Common Wood

There has been considerable activity over the winter months, despite the weather!

Working parties in Jan and Feb have removed many spikes and plastic guards and on the 6th Feb we had the additional assistance of the Chiltern Society. Unfortunately there are still many more to remove, and we will continue this as an on-going part of the management programme.

During the same time, we have been steadily opening up the sides of Penn House Way and reinstating a mapped footpath from Penn House Way to Zachariahs Pit. We will continue to focus on these activities during the working parties scheduled for 6th and 7th March, and everyone is welcome.

On a less positive note, we had an attempt by an individual to cut up a felled beech along Common Wood Lane. He was intercepted and the police informed. The culprit is pleading guilty under Restorative Disposal and is facing a £200 fine as a result. I have also intercepted 2 attempts to remove timber from Millar Wood. I also had someone trying to cut up a fallen branch in Common Wood which I stopped by moving it to a deeper location in the wood. Can I therefore take this opportunity to remind everyone that it is illegal to remove wood from either Common Wood or Millar Wood.

The main gates which were broken last Autumn by fly-tippers are also to be repaired soon.

I have had a few requests to improve the 500 metre path alongside the horse field from Rushmoor Path. It is full of roots and muddy hollows and the path is spreading. We will investigate the practicalities of this as it would complete a 1 km loop which would be a nice short loop for people with walking difficulties as well as providing an additional Km for runners. Finally, we are aware of a couple of Silver Birch alongside Common Wood Lane that appear dangerous and need to be removed.

Mike Morley

During the Autumn months, volunteer working parties cleared considerable areas of laurel from areas close to paths and access areas. Laurel is a non-native species that is particularly invasive and can easily compromise other plant life.

These pictures shows work being carried out near the far end of Common Wood Lane. A considerable area of laurel was cleared - opening the view across the valley to the South East and allowing a new access into the wood to be created opposite the public footpath, so providing a safe route into the wood.