Conservation Volunteers

Conservation Volunteer Group

The Conservation Volunteer Group meets to work in the park on the second Wednesday of each month. If you are a member and would like to join the group email us at the address at the bottom of the page or click the "contact us" above.

AUGUST 2024 - Volunteers, It was hot hot hot, but still good fun clearing the paths near the stream - click on the photos to enlarge.

JULY 2024 - Volunteers have been working in the park - opening up paths and clearing round bins. Thanks everyone, great job - much appreciated.

JUNE 2024 - Volunteers working in the park!
This month our volunteer group undertook what was described as "a light trim of overhanging bramble and branches" around the back paths around the plantations. Working with the awareness that some birds may still be nesting, they've made an amazing difference! Well done all, and thank you for making the paths accessible again.

MARCH 2024 - working in the orchard
Our volunteers worked hard this month, pruning and tidying the orchard and making safe much of the fallen fencing. What a team!

September 2023 - Making Hay
Volunteers working in and around the community orchard this month, trimming back around each tree, raking and removing hay. Thanks everyone

July 2023 - Cutting back paths
Bearing in mind that there may be a few late nests in the hedgerows, volunteers cut back the paths round two plantations and an extra length of path alongside the bridleway.

June 2023 - Wildflower survey
Volunteers were delighted to be involved in a wildflower survey of the meadows in the east of the park, working in small groups within 3 metre square marked areas. Full results will be published soon, but people were delighted to see bee orchids, green winged orchids and pyramidal orchids amongst a wealth of other wildflowers and grasses, showing that the mowing and hay collection regime is having a good effect on the condition of the soil in reducing the level of nutrition available. Just what wild flowers like!

April 2023 - Finishing the coppicing, tidying up and hurdle making.

All done apart from collecting timber when it dries out.
The centre of the site has a habitat pile as a refuge for mammals birds and reptiles that may wish to cross the now open site. Great work - great team - great leader. Thank you everyone!

March 2023 - clearing the hibernaculum plantation

Rain and sleet this morning, but were the volunteers deterred? Absolutely not! Bearing in mind that the early birds might have begun nesting, (a survey was carried out before work started) they cleared openings in a plantation where rescued reptiles have been rehomed. Cold blooded reptiles will be needing some sunny glades as winter turns to spring, somewhere to slowly warm themselves up. Thank you hardy stalwarts.
ALSO - spotted the strange shaped 'candlewick fungus'.

February 2023 - A new orchard

Volunteers met to plant 100 fruit trees, apples, pears, plum and cherry - an extension to our original orchard. In less than four hours the scrubby meadow became an orchard. Amazing work everyone. Started in the freezing fog and finished in brilliant sunshine. Thank you everyone.

December 2022 - Continuing to coppice the Hazel Plantation and.. Volunteers of the Year!
Fantastic work in the park yesterday - the last session of 2022 for the volunteers. More coppicing in the hazel plantation and a celebration.
Congratulations to our two Volunteers of the year. Both Liz and Alan have put so much work and commitment into the park - it's a pleasure to have them on board. Thank you so much both of you. Thanks to Richard also who not only organised all the sessions this year in his expert way - teaching, explaining and demonstrating what needs to be done - he provided mulled wine and mince pies! A true hero. Thank you everyone for everything you have done over the past year. Here'a looking forward to next year. Keep warm, keep safe and have a good Christmas.

November 2022 - Coppicing starts in the Hazel Plantation
This month's work for the volunteers - back to coppicing. With new volunteers tackling the task for the first time there was information about why coppicing is important, what to cut, where to cut and how to cut, and how to work safely in the Hazel Plantation. Despite early rain it was lovely weather for working and everyone appreciated the extra special biscuits provided, to make up for forgetting them last month! Thank you everyone!

