Friends of Big Wood Nature Reserve
Newsletter - July - 2024
THE BIG WOOD MOTH BREAKFAST IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND ON SUNDAY 14TH JULY, 8.30AM
People love butterflies, naturally, but did you know that there are around 2,500 different species of moths in Britain, many of which rival butterflies in their beauty? Oak trees - those marvels of biodiversity - alone support over 200 moths species.
We are very lucky that leading authority, Dr Phil Sterling, will be back to (temporarily) trap moths overnight. This time we hope to discover at least 60 species that emerge during the warmer weather in July.
Come and catch a glimpse of this fascinating nocturnal world and enjoy Phil’s entertaining expert guidance. Phil works at Butterfly Conservation, the charity for both butterflies and moths, and will be able to share deep insights into the marvels of the woodland.
It will be fun for the whole family, as long as you are up early enough. You are welcome to bring along a photo of a moth or butterfly you have spotted, for identification and to find out more about its fascinating life.
We will meet at the Oakwood Road entrance to Big Wood at 08.30 am on Sunday 14th July. The moths won't be on the menu for our breakfast of course; refreshments will be provided by the wonderful Big Wood volunteers. It's a free event for all; donations for food and drink are welcome on the day.
FOLLOWED BY: THE OAK TREE SURVEY ON WEDNESDAY, 17TH JULY
We are planning to carry out the annual oak tree survey on Wednesday 17th July, and we really need at least one other person to help Bruce, Peter and grandson Jack during the three-hour survey in 3 or 4 of the Big Wood compartments. Who can help? We need you! Please email friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com or call 07973 541 264
DAWN CHORUS & WHY A SNAIL WILL ALWAYS OUTPACE A BOTANIST
Notwithstanding the early morning start, it was a fascinating dawn chorus walk in early April this year, and we are hoping to organise another bird walk soon. Watch this space!
On 18th May, Caroline Beattie, a botanist working with our fellow North London greenspace group, the Friends of Alexandra Park, very kindly lent us her time and knowledge on the latest Big Wood Wildflower Walk. Even though most of the early spring flowers had faded, there was still much to discover and learn. Caroline has a lovely knack of presenting knowledge in an accessible manner and, above all, getting people to just linger and look. It was a lovely meditation on the botanical treasures often hiding in plain sight.
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
Barnet Council has a relatively new Biodiversity Officer, Harriet Duffield, who has become very engaged in our local green space initiatives. She has shown a particular interest in our scheduled specialist surveys of woodland species and has promised her expert support for upcoming Big Wood habitat assessments. We have hopes for this to be the beginning of another beautiful professional Big Wood friendship!
Wishing you a lovely summer in Big Wood!
GOODBYE AND THANKYOU
Volunteers Ruth and Neil at the wisteria management session.
Sadly for us, they have now moved out of the Suburb.
We are grateful for their sterling work over the years and wish them well.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
A big thank you for supporting Big Wood for all our benefit by being members of the Friends of Big Wood. If you haven't renewed your membership yet, please do so now. As you will have noticed, we have moved the bulk of the membership renewal admin work over to Membermojo, a GDPR-compliant software widely used by small charities and voluntary organisations. Any queries, contact friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com
2024 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
Many thanks to the members who have already renewed their subscriptions for 2024. This is a reminder to the rest to pay their subs for the year.
VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK
Barnet Council have recently brought out a Greenspaces Volunteering Handbook. It 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 read the document. 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
A few of the Flower Walk participants with Botanist Caroline Beattie (3rd from left).
