Blog Archives

Coppicing area in Banstead Woods

28/2/2019

We recently finished this winter's coppicing in Banstead Wood and have rough-estimated the total area coppiced by the WoodChips since we started working near Park Farm. The area worked on and criss-crossed by over 400 yards of dead hedges now amounts to over two hectares, or the thick end of 6 acres in old money. The hazel stools and the plants surrounding them have burst back into life and wildlife has been attracted to the area.
Click on photo to enlarge.

'Mini roundabout' at a dead hedge junction.

Comments

A volunteer spreads his seed

28/2/2019

Comments

Thanks to the generosity of Graham Harris, one of our volunteers, today we were able to sow wildflower seeds all around the drainage lagoon beside Outwood Lane.
This was carried out with the approval of Reigate & Banstead Council and the species sown on the banks of the lagoon included Marjoram, Sheep's Fescue, Sainfoin, Kidney Vetch, Horseshoe Vetch and Bird’s-foot Trefoil. We also took the opportunity to put in a mature Kidney Vetch plant that had been grown from seed last year. It is hoped that the wildflowers and plants will start to colonise the bare sides of the lagoon and make it a home for a variety of wildlife. Later this year a further sowing of seeds, this time provided by RBBC, is planned for the areas outside the lagoon fence, after the WoodChips clear some invasive plants.
Click the photos to enlarge.