October 2022 - More work in the Orchard and nearby paths
Working in the orchard again this month to take the hay off the ground. A beautiful bright autumn day and a great turn out of volunteers.
As well as working in the orchard a second team cut back the small paths that lead from the orchard meadow back onto the Old Southend Bridleway.
Thank you everyone for your hard work.

September 2022 - Working in the Community Orchard
Thank you to our Volunteer Group, for your hard work in the community orchard today. The grass was cut and raked into heaps - easy to remove later. As the trees reach maturity we are getting more fruit - apples and pears from traditional Essex varieties. Despite the dry summer many of the trees had their first good crop and I expect some of you may have picked one or two to sustain you on your walks. I'm told they also make a very good apple sauce! We would like to add special thanks to Geoff for helping with the tools and mowing and to Darren from RDC.

August 2022 -
Clearing and cutting back pathways close to Pooh Sticks Bridge.

July 2022 - Volunteers came to the rescue of the Hornbeam Avenue of trees, planted to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Each of the 70 trees received a barrow load of mulch to help preserve moisture in the ground around the roots.
Update - The Volunteers' work has been a success. There has been a complete turn around, from the majority of the trees looking stressed and suffering leaf loss and drying out - to the majority of the trees beginning to make fresh new green foliage and generally looking a lot happier.

MANY THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, WHO WORKED THROUGH ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS, TO RESCUE THE AVENUE OF TREES.

April 2022 - Working in the orchard and in the old gun range.
Volunteers were working in the park again today. Grass was cut in the traditional orchard and used to mulch round trees, stopping them from drying out. Pear blossom already out - apple blossom will follow soon! Further work in the old gun range cleared the clay bank and leaving an ideal nesting spot for solitary bees. Brambles were cut back revealing bright spurge (euphorbia) and the lavender flowers of vinca major. Thanks to everyone for your hard work.

Photos to follow - there's been a problem!

January 2022 - Pruning in the community orchard.
Following the training in December volunteers made good use of their new skills. All 144 trees have now been pruned, ready to grow in a strong and fruitful shape. We can look forward to spring blossom and the fruit from the orchard is for the community. You are welcome to pick that lovely ripe apple or pear! What is left will fall and benefit the wildlife.

December 2021 - Training Day for Volunteers -
Pruning apple and pear trees.

Well, what a positive finish to the year. Thanks to funding from Essex County Council, our Conservation Volunteers were joined in the community Orchard by Dr Anna Baldwin.  Anna kindly spent the day sharing with us her passion for pruning and care of fruit trees.  We also had the pleasure of meeting with Ron Bates (Trustee of St Lawrence Orchard, by Southend Airport), who’s friendship and support was gratefully received.

The group started the day with mixed abilities and levels of confidence but with nurturing from Anna these grew and as the day progressed we learned much.  The importance of the soils nutrients and organisms and their relationship with the trees, pruning to create an open “bowl” framework for future healthy growth of spurs and fruit and, some very useful tips on sharpening and maintaining tools.

The course was hands on.  By taking a little time, looking and assessing the trees, started to reveal their individual wants and needs. With encouragement from Anna and Ron, and with our saws and sharpened secateurs at hand we set about pruning some of the Apples and Pears.

As the Winter Sun settled down for the evening, we put away our tools and gathered for a tot of spiced Cider and a Mince pie. It was clear to all, the trees in our little Orchard will benefit greatly from this day forward.
The reward for our efforts?
Healthy growth in skills, self confidence and knowledge, stronger community roots, and friendships that will bare fruit for many years to come.

Many thanks to Ed Gillan and Tom Moat of Essex CC.
Dr Anna, Ron, and the wonderful volunteers.
And of course, our little Orchard, who brought us all together.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Tony, our volunteer of the year. Thank you Tony, for your hard work in the park throughout the year, joining the volunteers every month and working tirelessly in the park litter picking. During the year Tony has stepped up to lead the volunteer group when necessary and his experience and friendly help is what makes every session an enjoyable occasion.
Congratulations Tony!

