May 2012
Hollybank Woods, Emsworth, Hampshire.
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May 2012.
JUBILEE PLANTATION
An area of approx 1.6 acre (1% of the woodland) has been cleared of bramble, bracken and holly over the past 9 months, opening up mature oaks to restore it to an open area of wood pasture, meadow and coppice. Log piles for insects and small mammals have been created with timber from the clearing work, and chipped branches used for mulch. The area has been planted with hedges and trees to provide winter berries in the future for birds and mammals. The area will be designated the Jubilee Plantation, marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Planting of over 400 new tree saplings was carried out from the end of February into March. School children from schools in Emsworth, Southbourne, Westbourne and Havant planted the new trees.
Each tree planted has been recorded with the name of the child planting it, the school and the date.
In decades to come we hope the children planting these trees will feel a connection with Hollybank Woods, and perhaps return with their children to show them the plantation they helped to create in 2012.
Please note that the main fire break/access route heading west from the central clearing is being moved to avoid the wet area just past the Holly Lodge clearing. The existing fire track at this point has always collected water during the winter months and by moving the track south by 5 meters the existing wet area will be allowed to revert to an open dew pond in coming years.
The final stage of the project is to plant a new hazel coppice, this will take place in October.
During November there will be a media event to mark the completion of the new plantation. More details to follow at the end of the summer.
Path clearing
Fire track clearing ahead of Summer.Status: Ongoing.
Clearing along the sides of main tracks and fire breaks through Hollybank Woods is currently in progress. Please be aware of power cutting tools in use. Hazzard signs are placed on the approach to the paths that are being worked on.
As spring approaches keep a special eye out for lizards and slow worms on warmer days as they hunt for insects. Well worth slowing your pace down to a gentle crawl making as little noise as possible. You may be lucky enough to see these elusive reptiles.
(PHOTOS: AB) Common Lizard. Though not as common to see as the name suggests.
Ongoing wildlife surveys:
Please be aware that Hollybank Woods is a conservation area. Surveying of wildlife, and habitat, takes place at night as well as during the day. Pay attention to signs warning of obstructions (such as cables and sensitive technical equipment) that may be in use alongside the permitted bridleways at night during the months of (but not limited to) April, May, June, July, August, September and October.
Hollybank Woods Open Day and May Arts Festival.
May 2011.
Thank you to the 300 plus visitors who attended Hollybank Woods Open day and Arts Festival in May. A bright sunny day and warm weather provided a glorious afternoon in Hollybank Woods main Hollybank Lodge clearing.
A new sculpture trail has been set up in Hollybank Woods with wood carvings based on artworks produced by local schools and community groups.
Criminal damage:
Sadly, especially for the school children that put a lot of time and effort into producing the artworks for the sculptures to be carved, two of these have been destroyed, including the carving of the Glenwood School crest which was the school children's first request for a lasting, and personal connection, with the woodland that they enjoy visiting on class nature days.
Distressing for all involved and a sad reflection on the individuals who have no regard for either the children or the young people, community groups and artists who put many months into helping create an arts trail.
Crime prevention measures.
Following cut timber theft from the forestry area, destruction of woodland infrastructure and now criminal damage to wood carvings on the arts trail the police recommended 24/7 cctv and infra red camera traps to protect strategic areas and infrastructure of the woodland, including sculptures, sign boards and cut timber which is used for habitat regeneration and infrastructure projects.
This is now in operation throughout Hollybank Woods as is increased police (uniformed and plain clothed) and warden patrols at all times of the day and night.
Please note that well ordered and non anti social individuals and groups of all ages enjoying the woodland will not be aware of the increased crime prevention measures, and are not targeted or disturbed by the police.
Hollybank Woods is a place to enjoy the tranquility and peace that an ancient woodland provides, watching wildlife, walking and horse riding.
Do not light camp fires in the woods:
Fires are not permitted in Hollybank Woods, and any fire that is set will be extinguished by the Fire Services. This is not a policy resulting from any attempt to spoil anyone's fun, but a legal requirement that Hollybank Woods has to prevent fires being set.
Open camp fires in Hollybank Woods create a potential threat to the forestry operation, wildlife habitat and resident species, some of which are internationally rare and protected by the European Court.
The only fires in Hollybank Woods are those directly connected to our forestry operations during winter months. The public are not permitted to light fires in Hollybank Woods at any time.
Hollybank Woods
Hollybank Woods is a tranquil and quiet place to enjoy and appreciate the wide diversity of wildlife and woodland habitats found here.
