I can’t remember where I left my car.

Posted on July 8, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

burnt_out_1

I remember now, it was at Dick’s Camp!

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Thursday group Thunderdell Lane (College end) – hard work damaged

Posted on July 7, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

At some point after completing the building of an earth barrier and topping it with turf, the work has been damaged by the farmer who has taken out part of our efforts!

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Princess Anne’s Plantation

Posted on July 6, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

plantation

Looking west from Duncombe Terrace.

It seems that the volunteers who were working last Thursday were not in fact in Princess Anne’s Plantation – they were in fact working close to Duncombe Terrace  to the north of the plantation.

Part of Clipper Down was planted up in 1951 to celebrate the birth of Princess Anne. (August 15th, 1950) creating Princess Anne’s Plantation.

Lawrence tells us that Lawson’s Cypress, Scot’s Pine and Corsican Pine were planted, along with beech. The pines were doomed to failure because of the thin soil, and were removed by the volunteers in the 1990’s. The beech have survived despite the ravages of the squirrels de- barking the trees.

This type of planting is frowned upon today, and it’s removal to promote grassland regeneration is likely to be the future management prescription.

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Unusual event – part two

Posted on July 1, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

GB

The question was asked “Can any of you ‘Followers’ guess where this is? Richard was out litter picking when he stumbled across the concrete post with GB on it.”

After speaking with Lawrence it turns out that there are a few of these posts in Aldbury common which are a marker for land that was privately owned by a person with the initials “GB”.  It included the Monument, and the area was gifted to the Trust in the early part of the 20th century.

Richard took the picture  at the lower end of the gully that goes down from the wooden bridge off Duncombe Terrace.

 

 

 

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Where is the flint wall?

Posted on July 1, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

A visit to the volunteer flint wall builders to view their progress. They are a bit stumped at the moment!

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Until the stump is removed the rebuilding cannot continue on down the hill.

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Thursday group – 30th June

Posted on July 1, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Twenty five volunteers descended into the area north of “Princess Anne’s Plantation” which is just off Duncombe Terrace, to remove the old fencing.

A few pictures taken during the morning.

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Garage Clearance? – found in Dockey Wood car park

Posted on June 28, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Another incident of fly tipping has occurred. This time in Dockey Wood car park.

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A magic carpet

Posted on June 24, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

There is a magic carpet of wild flowers on the south east side of Beacon Hill at SP962165, which can be seen from the Beacon car park. It appears as a purple haze from a distance, but on closer inspection the abundant wild thyme is enhanced by yellow bird’s-foot-trefoil, yellow hop trefoil, and white squinancywort. The chalk hills are certainly “alive” at this time of year, ready to mythically transport the traveller to another place!

You can take a closer look by helping Emily with her annual plant survey on the Ivinghoe hills. The first two dates have been arranged for Friday 8th and Thursday 21st of July, meeting at the Beacon car park at 9.30am. This will be the fourth year running for the survey, recording the special flowers which bloom on this SSSI site. (Site of Special Scientific Interest)

Please let Emily know of your interest at emily.smith1@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Sunday conservation group – 26th June

Posted on June 24, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Similar to last year, on Sunday we will be checking the bracken for possible nesting birds in preparation for rolling it with a tractor mounted bracken bruiser.  The job entails groups of 3 walking through the bracken with a rope.  This disturbs any birds that might be nesting and then we mark the area so that we know not to roll that bit.

Learnings from todays efforts with the Thursday group I would recommend that people wear waterproof trousers as with all the rain the bracken is very wet.

So please meet up at the Estate Yard at about 9:15’ish.

And please do remember to take some photos then put them on something like DropBox so they can be shared….. Please email rowantrimmer@gmail.com so the pictures can be uploaded.

Rowan can then share the hard work done by all.

 

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Very busy! – Thursday conservation group 23rd June

Posted on June 23, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

We were split into 3 groups.

  1. Spreading wood chip opposite Northchurch Common
  2. Roping bracken on Berkhamsted Common
  3. Roping bracken on Aldbury Common

There were 16 volunteers in total.

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