October and November 2021 - Coppicing in the Hazel Plantation

Our Conservation Volunteers have been busy coppicing in the Hazel Plantation, led by Richard Bond. The Hazel Plantation runs alongside the stream, east of the lake. Richard has sent us this update and information to share.

This area of Hazel has been coppiced, trees are cut low and grow again. This process prolongs the life of many trees and allows continuous absorption of carbon.
The plantation will be coppiced over the next few years to produce a sustainable timber crop. Hazel is traditionally used for Hurdles bean poles and walking sticks and material from this site will be used as such and provide materials for forest schools projects.
The area has been maintained and protected with a dead hedge with the help of the Friends volunteers. The dead hedge acts as a corridor and nesting habitat for small mammals and birds and over the coming months various species of wild flowers, birds, mammals, and insects will make this their home.

A few Hazel trees are left tall along the edges to connect to the stream and surrounding hedges.

8th September 2021 - Making hay in the Traditional Orchard!

14th July 2021 - We were cutting back and clearing along the path behind Blatches Farm and the Hazel plantation. At some points there was only a very narrow passage through, with brambles and nettles ready to scratch, tear and sting. Thanks to our intrepid heroes the path is clear all the way along this stretch, ready for the "Get to Know the Park walk". We hope that by cutting back some of the overhanging branches more light will be able to filter through and dry up some of the deep and muddy puddles. Thanks everyone. It's a tough task keeping up with nature, especially in a pandemic that has stopped so many of our sessions, but our volunteers are enthusiastic and hard working. Thanks all.

9th June 2021 This month there were two main tasks for our volunteers. Still following all the necessary COVID regulations they tackled some necessary maintenance to our own Friends Path. A very wet few months and much more use than was ever expected resulted in a few areas that needed attention, including the junction where it meets with the Bridleway. This was made a lot easier thanks to Betsy and Bertha (see photos) who joined us as a result of a successful bid for funding from RDC by our Conservation Leader Richard. There were also new shovels and more equipment and tools are on the way. While some of us worked in the sun others preferred the shade and opened up the path at the back of the adjoining plantation. Just in time - a couple more weeks and it would have disappeared altogether! Many thanks again to our enthusiastic team.
At the end of our session this month we heard from volunteer Carol who is leading an investigation into the small mammals living in the Hazel plantation, in particular she is looking for evidence of Dormice. Carol explained the very efficient "Track and Trace" system she will be using - more information about this exciting initiative coming soon.

12th May 2021 Our Conservation Volunteers are back at work in the park, following social distancing rules, using their own tools, sanitising hands etc. After reading the new H&S regs, signing with a clean pen and using the hand sanitiser... they started work enthusiastically to clear and cut back the path round one of the plantations. The site had been previously checked for nesting birds and volunteers continued to be aware and avoid disturbing any nests.
It was really good to get together again on a beautiful late spring morning.

October 14th 2020 - Volunteers met in the Traditional Orchard to cut the overgrown paths back. The grass is usually cut for hay in the summer but this year that didn't happen so we set to with strimmer, rakes and bags. The cut grass was taken into the adjacent plantations where it will rot down, providing nutrients to the soil, food and nesting materials for insects, small mammals etc. This leaves the meadow in the orchard nutrient poor, the condition that is best for wild flowers. Thanks to all concerned for an excellent morning's work.

September 23rd 2020 - Our first meeting since the CoVID-19 Lockdown and everyone very pleased to meet up again, in a socially distancing way. We have been looking forward to getting back to work and were relieved to learn that community and volunteer groups are exempt from the 'Rule of 6' providing that all the usual safety regulations are being followed. With a newly updated Risk Assessment and H&S advice to volunteers from our leader Richard, work on the path beside the stream leading into New England Wood began and the brambles along the path were cut back. With the brambles gone it is accessible again. Many thanks to all those who worked so hard this morning.