Wildlife and habitats are all too often managed for our short term needs and damanged beyond recovery.
In a world where the pressure to exploit and manage for today often prevails, it is vital that we preserve some ancient woodlands such as Hollybank Woods for future generations; so that they too may appreciate, explore and have an opportunity to see a wilder less formally managed woodland.
Fire prevention in Hollybank Woods.
Vigilent fire watching during dry months and a network of volunteer fire wardens has prevented major fires for over 8 years. As always we are greatly appreciative of both Emsworth and Havant fire crews who always turn out promptly to deal with any fire in the woodland.
(PHOTO: AB) Fire brigade landrover deep in the woodland damping down by a fire site.
Late Summer in the woodland.
A good year for Shield bugs, especially on sunny days when the sharp light revealed such intricate detailed markings.
(PHOTO: AB)
White Admiral butterfly.
(PHOTO: AB)
Hollybank News
(also check out the blog for latest reports).
Hollybank Woods Geocache's.
Report by Rod Smith, Hollybank Woods Vice Chairman and Geocache Warden.
After ten minutes of hunting through ivy-covered trees I finally find what I'm looking for at the base of a tree, there is a small pile of sticks and leaves. Pulling it away, I discover a carefully concealed tupperware box, a 'Geocache'.
Geocaching is a high tech international treasure hunt. There are over 42,000 hidden caches waiting to be found in the UK, along with 3380 in Italy, 32 in Antarctica and even one hidden on Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Put simply, it's a contemporary version of the old pirate treasure map where X marks the spot. From locating the treasure on your computer to locating it in person via your GPS, it's a fun way get out and about and explore areas that you may not have been to before.
Rod Smith, Hollybank Woods Vice Chairman and Geocache Warden out in the wood setting clues! (PHOTO: AB)
To start playing the game the only kit you will need is some sort of GPS receiver. You can get a standard walking GPS from about £60, but your TomTom type of in-car Sat Nav will sometimes be accurate enough to find caches near to a roadside.
Rod is more than happy to meet people in Hollybank, lend them a suitable GPS unit, and guide them around the trail which leads to the geocache. It's a great way to get a feel for the sport before you commit to purchasing a GPS. Read on and then follow the link at the end of this feature.
Some Geocaches may be possible to find without a GPS device but you could be treasure hunting for the next 15 years before finding it, as the more common Ordnance Survey grid references aren't specific enough to be useful unless there is a definite landmark described in the cache's location clue.
Once on the international Geocaching website, (details on Rod's page) you will be able to search a list of caches and select one which is nearby. You can then print out the page for that cache, which includes a cryptic location clue, and off you go on the hunt.
If finding the caches alone isn't challenging enough, you must do so without being seen by 'Muggles' or Non-Geocachers. Some boxes are deliberately hidden in busy areas such as cities, parks and near supermarkets, so a good plan is needed to retrieve one secretly without giving the game away to the Muggles.
If you're lucky enough to find a cache, there will be a logbook inside to sign. Some boxes may also contain other objects such as toys, postcards or even CDs. If you do take something, then you are obliged to put something else back in, unless the object removed is a 'trackable' one.
There are two main types of trackable objects, Geocoins and Travel Bugs, the latter being a dog-tag normally attached to a keyring or model. Geocachers move these objects from cache to cache and they normally have 'missions' given to them by their owners. These can be anything from visiting as many British castles as possible to travelling to Australia. One cache near Havant has been put in place especially for people wishing to have their 'trackables' taken across to the continent (or beyond), with people en route to the Cross-Channel ferries and airports, stopping by to pick them up.
After you've searched for a cache and found it, you log back on to the Geocaching page for that cache and record your success, along with any notes, comments, or funny things that happened while you were searching.
Some caches are spread out along a trail, with one box having to be found in order to retrieve clues to the location of the next one. Others may require you to solve a puzzle to get the cache location, or can only be searched for at night.
A word of warning; Geocaching is surprisingly addictive. You could soon find yourself spending hours on the Geocaching.com site, checking for new caches to go and find. Even a simple trip to Portsmouth will include a quick detour to look for that box near the Spinnaker Tower. This sport may take over your life, but it's worth it!
Check out
- Rod's Hollybank Geocache page
Habitat restoration in the conifer plantation.
Report by AB
After several years of felling within the conifer plantation (eastern woodland) there is a large amount of debris that has built up.
During the spring and early summer the conifer plantation will be undergoing habitat restoration and log stacking.
