Meadow appeals for volunteer effort

If you have an hour or so, want to help the community, and maybe contribute to the bonfire spectacle, Meadow awaits your help!

We have two major jobs we cannot cope with without the help from the wider community: tree crown uplifting and clearing sensitive areas of the stinging nettles. Both jobs are quite straightforward, you don’t need to consult anyone, or be supervised, just come and help, any day, any time! If you came and done something, please drop us a line!

Crown uplifting

Branches overhang paths.

Branches of the trees start obstructing the foot paths (see pictures). Bring a saw and cut any branch you can reach from the footpath down to the trunk or the bigger (main) branch.  Don’t be afraid to overdo it: it is nice to open beautiful tree trunks and let light to penetrate into the woodlands.  Put the branches into neat piles next to the footpaths on the woodland side. They will be used for the great bonfire at the Fireworks night.

Nettles

Nettles grow amongst the ferns.

We are doing our best to fight the nettles on the Meadow by  spraying, however there are some sensitive areas where other valuable plants are growing and spraying is not possible. In such areas nettles must be removed by hand or they will outcompete the wild flowers and native ferns.  This can be done any time during the autumn/winter. Our main concern is areas where the ferns grow (see pictures). Please come for an hour or so with your gloves and maybe a garden fork and pull out some of the nettles.  You can pile them next to the footpaths on the woodland side.

Benches

If cutting branches or pulling nettles doesn’t quite appeal to you, there is another job: cleaning fish benches. After 11 year of use they are getting dusty and are covered by moss and lichens. A bucket of water and a cloth will do it! There is plenty of water on the Meadow, you don’t need to bring your own!