Weather Forecast – long range
Light rain showers and a fresh breeze.
Work party Leaders will decide on the day if recent heavy rain has made the Fernery footpaths unsafe for normal work. An announcement of cancellation will be made as soon as practicable via the WhatsApp groups.
Management of Work on Danesbury Nature Reserve
Over recent times it has become evident to all walkers and users of the Park Field that habitat management by the Council contractors, and indeed by the volunteers, has fallen off over the past year. The Council’s normal Management Plan schedules have been disrupted by the strains on resources that has affected many services.
The Danesbury volunteers have been able to start to balance out these shortcomings, and good work was completed last month, but we are in need of Volunteer Leaders
Group 1 – Fernery Gardening Group
Jenny will lead this Group which will continue general management of the borders and beds. As colder months approach work will undoubtedly switch towards seasonal leaf gathering and mulching.
Some of the new outer fencing on the east side has some gaps that will need repairing if the Gardening Group have not managed this on their regular Tuesday afternoon meeting this week on 19th October.
All volunteers for Group 1 should meet at the Fernery Shed at 9.30 a.m. for a prompt 10 a.m. start.
Group 2 – Local Nature Reserve
Alan Tayler will lead this Group which will continue the work to cut back the considerable undergrowth of brambles and nettles that have taken over the perimeter paths on the Park Field.
Beyond this work, and as the Autumn/Winter season develops, projects on the lower slopes will continue to manage and arrest the uncontrolled spread of scrub in order to preserve the grassland which is at the heart of the 2013-2023 Management Plan’s objectives.
Volunteers for Group 2 should bring their own ‘favourite’ hand tools, such as secateurs, bow-saws and loppers, and meet the Leaders at the bottom (Codicote Road) end of Danesbury Park Road where parking is available. 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.
Where to Meet
As stated above –
Group 1 volunteers should meet at the Fernery Shed at 9.30 a.m. for a prompt 10 a.m. start.
Group 2 volunteers should meet at the Codicote Road end of Danesbury Park Road.
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.
If you are a new volunteer and are not sure where the Danesbury Fernery is located, please go to the website where a map will show you where we are.
New Volunteers
New volunteers will be asked to complete a Registration Form which the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council 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 the need for sharing and subsequent issues of sterilisation.
If you have any queries please contact any committee member or
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