Warning signs will be placed on paths entering the plantation area whilst this work is being undertaken.
We would respectfully remind horse riders that there is no bridleway or permitted horse route through the conifer plantation or on Longcopse Hill. Bridleways and permitted horse routes are clearly marked within the main woodland.
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Meeting point for work days and walks.
Meeting point for work party days and guided walks / events 2009 | Back to top |
Spring & Summer events
Saturday 26th May 2012
May Arts Day
2pm to 5pm
Hollybank Woods will be hosting a Tree Dressing as part of the 2012 Salisbury International Arts Festival.
Art produced by local school children will be used to dress one of Hollybank Woods Oak trees. Come and see the decorated Wishing Tree and add to it yourself as part of this community event.
Hollybank Woods Tree Dressing Day is part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival's Nature Of Art In Wessex. This is an innovative three year project using art to help people explore the nature on their doorstep.
Vist the website
Nature Of Art In Wessex
You will also be able to walk around the new Jubilee Plantation area and see the results of the Hollybank Woods project to create a new plantation in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee, and see the hundreds of trees planted in late February and early March this year by local school children.
Walks 2012
Walks and work groups meet at the top of Hollybank Lane by the notice board.
Forthcoming dates:
Spring & Summer walks
24th June
Folk lore & tree identification.
Leader: Jonathan Huet
6th July
(Evening event 8.30pm to 11.30pm)
Bats & Moths evening.
Leader: Mike Perry
14th July
Butterflies walk.
Leader: Mike Bridger
September (date to be set)
Fungus foray.
Leader: Rosemary Webb & Tim Crook
All Winter Work Party start at 10am and finish at 12 noon. Meet at the top of Hollybank Lane by the Friends of Hollybank Woods information board. All welcome. Woodland work tasks for all ages and abilities, from path clearing to litter picking. Children very welcome, but need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear sturdy footware/boots.
Work Party days run during the autumn and winter months. From April onwards, work days cease. This allows the nesting birds and breading animals the spring and summer months undisturbed.
During the Spring, Summer and Autumn there are monthly guided walks in the woodland. All walks start at the top of Hollybank Lane, meeting by the Friends of Hollybank Woods information
board. Walks last 2 hours and start at 10am finishing about midday. (With the exception of the Summer moth and bat evening which starts at 8pm and finishes at about 11pm.) All welcome. Children very welcome, but need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear sturdy footware/boots. All guided walks meet at the top of Hollybank Lane and are free to members (50p suggested donation from non members).
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Weekly walks in Hollybank Woods:
Walking To Health.
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Short, free and safe guided walks in Hollybank Woods. Meet at 10.15am, SYRCH Centre, Cotton Drive, off Southliegh Road in north Emsworth. (SYRCH Centre is sign posted and there is a free car park).A great way to keep fit, all ages welcome! Improving your health whilst enjoying an autumn/winter walk in the woodland.
Organised by Walking to Health.
(Supported by the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency.)
Foxgloves. Blue skies and (July 2011) summer weather in Hollybank Woods.
(PHOTO: AB)
Emsworth Show 2011
August Bank Holiday
Many thanks to all the visitors who dropped in on our stand this year, and to those who signed up as new members of the Friends of Hollybank Woods.
Emsworth Show. (PHOTO: AB)
Emsworth Show, Holybank Stand. David Willetts is a great supporter of the conservation work in Hollybank Woods, and has been a member of the friends group since it was founded. (PHOTOS: AB)
Emsworth Show 2009, Holybank Stand. Two of our regular young supporters from 2007. (PHOTO: AB)
Friends of Hollybank Woods
About and how to join:
The Friends of Hollybank Woods are a group of local residents who formed in the Spring of 2001 to promote the protection of Hollybank Woods. The wood is owned by Havant Borough Council and managed on its behalf by the Friends of Hollybank Woods who organise regular work parties and themed walks run by local naturalists. The group formed a management committee and undertake well planned conservation work in the woods for the benefit of both wildlife and people using the woods.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved, not just for those who want to do practical work. We need your support!
To receive a Membership Application pack and become a Friend, please contact the Friends of Hollybank Woods membership secretary. Membership costs £1.50 for an adult and £3.00 for a family. Under 16's free.
Anna Williams
Membership Secretary
Friends of Hollybank Woods
Hollybank House
Emsworth
PO10 7UN
Telephone Anna on (01243) 375502
You can email us too, contact details are on the Blog page.
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© 2010 | AB