Friends of Big Wood Nature Reserve
Newsletter - November 2025
Glorious Big Wood
Dates for your diary:
Join our next Practical Conservation Activity Morning with traditional woodland crafts - Saturday 8th November, 10am to 12.30noon - Meet at Temple Fortune Hill gate. More activity mornings on: Sat 22nd Nov & Sat 6th Dec
'Forest Secrets' Big Wood KIDS nature-inspired workshop for 6-12 year olds - Sunday 9th November, 10am to 12noon in Big Wood,
We had a good number of wonderful volunteers at the first Practical Conservation Activity Morning this autumn and started work on glades 1, 2 and 3, where an interesting range of tree species is regenerating. We also had a visit from long standing, always dedicated, volunteer and former Friends of Big Wood committee member Philip Samworth, who is moving out of the Suburb. Thank you Philip! You will be greatly missed and we wish you and your family the very best.
There is a lot do to protect the vulnerable nature recovery areas. Do come and join us for the next session this Saturday, 8th November, from 10am to 12noon. Meet at Memorial Gate, top of Temple Fortune Hill. There are tasks for everyone and no special skills needed. Come and enjoy the feelgood glow of productive social exercise in nature! Children are very welcome but must be closely supervised.
A bit more info here: Friends of Big Wood Volunteers, or contact 07712 704 164, friendsofbigwood1@gmail.com. Please also take note of the volunteer handbook, link below.
Volunteer Handbook
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.
Big Wood KIDS Nature-Inspired Creative Workshops
Tickets are now available for the last Big Wood KIDS drop-off session for 6 to 12 year olds this year. 'Forest Secrets' will be on Sunday 9th November, 10am to 11.30am in Big Wood. Book tickets on Eventbrite and follow Big Wood KIDS via Friends of Big Wood.
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
