Banstead Commons Volunteer Update
March 2024
Dear Volunteers,
What a miserable spate of weather we are experiencing. It looks like there is a chance the wet weather will still be hanging around for our volunteer work party next week, I won’t let rain dampen our spirits though, we have a fun and rewarding task set on Park Downs this month!
Last month the team grappled with birch and woody scrub removal on Banstead Downs. There’s no denying it, digging out the stumps was hard work, I was however amazed with the difference that was made to a large section of the grazing enclosure – thank you. As part of the chalk grassland restoration process, we will continue to address the woody scrub in this area by hand, using various techniques with the aim of removing most of the birch and dogwood from the grassland. It will be an interesting experiment to see which manual process achieves the most efficient results – especially as the area has been managed mechanically for the past 12 years. Banstead Downs did provide a stunning landscape for us to work, I suspect we all enjoyed looking at our rent-a-flock during our walk to and from the work site and the team was joined by Brimstone butterflies on the last day thanks to the sunshine and mild weather.
Moving back to our tasks this month. We will be working on Park Downs using bowsaws, loppers and tree poppers to remove a section of scrub from the top of Peacock’s field to open up the area up to what we call ‘the pan handle’. This will connect two areas of species rich grassland and improve the vista of the site for visitors. Peacock’s field and the pan handle are species rich and in favourable condition, I am sure we’ll be able to spot orchid rosettes as we work. The area is stunning when in flower and it will be rewarding to notice the difference this clearance work will make to the view.
For those of you who have not joined us before, there is plenty of parking at Park Farm and you cross Holly Lane to enter Park Downs.
| 5 Mar ‘24
10:00 – 14:30 |
Park Downs | Scrub clearance on chalk downland | Meeting point
W3W location: ships.yappy.precautions Grid reference: 51.310735,-0.184416 Parking – Park Farm car park (SM7 2FG) |
| 21 Mar ‘24
10:00 – 14:30 |
Park Downs | Scrub clearance on chalk downland | Meeting point
W3W location: ships.yappy.precautions Grid reference: 51.310735,-0.184416 Parking – Park Farm car park (SM7 2FG) |
Hand tools and hot refreshments are provided. As always, please don’t feel obliged to stay for the whole day, you are very welcome to join us for a morning or afternoon session. Those who plan to stay for the duration, we normally stop for lunch so please bring a pack lunch with you. I have also attached our Information and Safety Awareness Booklet for Volunteers – we ask that all new volunteers read through this booklet before volunteering with us.
Lastly, our scythe training scheduled for 25 April is now fully booked. It is our intention to organise in-house training once staff have been trained, so don’t worry if you didn’t get a place on this course, we will organise future events and the tools will be available to use with guidance at future work parties. The dates of guided walks and other events are being finalised next week, you are welcome to join or support as a volunteer any of the events listed. Please keep an eye on our website for details of events as they are published.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.
I look forward to welcoming you to Park Downs on Tuesday.
Kind regards,
Lucy
Clerk and General Manager