two Category Awards for a) Environmental Quality, and b) the Local authority Public Open Space Floral Display for Parkway.

Visit of the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire

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On Wednesday 4th September 2019 we were privileged to receive a visit from Mrs Sarah Beazley, High Sheriff.

Mrs Beazley was accompanied by the Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Cllr. Roger Trigg, Leader of the Council Cllr Tony Kingsbury, the Chief Executive Rob Bridge, and Ann MacDonald and Chris James of the Landscape & Ecology Department..

Photo byHarry Ward
Photo by Harry Ward
Photo by Harry Ward

The Chairman of the Friends of Danesbury Fernery, John Roper, showed the High Sheriff around the site and gave her a pocket history of the Fernery’s construction by the Pulhams and Head Gardener Anthony Parsons, and a brief description all the work carried out by the FODF volunteers since the Project first started in September 2015.

Mrs Beazley met the group of volunteers who were on site and particularly liked the decorated Grotesque entrance, and was keen to understand how the Victorians might have brought water to the site.

Harry explained how the dropping well originally worked, and how we are currently replicating the process for demonstration purposes. The High Sheriff loved the Herbaceous beds and learned about their discovery and construction and was keen to learn how they were funded. Jenny Hawkins with Alan Taylor in support presented the wild flowers on the North Bank and the ferns were presented by Colin Adlam.

The Fernery was looking in splendid condition. Special thanks go to all the volunteers who have been watering, weeding and preparing the site over previous weeks and days in advance of the visit.

Mrs Beazley enjoyed her visit, and on departing she generously congratulated all the volunteer members of the FODF for our work in recovering this beautiful piece of Welwyn’s heritage.

It’s Not Cold. Promise!

Notice of the 2019 AGM – Thursday 3rd October

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The 2019 AGM will be held at the 1st Welwyn Scout Hut in Lockleys Drive at 12.30 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2019.

All active Friends of Danesbury Local Nature Reserve and the Fernery will be welcome, but in regard to the formal business of the Friends of Danesbury Fernery, (FODF) then in accordance with Section 2.4. of the FODF Constitution, qualification to vote will be determined by evidence that a member is Registered with the WHBC as a Volunteer who has attended at least one official working party within the calendar year.

It is proposed to socialise and enjoy a buffet lunch at the start, which will be followed by the formal part of the meeting. Hilary Ward has kindly offered to organise the catering as she did so successfully in September 2018 at our last meeting. For catering purposes please let Harry or John know if you plan to come to the meeting, and also advise Hilary if you have special catering needs.

Over lunch we will be able to discuss all things of interest or concern about the Local Nature Reserve and future projects, followed by the formal AGM of the Friends of Danesbury Fernery (FODF). Please let Secretary Harry Ward know if you have any issues or concerns that you wish to be included on the Agenda in Any Other Business.

The FODF Agenda and copies of the Chairman’s, and the Treasurer’s Reports will be published before the date of the meeting, together with other relevant papers.

Notice of Work Party -Thursday 15th August 2019

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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.

Report of the BPS Visit – Saturday 20th July 2019

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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.

Report of Work Party – Thursday 18th July 2019

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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.