March 11th 2020 More coppicing - very enjoyable and good progress made. Also... there is a possibility that dormice are resident in the hazel plantation. Volunteers collected hazel nut shells and learned how to tell what has been eating the nuts - wood mice, voles or maybe dormice. Experts will need to look at the shells for confirmation, but we think we definitely found evidence of woodmice and voles, not so sure about the dormice. It was a really worthwhile morning's activity.

February 12th 2020 A very interesting morning for the Conservation Volunteers. Coppicing. Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump if cut down. In a coppiced wood young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level. This lets in light, provides a traditional 'crop' of pea sticks, bean sticks, firewood and gads. Thatching spars are made from split gads - 27-30" lengths of hazel. We learned a lot this morning and it was a very positive feeling to be setting to work in the sunshine and knowing what a useful job we were doing. We worked along the edge of the footpath so that more light will be let in and help to stop it getting too muddy. Also - dormice like coppiced woodland, and we hope to be involved in a dormouse survey later in the year.

January 29th 2020 Volunteers worked today on the new path. There will be benches at intervals along the path, each bench having its own lay-by. Volunteers worked with spades to cut these out as it's not a job for the large machinery. The benches will be approximately 200 yards apart along the new path. Thanks all for your commitment to making the park accessible to all. You turn out whatever the weather and despite bright sunshine that wind whipping across the path was FREEZING!

December 11th 2019: The last volunteer session of the year. Fuelled by mince pies and mulled wine the gang shifted all the remaining stone finishing off the new pathway be the entrance to New England Wood and the park is a little better for it. Very hard work but worth the effort. What a great team!
Thanks to all our volunteers - another year's amazing work keeping the park a wonderful place to be.

November 13th 2019: The pathway from the end of Eastwood Rise to New England Wood, newly improved with our 'Tesco Bags of Help' grant, has stood up very well in spite of the amount of rainfall during October and the beginning of this month. It's bedding in and looking more natural and our Conservation Volunteers used extra pathway material to extend a short portion of the path into the park. Well done everyone. Also, lots of cutting back of overhanging branches, brambles etc and using cut back twigs and branches to make some of the very muddy patches walkable. Thanks once again to our brilliant volunteer team.

October 9th 2019: We are pleased to report that our Volunteers had another very successful work session this month, clearing the scrub from a clay face in the old gun range where solitary bees have been nesting.

September 11th 2019: Thank you to our Conservation Volunteers for your hard work yesterday. Finished clearing back a plantation perimeter path and then concentrated on clearing a patch of ground, within one of the plantations, where bluebells were spotted in May. Bluebells are an indication that the land was once Ancient Woodland. We hope that yesterday's work will enable the bluebells to get a good foothold and flourish. Brilliant work all concerned - so many brambles!

August 14th 2019: Our amazing Volunteers - working this morning despite the weather! Thank you so much. You worked for as long as possible, in pouring rain and cleared one whole path round the perimeter of a plantation and made good progress on a second path. You are heroes! Thanks too for the very welcome support from RDC - our lads with the strimmer and leaf blower. We make an excellent team.

July 10th 2019: Excellent morning in the park today with the Conservation Volunteer group. We achieved much more than expected - thank you everyone! Main paths through the orchard cut, hay gathered and distributed throughout the park to provide insect, small mammal habitats etc. Paths approaching the orchard were also cut. (Thanks to Dean from RDC who has been mowing other paths in the park too). Plenty of fruit on the trees this year and many more wild flowers in the orchard itself and surrounding meadows. The meadows will be cut in the next few weeks and a crop of hay taken off. This will keep the ground 'nutrient poor' which is what wildflowers like, so we can expect the diversity to increase. Thanks very much to the volunteers who also managed an impressive amount of litter picking, not only in the car park but around the meadows and the lake too. Brilliant work everyone.

