November 2008 Newsletter

“No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member,
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
No-vember.”
Thomas Hood 1799-1845

Goodness! What a busy few weeks we have had... trees, copse, and litter-picking ... of course.

As we said in October, Friends have been out lifting the canopies of the little wooded areas in the Recreation Ground itself. This task, for those of you who may not know, was carried out in response to local concerns about high levels of teenage drinking taking place at weekends, along with other anti-social behaviour - the trees providing a useful hiding place for stashed liquor etc. Having, ourselves, been witness to the distressing sight of a very young girl staggering from the bushes, almost incoherent and paralytic from the effects of vodka and beer (as evidenced by the empty bottles near by), we felt the job needed doing as soon as possible.

We do, of course, hope English Landscape tree experts will come and check on what has been done and complete the work to their required standard when their scheduled date comes around.

Meantime Operation Tree Rescue has commenced. At the base of the young trees, we found the trunks were still encircled by plastic (weed suppressing?) collars, put there (presumably) when the saplings (or whips) were planted. As the years have passed the roots have grown under, through and over the plastic, which has, in some cases, become embedded in the bark itself, acting almost as a tourniquet. Indeed there is evidence of other planting, which has totally disappeared leaving just a sad black plastic reminder of where it was. Advised that the trees should be freed from their restriction a number of Friends set out on an ad hoc work party on 25th October to do just that!

This plastic frill could not be got out.


Bent on liberation!


That’s better. Now the tree can grow.

Copse news

The working party on 1st November was arranged for the removal of some piles of cut undergrowth left over from the spring clearance. There wasn’t all that much debris so we decided a bonfire was the best option – and not just because we are pyromaniacs either! There was very little wind but it was decidedly cold, and damp. The fire was reluctant to get going until Someone had a brainwave - the risk assessment! This, in its plastic cover, made a most efficient fan. In no time at all flames were leaping into the air and the party (sorry) work began. Seems another good use for a risk assessment to me – lucky we had it with us, wasn’t it!

I think someone was enjoying the warmth!

As a matter of interest, did you know that our little Copse is a remnant of Charles Darwin’s “Big Woods” and that the Darwin Trail starts in the Spitfire car park? What illustrious footsteps we are treading in to be sure! I expect Darwin would have been able to name the twenty-odd fungi that we have recorded so far. We, sadly, cannot – despite having attended a most interesting and enjoyable training day at High Elms. There’s a lot more to it than you might think! Do keep an eye open for fungi even so. If you have any photos we would love to see them and maybe add them to our collection.

You may have noticed some scalpings spread along the muddy path by the allotment gates. No, they are not fly-tipping, though they did look pretty awful to start with. These were provided by local expert Judith John, Countryside and Parks officer, High Elms. Judith is concerned (for the sake of the local, native flora) that the woodland floor be neither enriched nor contaminated by outside seeds or organisms brought in on bark chippings (our other suggested option for the path). In fact this is yet another reason for discouraging fly-tipping – even if it is “only garden waste and will rot down over time!”

Which reminds me – if you are kind enough to take the time to bag up other people’s discarded rubbish – please make sure that the bags are not too full and can be easily lifted by just one man on his own. Thanks! And please make sure to wear gloves. Funny the things some folk leave lying about!!

Car park news... none yet... keep watching this space.

Pavilion news... ditto

By the way, have you noticed the holes in the children’s swing park? Their appearance one morning was a mystery until our local expert told us that they were “badger related”! Quite why a badger would want to excavate by the swings only a badger would know but as it is not a sett the holes can, and have, been filled in (several times!). At present they await filling yet again!

Next Work Party

With spring just around the corner the time has come for the planting of bulbs... hooray! As a result the call is going out for Friends to get together next Saturday, 22nd November, to bend knee and back and grub around in the wet grass in order to beautify the Rec in 2009 with a veritable explosion of colour!
All volunteers are welcome! Please dress warmly and bring a trowel, gloves and kneeling pad – precious things knees! Come if you can any time from 9.30 to about 12 - even half an hour would help. And let’s hope the badger doesn’t get wind of our activities!

Next Meeting

Tuesday 25th November
7pm at the Spitfire Centre

Queries, complaints, comments or suggestions about this Newsletter to 01959 572500