Ecologists have set about converting more than four hectares (ten acres) of newly acquired arable land at the Trust’s Tring Park in Hertfordshire. Using an interesting ‘green hay’ technique. This is to encourage the spread of rare grasslands like burnet saxifrage and lady’s bedstraw.
“Tring’s chalk grasslands are full of rare flowers and grasses, which we want to spread to the new land,” says local ecologist Paula Bateson. “The green hay technique involves collecting hay from an adjoining species-rich donor site. Then spreading it across a prepared ‘receptor’ site within an hour, to transfer the seeds. We’ve lost over 97% of the UK’s traditional hay meadows, so it’s vital to restore the rich habitat.”
Last year Trust supporters raised £465,000 to help us buy 25 hectares of new farmland and extend Tring. If planning consent is given, the site will also become home to a new car park. There will be step-free access and a visitor welcome area in 2020.
[taken from South East Broadleaf – Woodland Trust Magazine – Winter 2019 – https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk]
Eco Around, Friends of Higham Hill Park and the Woodland Trust for the Big Climate Fightback
On Saturday 30th November Ludo and Jon went to Higham Hill Park near Walthamstow. As a group of eight we went about planting some hedgerow trees. Working with Friends of Higham Hill Park, a community organisation based there, we were able to plant 225 trees together! The day was beautiful, warm in the sun while we were working hard. Everyone was having a good time with children running about and riding in a wheelbarrow. It was really satisfying and lovely to see our hard work helping this community.
Afterwards the eight of us sat down outside and ate our packed lunches. Ludo showed off her Bamboo lunch box and we chatted about future ideas and how we enjoyed the morning.
It would be great to go back and see how our hard work has paid off in a year’s time or so. It was great to be part of the big climate fightback!
