Category Archives: Thursday Conservation Group

Holiday Heaven

Posted on January 5, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Visitors took advantage of the good weather on Monday, the last day of the Christmas holiday for many, to take in the air at Ashridge. Despite the muddy ground conditions some four hundred and fifty vehicles were parked at any … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Thursday Conservation Group, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Roll on 2017!

Posted on December 31, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

To all card-carrying countryphiles. If you can believe the press, most of the 82% of the nation who live in built up areas subscribe to Christopher Marlowe’s Passionate Pilgrim – an idyllic vision of rustic romance beyond the greenbelt:  Come … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Flora and Fauna, History, Sunday Group, Thursday Conservation Group, Volunteer Rangers, Walks, Why I Volunteer, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Virgin Scrubland

Posted on December 19, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

On part of the extensive Northchurch common, lies a small area untouched and unloved for decades. Like a corner of a foreign field, part of a common that was exploited over the centuries for livestock grazing and chalk extraction is … Continue reading →

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What’s in a name?

Posted on December 4, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Quite a lot when it comes to Piccadilly Hill. Only the hardiest of workers turned out last Thursday to walk hawthorn scrub up to the top of the hill, for a bonfire. They had a splendid view for the gathering, … Continue reading →

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“Woodlanders”

Posted on November 25, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The woodlanders, those that inhabit woods, returned again in force this week to Dockey Wood, clearing up ready for next Spring and the expected mass of visitors. It does not seem that long ago when the wood was a carpet … Continue reading →

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Winter Work

Posted on November 20, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

With a record number of Thursday volunteers on hand, including three new members, two labour intensive tasks were undertaken. As Christmas fast approaches it is time to gather in the festive decorations for the Visitor Centre, from the Estate – … Continue reading →

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Restoration, restoration,restoration.

Posted on November 10, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The Thursday volunteers were again spoilt for choice with multiple job offers – working in the greenhouse with potting-up, laying down mulch in the nursery, building bee hives, clearing road gullies in Golden Valley, or pond clearing in Little Gaddesden. … Continue reading →

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Anyone for scrub?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

On Thursday the volunteers had a multiple choice of jobs to work on – Emily’s wild garden, potting up in the greenhouse, grass burning at Piccadilly Hill, or scrub clearance near Step’s Hill. The majority of the thirty four volunteers … Continue reading →

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The Beacon

Posted on October 8, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The fires around the hill are not celebratory beacons, they are not warning of an impending invasion, merely a sign of human activity! – conservation activity. The last time there was a celebratory fire on the Beacon was in the … Continue reading →

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The burning of Witchcraft Bottom

Posted on October 7, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

A large number of the Thursday conservation group set about cleaning up Witchcraft Bottom, part of the original Ashridge Park. The Trust had thinned out large numbers of secondary trees and left them to dry out over the years – … Continue reading →

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