June 12th 2019: The original plan, to cut back one of the paths behind a plantation, abandoned as there are still two nests in this stretch of hedgerow. This can wait until later in the year when all the nesting will have finished. Volunteers trimmed back some overhanging branches along the path near Pooh Sticks Bridge and removed some broken fencing. An ash branch, brought down by the rain and strong winds over the weekend, had been pushed aside into the hedge. It was cut up and moved out of the way. It was a cool and damp morning with intermittent showers. Nobody seemed to mind and once again our Conservation Volunteer team had a productive and very enjoyable morning. Thanks everyone.

May 8th 2019: Well that was a wet morning. Sorry, no photos as I didn't want to get the camera wet, but many thanks to half dozen volunteers who nevertheless braved the rain and made a difference to the paths behind two plantations. 8 nest boxes were watched for a short time each and 5 were seen to be occupied. Busy parent birds in and out frequently. Seem to be mostly blue tits or great tits with one unidentified bird. The other three boxes may be empty or they may have female birds sitting on eggs. It was cold and damp and she would be sitting tight. Spotted in the plantation - a group of native bluebells making a comeback. These will need to be nurtured and the surrounding trees kept back or thinned to let in some light. It shows that there was ancient woodland there very many years ago. Also, chiffchaffs singing in the woods - sound like this - https://www.british-birdsongs.uk/chiffchaff/?type769

Common chiffchaff - this is a stock photo, not taken in the park.

April 10th 2019: Invitation to all to take part in the Great British Spring Clean. Great morning's work - thanks everybody.

March 13th 2019: cancelled due to high winds

February 13th 2019: This month we have been cutting back brambles etc. along the paths around plantations using our new tools bought with the Aviva grant money. Good sharp shears and loppers and strong gloves for all. We were also putting in more reminders for riders to keep to the bridleway. With the meadows so wet at the moment more walkers are using the bridleway which could make it difficult for riders. However, if the horses churn up the paths through and around the plantations walkers can't use those either. Common sense on all sides, understanding and a bit of give and take makes for a pleasant experience all round.

January 9th 2019: Conservation Volunteers working in the Traditional Orchard today - a little light pruning. Also, as usual, litter picking - where does it all come from! It was really cold today, a very chilly wind whipping across the fields. Brrrrr. Still a very good turn out. Thanks so much everyone for turning out in January to look after the orchard and clear up other people's mess - and check out those new hi-viz vests!

December 12th 2018: No work this month, but well earned drink at The Cock Inn. Delighted to congratulate Anne Thurgood - volunteer of the year!

November 13th 2018: A day earlier than planned in order to get some rescued green winged orchids safely relocated into the park before their root plugs dried out. Thanks to Richard for collecting them and to our volunteers for carefully planting 35 small plants. We wish them every success in their new 'secret' location!

October 10th 2018: This month volunteers cleared the path from Pooh Sticks Bridge up to the bridleway. This path runs between the byway and the plantation and had become very overgrown. By cutting back the brambles, blackthorn and other growth the path is wider and more light is let in. Hopefully this will help to keep it passable as the winter weather approaches. We noticed some apples growing in the plantation - quite sweet and the blackbirds are enjoying them. Volunteers also cut back growth along the path from the bins towards the lake.

September 12th 2018: Volunteers cut back brambles and blackthorn round one of the plantations keeping another walk open. Plenty of sloes this year and we took the opportunity to gather some with sloe gin in mind! Beautiful autumn colour and another great morning's work.

August 8th 2018: So glad it was cooler today. The Conservation Volunteers worked hard this morning, cutting back along pathways through and around plantations and caring for a small pond (totally dry at the moment) so that in future months it may once again become home to newts, frogs and toads. The surrounding area was lightly cleared, a tyre removed and a 'dead-hedge' barrier constructed to protect it from the occasional curious dogs. Maps show that there has been a pond at this site for more than 260 years. Worth looking after it. Well done all involved. More litter picking round the lake gathered another four bags of waste, making eight bags in two days. A job very well done but what a shame it's necessary. Thanks to everyone - hard work but very enjoyable in such good company. Thanks to Jamie and Max from RDC for their valuable input with the mower and strimmer.

