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You are here: Home / Archives for John Roper

John Roper

The Fernery is Open again – but for Weekends only.

12th February 2021 By John Roper Leave a Comment

We are reopening the Fernery, but at weekends only, from 9am Saturday to 5pm Sunday, until further notice.  These restricted opening times will allow visitors taking exercise to enjoy the Spring bulbs, whilst limiting damage to paths and grass.  Once the weather improves and the paths dry out, the Fernery will reopen as normal.  The Friends […]

Filed Under: News

Danesbury Fernery Closed until 13th February 2021

12th January 2021 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Resulting from the recent extremely wet weather the Fernery Paths have inevitably suffered heavily from the footfall of our many visitors. With our eyes on the current adverse weather streams approaching the country the Friends of Danesbury Fernery Committee have reluctantly agreed with the Borough Council that we should close the Fernery with immediate effect […]

Filed Under: News

Work Parties re-commence

15th July 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

The Borough Council have given us permission to re-commence Work Parties on the Danesbury Local Nature Reserve, but it will take time for us all to settle into new Protocols for safe working, including the necessary sanitisation of shared tools, as well as social distancing. These protocols have been circulated to all regular Friends of […]

Filed Under: News

5th March 2020 – The Talking has to Stop – A Time to Reflect

24th March 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

The Talking has to stop! On Thursday 5th March 2020 John and Colin gave a Talk ‘Recovering and Restoring Danesbury Fernery’ to the Ashwell Horticultural Society (Chris James’s own). This is turning out to be the last for long time as next month’s scheduled Talk at the Ryde & District Gardening club has had to […]

Filed Under: News

Notice – All Work Parties cancelled

18th March 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

We have received a directive from Ann MacDonald, the Landscape & Ecology Manager, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, that due to the spread of Covid-19, no more volunteer Working Parties are to operate on the Borough’s nature reserves and gardens for the time being. From Tuesday 17th March 2020 all work parties must stop until further […]

Filed Under: News

Report of Working Parties – Thursday 20th February 2020

20th February 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

We had a good turn out of 14 volunteers working on the Nature Reserve, and in the Fernery. The weather forecast was just about right, and we managed to undertake some good work in cold and gusty conditions before the rains came down at 11 a.m. just as we started to make our exodus. Work […]

Filed Under: News

Notice of Working Party – Thursday 20th February 2020

18th February 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Dependant as we are on the constraints of the weather, and the number of volunteers on site, we are planning to operate two Work Parties on the 20th February: Local Nature Reserve – Leader Andrew Beattie The Fernery – Leader Harry Ward Weather Forecast- long range Gusty winds and hail showers! If we have to […]

Filed Under: News

Report of Working Parties – 16th January 2020

23rd January 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

The weather forecast was just about right, and before a sharp wind from the South blew up, a beautiful clear and crisp morning encouraged a large turnout of 19 volunteers. Work Party No 1 – Local Nature Reserve – Leader Andrew Beattie No work was undertaken on the Park Field as Chris James (WHBC Landscape […]

Filed Under: News

Notice of Working Party – Thursday 16th January 2020

13th January 2020 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Dependant as we are on the constraints of the weather, and the number of volunteers on site, we are planning to operate two Work Parties on the 16th January: Local Nature Reserve – Leader Andrew Beattie The Fernery – Leader Harry Ward Weather Forecast- long range Light rain showers and a moderate breeze, but the […]

Filed Under: News

No Voting required to join Our Party in the Fernery on 12th December from 10 a.m.

27th November 2019 By John Roper Leave a Comment

Friends of Danesbury Nature Reserve/Fernery – please note carefully Our annual Working Party is one week early in December – THE SECOND THURSDAY – to do a bit of work and then celebrate all the hard work we have carried out during the year. Nature Reserve Working Party – led by Andrew Beattie After collecting […]

Filed Under: News

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Earlier News

The Fernery to be Judged again.

It’s that time of year again when the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council have the … [Read More...] about The Fernery to be Judged again.

The Fernery Open Garden Volunteers Rewarded

Monday 30th June 25 The volunteers are glowing a) with praise from the … [Read More...] about The Fernery Open Garden Volunteers Rewarded

Welwyn Festival Open Garden

Sunday 22nd June 2025 Once again the Fernery was open and attracted large … [Read More...] about Welwyn Festival Open Garden

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Copyright © 2025 Friends of Danesbury Fernery (FODF). Non attributed photography by John Roper.