March 2022 -Notice of Work Party

Weather Forecast – long range

Sunny and a gentle breeze. 

Management of Work on Danesbury Local Nature Reserve

We operate a Nature Reserve Working Party which meets on the morning of the third Thursday each month. and we have a Fernery Gardening group (operating as The Friends of Danesbury Fernery FODF) which meets regularly, sometimes on a weekly basis depending on the level of weeding and watering needed. Most of the year the FODF meet on Tuesday afternoons, but in the darker winter months they meet on Wednesday mornings.

The FODF also meets on the morning of the third Thursday to coincide with the Nature Reserve Working Party and on these days volunteers are asked to consider in advance which group they would prefer to join as this helps the leaders organise their group and distribute tools.

Work party volunteers should bring refreshments for the 11am break and wear suitable hard wearing footwear and outdoor clothing.

Tools will be made available, but it is preferred that volunteers bring their own ‘favourite ‘ tools if they can.

The dates for all regular meetings can be found on the website calendar.

Nature Reserve Work Parties

Unless otherwise specified for particular meetings, meet at 10 a.m. by the Sequoia (Wellingtonia) tree next to the Park Field cattle corral at the top end of North Ride, just inside the Nature Reserve.

But if you are able, meet the Leader at the Fernery at 9.45am to help collect and carry heavier tools such as bowsaws, loppers and the strimmer.

The Fernery Gardening Group

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Volunteers keen to carry out gardening jobs should meet in the Fernery Field, at the Fernery, from 9.45am for a 10 am start. We have tools available but it is preferred that volunteers bring their own ‘favourite’ small hand tools.

Schedule of Work – Thursday 17th March 2022

Nature Reserve work schedule – Leader Harry Ward

For volunteers interested in Habitat Management in the Nature Reserve, we have a number jobs to carry out, including the following:-

· Clear perimeter path of encroaching vegetation.

· Prune back and tidy up specific trees around the park.

· Selectively and carefully prune dead stems on younger standards.

· Clear any fallen trees blocking the paths in the Spinney.

As the nesting season gets seriously underway there will be limited ‘heavy duty’ habitat management tasks to do until the Autumn, however, the above jobs will help maintain the Nature Reserve for the benefit of walkers.

Fernery Gardening Group – Leader Sarah Marsh

Apart from regular garden maintenance work we have a load of bark to unload from the trailer and spread on the beds, particularly on the Anthony Parsons ‘hot bed’. It is also likely that some re-planting will be required to repair rabbit damage.

New Volunteers

If you are a new volunteer and not sure where the Danesbury Fernery is located, please go to the website map .

New volunteers will be asked to complete a Registration Form which WHBC will retain confidentially for Public Liability Insurance purposes.

Please make sure that you are wearing boots or other suitable footwear, and gardening gloves, and also bring a hot drink and refreshment for break-time.

Covid-19 Rules and Tools

The application of current rules are the responsibility of all individuals and groups of individuals.

For this reason, it would be helpful at this time if volunteers bring their own ‘favourite’ hand-tools in order to reduce sharing and the need for sterilisation. Suitable tools might include:

• for the Nature Reserve – secateurs, bow-saws and loppers if you have them.
  
• for the Fernery – trowels, hand forks and secateurs.
  

If you have any queries please contact any committee member or

Stop Press

Our annual Expenses Allowance from the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (the Owners) has been approved and the FODF Treasurer is currently drawing up the Accounts for 2021.

We expect to be in a position soon to announce our spending plan for 2022 at an AGM which we are in the process of arranging. When we have an agreed date it is expected to be held in the 1st Welwyn Scout Hut, in Lockleys Drive, Welwyn. Details will be announced as soon as possible.

All volunteers will be encouraged to attend, and will have voting rights if they have attended at least one work party during the past year.