Start Time and Place We meet at the Fernery at the top end of North Ride, Welwyn, AL6 9RD starting at 10 a.m. Please note that team leaders and tools will be on site from 9 a.m for those who prefer to start earlier. Work continues until lunchtime and volunteers should wear strong boots, […]
Garden Restoration Strategy Meeting – 9th November 2017
Attendees: Ann Macdonald – Manager Environmental Services Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Chris James – WHBC Officer Environmental Services John Roper – Volunteer Leader Danesbury Local Nature Reserve Andrew Beattie – Volunteer Danesbury Local Nature Reserve Sue Stephens – Volunteer Friends of Mardley Heath LNR Report On Thursday 9th November a valuable two hours were spent […]
Friends of the Fernery Garden – Introductory Meeting 4th November 2017 Rained off.
Unfortunately the Introductory Meeting planned for the Friends of the Fernery Garden proved to be a wash-out. Heavy rain fell and kept all our new volunteers away. We hope for a kinder forecast at the next scheduled meeting on 2nd December 2017.
Work Party Report – Thursday 19th October 2017
IMPORTANT VISITORS We welcomed Welwyn Hatfield Borough Cllr. Helen Bromley, Executive Member for the Environment, CEO Rob Bridge, and Director of Landscaping Nick Long. They were shown around the site by the Leader of the Friends, John Roper, and admired the excavations carried out in the past two years, and learned about the history of the […]
CPRE Commendation Award – 17th October 2017
At a special meeting held at County Hall Hertford on Tuesday evening the 17th October, the Friends of Danesbury Local Nature Reserve, represented by John Roper and Andrew Beattie, were awarded a Commendation in the Community category of the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Rural Living Awards. The Award was presented on behalf of […]
Notice of Work Party – 19th October 2017
Next Meeting Date – VIP Special The meeting on 19th October is special because Ann Macdonald is introducing us all to the new CEO of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Rob Bridge, and the Director of Landscaping Nick Long. Purpose: a) they want to see what we have been up to in the Fernery, and b) […]
Work Party Report – 21st September 2017
Objectives Although we aimed to continue the work of the very successful August working party – see Report Work Party 17th August 2017. this was an extra-ordinary meeting as we had two one-off events scheduled at the same time, which was a distraction. We will deal with these first. Reinstalling the Entrance Poles Right on time […]
Frond Memories
Harry has drawn our attention to a very interesting piece named Frond Memories published by The Guardian on Sunday 1st September 2002, written by Monty Don, which is worth a read, even though written 15 years ago. The theme of the article is that Monty Don has not always been terribly ‘lit up’ by ferns, but […]
Dewstow Hidden Gardens and Grottoes – Caerwent, Monmouthshire
Dewstow House, near Caerwent, is not far from Chepstow in Monmouthshire, and one of the incredible things about this garden is that it was only discovered in 2000, after lying buried for nearly sixty years.1 Anybody who has attended one of Claude Hitching’s Pulham Legacy Presentations will recall that he declares that Dewstow is […]
Notice of Work Party 21st September 2017
Next Meeting Date The meeting on 21st September 2017 will aim to continue the work of the very successful August working party – see Report Work Party 17th August 2017. Start Time and Place At the Fernery at the top end of North Ride, Welwyn, AL6 9RD starting at 10 a.m. Please note that team […]