Friends of Big Wood Nature Reserve
Newsletter - OCTOBER 2025
Glorious Big Wood
Plant 'Parasites' & Invertebrates - Sunday 12th September, 10am to 11am - Guided Big Wood Walk by ecologist Tommy Root
Join this season's first Practical Activity Morning with traditional woodland crafts - Saturday 18th October, 10am to 12noon - Meet at Temple Fortune Hill gate. More activity mornings on: Sat 8th Nov, Sat 22nd Nov, Sat 6th Dec
'Autumn Magic' Big Wood KIDS nature-inspired workshop for 7-12 year olds - Sunday 19th October, 10 to 11.30am in Big Wood,
Thank you all who made the Moth Breakfast and Big Wood Open Morning on 14th September so special. Lepidopterist Phil Sterling showed us some of the amazing beautiful moth species in the wood. His enthusiasm was simply infectious, both for the adults and the children. We didn't have to explore far on his subsequent mini walk, as he can spot signs of diverse wildlife everywhere, in the tell-tale curl of a leaf or the easily overlooked markings on trees. See more event photos kindly taken and shared by Michael Eleftheriades
October Guided Big Wood Walk
On Sunday 12th October, 10-11am, we have a chance to follow in the literal footsteps of another nature detective with the guided walk, 'Parasites' & Invertebrates on Plants, led by renowned ecologist and plant gall specialist Tommy Root.
Come and join Tommy's exploration of nature's miracles hidden in plain sight! Tommy specialises the amazing variety of galls that cause abnormal, but mostly benign growths on plants. Caused by many organisms, such as insects, mites, bacteria, fungi and viruses, they are evidence of the enormous species diversity in the wood.
If you want to join this walk, please email Lotte Rasmussen on lotte@boyen.co.uk or text her on 07458-322-710. We ask for a £5 donation to help cover the costs - under 16s go free.
Big Wood Autumn Activity Mornings
We are off to a great start with the Activity Mornings this autumn, as we will have the advice of professional hedge layer Robert Thomas, who has created beautiful hurdles in places like Queens Wood. He will guide us with traditional woodland management crafts such as coppicing and hurdle making this winter.
Do come and join us on Saturday, 18th October, from 10am to 12noon. Meet at Memorial Gate, top of Temple Fortune Hill. We have a lot to do to protect the vulnerable nature recovery areas. 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.
Big Wood KIDS Nature-Inspired Creative Workshops
We continue our series of Big Wood KIDS drop-off sessions for 7 to 12 year olds with 'Autumn Magic' on Sunday 19th October, 10am to 11.30am in Big Wood. Book tickets on Eventbrite and follow Big Wood KIDS via Friends of Big Wood.
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.
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
