Weather Forecast – long range
Sunny intervals and a fresh breeze. Much windier and wetter further North and West.
Although the main paths are newly gravelled, care is still required on the Fernery slopes after heavy rain.
Management of Work on Danesbury Local Nature Reserve
We operate two working parties on the third Thursday each month. and we have a Fernery Gardening group which meets regularly, sometimes on a weekly basis depending on the level of weeding and watering needed.
The dates for all meetings can be found on the website calendar.
Last Month on the Danesbury Local Nature Reserve
Group 1 – Fernery Garden
Leaf Blowing 
Planting & Weeding
Group 2 – Local Nature Reserve
Habitat Management – Park Field Tree Plantations
Schedules for Work Parties Thursday 17th February 2022
Volunteers are asked to consider in advance which Work Party they would prefer to join as this helps the leaders organise groups and distribute tools.
Group 1 – Fernery Garden
All volunteers for Group 1 should meet at the Fernery Shed at 9.45 a.m. for a prompt 10 a.m. start.
Jenny will lead this Group which will continue general management of the borders and beds, plus any regular maintenance tasks on paths and fencing.
Group 2 – Local Nature Reserve
Harry Ward will lead Group 2 which will meet at the cattle corral on the Park Field opposite the sequoia (Wellingtonia) tree at 10 a.m.
The Leaders will collect suitable Team Tools from the Fernery Shed, including the strimmer, rakes and bowsaws, and bring them down to the start point. If you are able to help carry tools please meet the leaders at 9.45 a.m. at the shed in The Fernery.
Work will continue last month’s excellent work on habitat management which will include:
- raising the canopies of young trees
- cutting back wild roses, blackthorn and brambles
- constructing ‘dead hedges’ with the scrub.
If you are a new volunteer and not sure where the Danesbury Fernery is located, please go to the website map .
New Volunteers
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 responsibiity 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 Fernery – trowels, hand forks and secateurs, and
- for the Nature Reserve – secateurs, bow-saws and loppers if you have them.
If you have any queries please contact any committee member or
Stop Press
The FODF thank our two resident County Councillors Cllr Dr. Sunny Thusu, and Cllr. Tony Kingsbury for their generous allocations of cash awards from their respective County Locality Budgets. This is detailed separately in this website.
The FODF Treasurer is currently drawing up the Accounts for 2021 and we will soon be in a position to announce our spending plan for 2022, once we have confirmation of our annual Expenses Allowance from the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (the Owners).
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