Saturday 11th February 11.00 - 13.00
It does look very much like the snow will have thawed by Saturday so we're all geared up for our big winter clean up and we'd really like you to be a part of it. This is the best time of year to pull out rubbish that's been concealed or tangled in the abundance of summer growth.
Northern section (Muswell Hill)
Please meet at the Muswell Hill entrance at 11.am. If you do get there early, pleasedon't make a start, as we planted 350 bulbs on the embankment and entrance area in November which are just coming through and we need to make sure everyone knows where the bulbs are so they don't get trampled.
Southern section (between Highgate and Finsbury Park)
Please meet at the entrance at Stapleton Hall Road bridge (on the pavement level) at 11.00 am.
Gloves and stout boots, rather than wellies, are recommended. We will supply litter picking equipment so bending is kept to a minimum. It's only for 2 hours, but if you only want to do one, best try and make it 11 - 12 so you get the briefing and tools from our team leader.
Other News:
Saving the grassland on two sections
BTCV had two days working on The Parkland Walk recently.
First to get some loving attention was the area of meadow in Highgate. The area in front of the tunnels by Holmesdale Road is one of the few areas of meadowland on the walk and as part of the management plan we're keen to see that it isn't lost to bramble. As a result we can ensure a good range of bio-diversity which allows a wider range of insect life to flourish.
More than twelve volunteers turned up on a particularly cold morning but there's nothing like a bit of bramble bashing to get the body temperature up and as a result, the area had a good spruce up. The cuttings, or 'arisings', were trimmed and placed in two compact piles enabling the material to break down faster and also creating more insect habitats.
The second area to receive much the same treatment, was the embankment at the Muswell Hill Gate. Once again bramble was removed, and shrubs that have had little pruning for years were reduced too. Most of the wood removed was dead, and again piled up in the same manner as at Highgate.
Clearing the ground now means that some new ground cover can establish itself. Another benefit is that this area, which has a history of collecting large amounts of discarded rubbish, can now be maintained more easily - perfect for Saturday's litter pick. Efforts are also underway to get the heavier brick and concrete rubble removed so that this section can begin to function as a living part of the nature reserve. More news on that as soon as we have it.
Before and after pictures of the embankment at Muswell Hill
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