E V E N T S

Sep 19 2010 @ 10:00
MWVG Task: Help us remove the remaining plastic tree shelters

Oct 17 2010 @ 10:00
MWVG Task: Creating areas of shallow standing water within the heathland area

Nov 21 2010 @ 10:00
MWVG Task: Siting Bird and Bat boxes around the woodland

Nov 27 2010 @ 11:00
Tree Planting Event! Date TBC

LATEST NEWS

Sun Nov 28 2010
National Tree Planting Week - end Nov to Dec

Mon Oct 18 2010
RSPB Feed the Birds Day - 18th to 31st October

Mon Jun 21 2010
National Insect Week - Jun 21st - 27th

Sat May 1 2010
Declining British Mammals on Stamps!

Sudden Oak Death

and Acute Oak Decline... our mighty oaks are in danger !

Front Oak

Sudden Oak Death (or Ramorum Dieback) is a disease that can cause cankers and death in trees. To date, this disease has affected mostly beech and ornamental trees being more commonly associated with rhododendrons and bilberry, having spread in the UK through the sale, movement and infection of the rhododendron bushes themselves. Trees in close proximity to the infected rhododendron are those mostly likely to become infected with Sudden Oak Death. First signs of the disease on an infected rhododendron are browning of the leaves together with branch tip and leaf death.

The Forestry Commission has more information available on its website (http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/oakdecline) together with details of symptoms and management of the disease. The Foresty Commission should be notified immediately if any cases are spotted. Sudden Oak Death

Sudden Oak Death

Acute Oak Decline is a new disease and does directly affect our native Oak trees. Its cause is believed to be instigated by a bacterial infection, the symptoms of which including 'bleeding' cancers (weeping liquid from areas of dead bark). The Forestry Commission are investigating the potential spread of this disease at the moment - results of this investigation, cause of the disease and likely threat to our native woodlands is due within the next 6-12 months. More details of this disease and copies of a Practice Note for woodland owners 'Managing Acute Oak Decline' (FCPN015) by Sandra Denman is available to download free of charge. (http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/INFD-7AXGCJ).

So keep those eyes peeled and help us to help our Oak Trees !

coming soon...

all about being a 'Parish Tree Warden'

Find out more about your parish Tree Warden

..... why we're there, what we do and how we try to help.

We'll also cover some tree jargon, give you tips about planting trees and let you have some 'tips of the trade' to get you started on the road of tree identification too! It wouldn't be the same without out little bit of science to whet your apetite for all things natural.

and remember the 3R's

... the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason!



Monkmead Wood Volunteer Group



Located in the heart of West Chiltington village, Monkmead Wood is a place where many local people happily wander for a gentle stroll to look at the amazing variety of trees, plants, birds and wildlife, where even a few rare varieties of fungi and plant life can be discovered at certain times of the year.

The Monkmead Wood Volunteer Group is a small group of local friends and neighbours who get together once a month to carry out some light, varied seasonal conservation work - nothing too strenuous and we're always looking for help. So if you like cutting down branches, helping to clear river banks or pulling a few saplings, you'll have a lot of fun.

This is very much a fun and sociable group, so if you would like to join one of our monthly conservation tasks, join one of our regular "walk and talks" around the wood or just curious about what we do, please contact Amanda Apps (West Chiltington Tree Warden) on E : info@monkmeadwoods.co.uk and we'll let you know when our next event takes place and what we'll being doing.



Have you seen our latest newsletter ? Click here for the latest news in and around West Chitlington



West Chiltington Parish Council are fortunate to have two volunteer tree wardens who play an active role in conserving and enhancing the village's local trees and woodlands. For more information about their work or how you could help, please contact Amanda Apps at amanda.apps@btinternet.com or the clerk to the council at wcpcclerk@aol.com

The Monkmead Woods Volunteer Group and West Chilt Woodlands are supported by

Horsham District Council and the Sussex Wildlife Trust

Bracken - Friend or Foe?

Bracken has been invading areas of grassland, heathland and moorland in the UK to such an extent that its been described in some areas as now being out of control.

We need to protect the heathland in Monkmead Wood because it's not only extremely rare but this habitat is now home to many species who have evolved to live only there.

Once established bracken is very hard to remove. It's deceptive in size - a bit like an iceberg - with the bulk of the plant being underground in the form of rhizomes. It's this part of the plant which is so invasive. Bracken is tolerant of many different soil types and climates giving it a distinct advantage over other less tolerant species. Once established in large clumps it fern like leaves interlink and cause large areas of heathland to become shrouded in shade and other plants are no longer able to florish.

If the bracken around the area of heathland in the woodland were left to colonize the area freely we'd soon lose much of the heathland and the species that live within in.

Once areas were cleared of bracken, the volunteer group found small clutches of bell heather, grasses and small ferns which should all now have a better chance of survial.

If you'd like to find out more about the work of the volunteer group why not join us on one of our next tasks?

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