July 11th 2018: Volunteers cleared the long grass round 144 fruit trees in the traditional orchard this morning and then set to work clearing round the perimeter cherry trees too. As if that wasn't enough several black bags of litter were also collected. Amazing work everyone. Thank you!

June 13th 2018: Thanks to our Conservation Volunteer Group the path on the north boundary of the park, behind Edwards Hall Park and the Fishing Lakes, is now clear. The fallen tree was cleared and the wood stacked in the plantation alongside. It will provide homes and shelter to insects, reptiles and small mammals and eventually rot down into the woodland floor. Nothing wasted. The team worked extremely hard and also cut back the undergrowth along the path that runs between the westernmost plantation and New England Wood. Also working with us were Max and Jamie from RDC who were strimming and cutting the long grass from the most used paths. Altogether a very production session.

May 9th 2018: Many thanks to the volunteers today. Supported by Max from RDC on the mower and Richard, who leads the volunteer sessions, with his trusty strimmer, two plantation perimeter paths were cleared of overhanging brambles, nettles etc making them a pleasant walk again. All the work was carried out with great care and mindful of nesting birds. We were delighted to observe bluetits already using one of the FOCOP nest boxes installed earlier this year.

April 25th 2018: The beginning of April was wet and heavy rain for several days made much of the park impassable. The work day was postponed until 25th April when a walk/survey was carried in the west end of the park, taking in New England Wood. This was a new area for our volunteers and led by Richard Bond they were able to see the kind of work that could be carried out later in the year and begin to make plans. Thanks to our regular and enthusiastic volunteer, Anne Thurgood, for these photos.

March 14th 2018: Fantastic work session with our volunteers today and a lovely sunny spring morning really made a difference. Such enthusiasm. Several tasks tackled this month. The path that runs through the plantation south of the bridleway and lake has become boggy and practically impassable in places. Volunteers took the last chance before nesting begins in earnest to cut back brambles so that the path is usable again. A big difference - see the photos. More volunteers finished cutting back brambles around the perimeter of the plantation and opened up another walk. Thanks to RDC for the help with the strimmer. Finally the Friends' nest boxes were put up in quiet out of the way places - just in time. The boxes should attract blue tits, great tits, tree sparrows, house sparrows etc. Thank you everyone who came along this morning. Great work!

February 21st 2018: A BIG thank you to the Friends Conservation Volunteer Group who met for a second time this month, at very short notice, when the replacement fruit trees for the Traditional Orchard arrived. The orchard is now back up to its original compliment of 144 trees. 22 trees were planted to replace some that had not thrived from the beginning and some that were damaged by the Travellers last autumn. Thanks go to RDC who paid for the replacement trees, stakes, ties and protective netting. The Friends were happy to provide the time and the muscle! At the same time.... some of the group litter picked in the copse to the south of the orchard between the park and the old Southend Bridleway. A huge task due to fly tipping! Thank you very much, it's great to see that area clean again! When your eye isn't caught by the rubbish you take notice of what is around you.... the blackthorn is almost in blossom! A great morning's work.

February 14th 2018: Valentine's Day and the first work party of the year. Thanks to everyone who came along and helped to clear paths around the perimeters of the plantations, overgrown parts of the footpath through the park, cut and push back fallen branches and, working with a lot of support from RDC, clear a fallen tree from a woodland walk. We had the best of the weather with sun shining on our early (ish) start. By the end of the morning the clouds had pulled in and the wind was icy, but everyone is looking forward to the next sessions.

November 2017: The Conservation Volunteer Group had a busy and very successful day in the park today. Next year a new access route will be made into the car park from the new roundabout. Some years ago families helped plant trees in the very area through which the route will come. Rather than wait for bulldozers to rip out the trees the Friends set to, dug out and replanted all the trees that would have been in the way. A brilliant effort everyone, thank you so much. The trees now have a 50% chance of survival, which is 100% more than they would have had. At the same time a mammoth litter picking effort cleared the carpark and surrounding hedges and also cleared firework debris from the park. Volunteers! You are an amazing bunch of people. We love you! Thanks also to the two lads from RDC for your help this morning.

