Category Archives: Main
Recent survey of trail waymark posts
In recent weeks the FONGW team have undertaken surveying the wooden waymark posts on the three main trails within the woods. Altogether the trails cover a distance of approximately 7.6 km (4.5 miles) and include 61 single posts, all of … Continue reading
Removal of holly stumps using a winch
The Friends team have been using a winch to remove the larger stumps of holly trees that they have previously cut down. This can be strenuous work as the tree roots don’t always come out of the ground easily. The … Continue reading
Protecting nesting birds and wildlife
Nesting birds and wildlife are protected by the Wildlife & Countryside act 1981 which prohibits the cutting of hedges between 1st March and 31st August. Therefore the Fongw team ceased cutting holly trees and bushes at the beginning of March … Continue reading
Clearing Holly to open up a trail for walkers
Four sessions of Holly clearing in this area, by the “Friends” team, finally opens up another trail for … Continue reading
Spring flowers
Although the bluebells have largely finished, there are still lots of flowers emerging in the wood.Red Campion Foxgloves
Work Party activities
Much of our work party activities consist of managing the growth of vegetation. This is done for several reasons. Firstly it is important to maintain public access and safety – so dangerous trees and blocked paths have priority. But in … Continue reading
Wedding!
On 28th August, there was a ‘first’ for the Great Wood when a wedding blessing was hosted in ‘Hut Glade’. At the critical time, the weather held off and a great time was had by all.
Heather in bloom
The heather is flowering at the moment. The large block of heather north of the car park is not very visible as there has been no cutting/flailing of the bracken this year. On the other hand, this has meant that … Continue reading
“Howard’s Way”
We have been working recently on the path that runs north from Six Ways down to Brook Glade. As the memorial bench to our late member Howard Aiken is situated at Six Ways, we have dubbed this path “Howard’s Way”. … Continue reading
Improving the west side of the Yellow Trail
The section of the Yellow trail between the two arms of Rowbourne Brook has always been very wet and muddy. In order to create more light and moving air around the area, we have completed extensive coppicing of birch and … Continue reading