As a reminder, 2x Work Parties operate on the 3rd Thursday monthly at 10 a.m. throughout the year – all listed in the Calendar.
Work Party 1 – on the wider Danesbury Nature Reserve
Work Party No. 2 – in the Fernery – (replacing that week’s Tuesday Gardening Group meeting)
Work Party Thursday 23rd January 2024
Work Party No.1
On a cold but bright day Sara was the leader of a group working in The Park Field on Danesbury Nature Reserve undertaking further work to clear the scrub around the small tree plantations that were established in 1991 by the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council soon after the LNR was designated.
Work Party No. 2
There wasn’t any working in the Fernery on 23rd January due to the very low temperature and frozen ground, causing the paths and slopes to be too dangerous for working with tools.
But this didn’t stop Sara spotting a few fungi that had appeared in the Fernery.
Some years back a study was undertaken across the LNR by our first volunteer Pat Watt who was very active with the Welwyn Natural History Society. She undertook a formal study with experts long before work started on the Restoration of the Fernery, and some 600 species of fungi were formally identified at Danesbury. Some very rare ones were discovered, and one particular specimen (on a rotting log in the Spinney at the top end of North Ride) was a first for Hertfordshire. Pat Watt was very knowledgeable in Fungi and butterflies, and she it was who initiated the annual Butterfly count that Sarah Butcher took over.
I would like to become a volunteer at the Fernery. Would this be possible for the Thursday working group?
Dear Linda . Do come along. Have a look at ‘Become a Volunteer’ on the website which will give you all the information you should need in advance. You will be made very welcome.