October 2017: This month our volunteer task force worked in the hibernaculum area again this month and were able to clear further glades to provide sun spots for the reptiles that live there. In addition fence repairs were made by 'dead hedging'. This used the branches cut back to open up the area and we learned a new skill!

September 2017: It was a productive day. Cutting back vegetation in the plantation allowing it to flood with light and making a perfect habitat for sun loving reptiles of all shapes and sizes. Thanks again for the hard work and commitment from the volunteers. Well done gang!
Support from Jamie and Richard from RDC ensured that the overgrown paths along the stream and other areas were cut back and mown too.

August 2017: Despite the forecasts of dry weather until midday our volunteers worked in pouring rain - again! Well done, hardy trojans one and all!
Three main tasks completed this month with the support of Max and Jamie of the RDC Open Spaces Team. Our two new finger posts were erected, the footpath behind Blatches Farm and the Hazel Grove up to the lake was cut back and four bags of rubbish were cleared from round the lake. Excellent work - thank you everyone! More about the signs here.

July 2017: A wet start this morning after welcome heavy rain overnight. It was still raining hard at 10am this morning but volunteers met in the Orchard ready to trim the grass back round the young trees ready for the Open Spaces Team to mow the grass between the rows. It was very pleasing to see how well these little trees are doing. Fruit on nearly all of them. We then moved on to the lake to clear litter - messages via the website have alerted the committee and although two black bags of litter were collected over the weekend, there was still more to be done. Thanks to David who brought water and cleaning materials and took the time to clean the park signs that had become very green and mossy, and thanks to all of you for turning up this morning in the rain and working so hard.

June 2017: this month we cut back some of the overhanging and encroaching growth along the bridleway. It was warm and very sunny and we worked in the shade where possible. Everything in the park is blooming. Common spotted orchid seems to be on the increase - good to see. Thanks everyone for working so hard and thanks to the RDC open spaces team who worked alongside us and have been mowing some of the paths through the meadows.

April 2017: The path around the secluded 'hibernaculum' plantation. Many thanks to the volunteer work party today. We cleared around another plantation and opened up another walk. This will probably be the last cutting back we can do for a few months. We had to be very careful that we were not disturbing nesting birds and by next month the nesting season will be well underway. Wild primroses, broom, stitchwort all seen along this short walk, which is kept fairly secluded to protect the hibernaculum (lizards' home) which it surrounds. The last of the blackthorn blossom was falling like confetti.

March 2017: The path that runs round behind the plantation to the south of 'Sharon's Bench'. Those of you who come into the park via the Old Southend Bridleway and the short footpath also know as "Poo Alley" (for unfortunately obvious reasons), will know that this path has been inaccessible for two or three years now. A daunting task surely - but not to our enthusiastic Friends. With support from RDC the whole length of the path has been cleared and we have had several very positive comments of congratulation already. Well done everyone, a major task completed and everyone had a good time too. Win, win! THANK YOU ALL!

February 2017: Our first work day of the new year was very cold and damp. We didn't expect many volunteers to turn up but you surprised us! It was great to see so many of you braving the chilly February morning and we set to with enthusiasm. This month's task was to check the Traditional Orchard, carry out some light pruning and dead wooding, remove stakes and feed the trees, including all the cherry trees round the perimeter of the orchard in in the adjoining meadow. The cold wind whipped across the field but with the help of a two man team from RDC the work was finished quickly and the orchard left ready for spring. You can find out about the varieties of trees in the orchard HERE. We moved on to the old gun club range where there is a long clay bank, warm and sheltered later in the year and visited by insects that make holes and nests in the bank. An unusual and interesting habitat. It is several years since the Friends cleared this area and it was due another tidy up so everyone set to work. Once again the team from RDC were a great help, stacking the thick brambles and blackthorn that we cut back to form a dense mass opposite the bank and provide another type of habitat. It would be great for hedgehogs - if only we had some in the park! Plenty of other small mammals will benefit from this new habitat though.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD - YOU ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

