Friends of Big Wood Nature Reserve
Newsletter - January - 2025
We wish everyone a good new year, and trust that the very special ancient woodland in our midst continues to be a source of joy and comfort to all who spend time in it.
We look forward to making good progress with the management of Big Wood in 2025, made possible by the generous support of all our Friends of Big Wood, the hands-on effort of our productive volunteers and constructive FoBW committee members. We are also indebted to the support of the Biodiversity, Tree and Grounds Maintenance teams in Barnet, to the Big Wood KIDS leaders and the ecology consultants who help monitor the health and diversity of Big Wood and share its delights with residents in the guided walks and talks programme.
BIG WOOD AUTUMN ACTIVITY MORNINGS
Please join us at the next one. No special skills required, just a willingness to muck in.
There is much to be done during this short dormant winter season. Before we know it, young buds will sprout and wildlife start to nest among the woodland floor and undergrowth. Big Wood Volunteers, please join us on Sunday 12th January, 10am. As usual, there are no special skills required, just a willingness to muck in and enjoy the company of like-minded people making a real impact. We meet at the Big Wood Temple Fortune Hill entrance in time for a 10am start. Work takes place over a couple of hours with a tea break.
On the activity mornings, we meet at the Big Wood Temple Fortune Hill entrance in time for a 10am start. Work takes place over a couple of hours with a tea break.
Sunday 12th January
Sunday 9th February
Saturday 8th March
For specific updates on volunteer events, please click on this link Friends of Big Wood Volunteers to join the WhatsApp group, or contact 07712 704 164, friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com. Please also take note of the volunteer handbook, link below.
Conservation activities can include wildflower glade management, clearing invasive and overly vigorous species, dead hedging and path clearance. On the activity mornings, we meet at the Big Wood Temple Fortune Hill entrance in time for a 10am start. Work takes place over a couple of hours with a tea break. Get in touch to find out more: friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com - see also the volunteer handbook link below.
Friends of Big Wood Membership Renewals
Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have already renewed your membership, including your kind donations, to support our joint work and lovely community. If you haven't had a chance to renew yet, you can do so now by clicking this link: https://membermojo.co.uk/friendsofbigwood/renew Any questions, contact friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com
We wouldn't be able to look after Big Wood without the support of our Friends!
JOIN FORM
More guided expert walks to come in Spring 2025. Watch this space!
The Barnet Greenspaces Volunteering Handbook includes straightforward health and safety guidance to ensure that all volunteers remain safe while working in the borough's green spaces. If you take part in the activity mornings, please click on this Volunteer Handbook link and take note of the guidelines. Get in touch if you have any questions.
LITTER IN THE WOOD
Litter remains a problem and some of us regularly pick up litter as we go round the wood. If any one else wants to help and would like a litter picker, please contact us. We have a number of Friends who are regularly are picking up litter but please can all the Friends help to keep the wood clear of litter.
MORE ABOUT DEAD WOOD
We reported on the importance of dead wood. The official UK standard for healthy woodland habitat requires 20m3 of deadwood per hectare and most woodlands in the UK, including Big Wood, is below this level. It is important therefore that all dead trunks and fallen branches are left where they fall or are left standing.
A reminder that ageing trees and dead wood are vital for a healthy woodland habitat. A huge swathe of the woodland ecosystem relies on tree wear and tear- hollows, dead branches and fallen trees.
TREES INFO
There is a marvellous short clip about the management of oak trees and the importance of not compacting the roots in Kew Gardens following the great storm of 1987. Anyone who is interested click on the following:-
WEB SITE
Remember that all details are here on our web site so do signpost your local friends and neighbours to visit the site and encourage them join the Association and to be Friends Of Big Wood.
DATA PROTECTION
The Friends of Big Wood Organisation is aware of the new General Data Protection Legislation. Organisations such as ours, which keep a register of names purely for recreational reasons, are exempt from the new regulations. We would advise you all that the data stored is purely to enable us to provide information about Big Wood and no information will be passed to any third party. If, nevertheless, you would like your details deleted from the list, please email us