October 2016: Rain during the night and first thing this morning gave everything the smell of Autumn. It was fresh and bright and the volunteers this morning worked hard in the large plantation south of the lake. The path through the plantation was cut back and opened up so that sunlight and breezes can get through and help to keep the path drier and more "walkable" during the winter. All the material cut back was pulled into the wood where it will provide shelter for small mammals and insects and eventually rot down into the ground litter. Job well done, very many thanks to all who came and enjoyed the work this morning. Excellent company too!

September 14th 2016. Well done and thank you to the volunteers who helped this morning. We cleared the path through the hazel plantation, cutting back trees and undergrowth to let in light. This will increase the variety of wild plants that can grow along the edges of the path and in turn increase the number of the insects, butterflies and birds that visit the park. We understand that there is a chance that dormice could be inhabiting this plantation and for that reason some of the overhead branches that cross the path were left. We learned that dormice don't cross open ground so the overhanging branches will provide them with a route from one side of the plantation to the other.

August 2016: The volunteer group cut back growth along the path in the plantation south of the stream, close to Pooh Sticks Bridge. The path that runs beside the byway was also cleared and the path through the plantation behind Edwards hall park was cut back too. Thanks to everyone who turned up to help - a great effort.

July 2016: Thanks to everyone who helped clear the path beside the stream this month. Just in time for the Kirste 5 mile race. It made all the difference!

June 2016 - Finishing work in the first plantation. Today we finished cutting back the scrub and overhanging trees that have made the path through the plantation so narrow and dark. We hope that with the extra light let in the path may not get so very wet and muddy next winter. We also managed to open up the natural path that runs north-south to the old bridleway and you can walk two abreast along most of it now. Just about 20 metres to go at the bridleway end where some nettles need to be strimmed back by RDC. It was a working and learning experience. We learned that the rare wild service trees, when found in ancient woodland are a good indication of how very old the wood is. The tree does not propagate easily through seeds and sends out runners slowly over tens and hundreds of years. The measurement of ground covered by the trees is an indication of how old the woodland area is. Several Wild Service trees have been planted in the park - a clue for future generations. We also saw purple salsify, quite common in the park, and probably brought to this country by the Romans as a food crop. The roots are like thin parsnips. Also spotted this morning, grass vetchling, a member of the pea family with unusually long thin leaves. It grows among grasses and the tiny deep pink flowers are suspended by very thin stalks.
So.. another very successful morning's work - and this time we didn't get wet. It was hot and sunny. Lovely.

May 2016 - Working in the plantation. The pathways through the plantations are well used. The environment on either side must get enough light to encourage a wide variety of plants in the undergrowth which in turn encourages insects and invertebrates which feed birds and reptiles. It's all a matter of balance. When the plantations were planted the pathways were 10 metres wide which is ideal. Now, in places they are less than 3 metres wide so the volunteers have a large task on hand. Nevertheless it was with good cheer and enthusiasm that they set out this week to make a start and cleared much more than expected back to 6 or 7 metres! The wood cut back was not wasted but carried through into the maturing woodland where it will break down gradually becoming part of the woodland floor litter and providing habitat for insects, worms etc.
As the paths are gradually widened and more light is let in they will become less muddy and more pleasant to use all year round.

April 2016 - First Conservation Volunteer Group working party. Tasked with clearing an area of ground round the young trees in the traditional orchard the working party achieved much more than expected. Over a hundred trees now have a weed and grass free area around the base ready for feeding. Thanks to all who worked so hard. We thoroughly enjoyed the morning and are looking forward to the next work day in May.