News
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
9th November 2021
Rotherwick Parish Council are pleased to share with you that we are at the next stage of our ongoing work in Hudson Copse, work having started back last winter with the removal of large amounts of invasive cherry laurel and holly.
That work left the part of the woodland at the edge of the Copse exposed with less vegetation than previously. We are now in a position to create a natural hedge on the bank along the boundary between the Copse and Cowfold Lane to provide visual separation of the woodland from the road.
The hedging will run from Oakwood Cottage near the bus shelter along the bank at the edge of the Copse to the kissing gate entrance to the public footpath.
The hedge will use a laid over hedge technique using existing vegetation where possible, supplemented by plantings of native species saplings to provide body to the hedge whilst allowing the passage of wildlife, including deer. Once established the hedge will be maintained at a height of approximately 4 ½ – 5 feet high.
The Parish Council sought arboricultural input as assurance that this style of hedging and the planting varieties being used are suitable for our woodland and will support wildlife and biodiversity. We believe the hedge will be an attractive feature along Cowfold Lane and contribute positively to the character of this part of Rotherwick.
We have been fortunate in a successful application to The Woodland Trust for saplings to be used in this project and will soon be receiving delivery of 420 trees, canes and protective spiral guards. The saplings will be a mixture of elder, rowan, hazel, blackthorn, crab apple and dog rose varieties. This is approximately half the total number of saplings needed, and the Parish Council are looking to source a further 420 trees from The Woodland Trust for delivery in March to complete the project. – any timeline for this?
For those of you who are interested in finding out more about laid over hedging the link below gives more information. https://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/Default.aspx. There are several good examples locally to us – the closest being in Bottle Lane.
Our immediate plan is to create short sections of hedging in December as a pilot – with a core group of residents who have experience of this. It will give us the opportunity to test out what will be needed and how to approach the creation of the hedge as a whole. The pilot is expected to focus on short sections closest to Oakwood Cottage and closest to the kissing gate.
Once the pilot has been completed, we will commence the planting of the remainder of the saplings in the period from mid-December through to the milder weather of March. This will take place over several weekends. Jonathan Wort is the lead councillor. John Bennett has kindly undertaken volunteered asthe role of project manager as he has experience of creating a laid over hedge.
For this to be successful we need a team of willing volunteers. Each volunteer will need a garden spade or trowel to be able to plant the trees. If you are interested in being involved in this project, please email our clerk, Susan Richardson on clerk@rotherwick.org.uk
That work left the part of the woodland at the edge of the Copse exposed with less vegetation than previously. We are now in a position to create a natural hedge on the bank along the boundary between the Copse and Cowfold Lane to provide visual separation of the woodland from the road.
The hedging will run from Oakwood Cottage near the bus shelter along the bank at the edge of the Copse to the kissing gate entrance to the public footpath.
The hedge will use a laid over hedge technique using existing vegetation where possible, supplemented by plantings of native species saplings to provide body to the hedge whilst allowing the passage of wildlife, including deer. Once established the hedge will be maintained at a height of approximately 4 ½ – 5 feet high.
The Parish Council sought arboricultural input as assurance that this style of hedging and the planting varieties being used are suitable for our woodland and will support wildlife and biodiversity. We believe the hedge will be an attractive feature along Cowfold Lane and contribute positively to the character of this part of Rotherwick.
We have been fortunate in a successful application to The Woodland Trust for saplings to be used in this project and will soon be receiving delivery of 420 trees, canes and protective spiral guards. The saplings will be a mixture of elder, rowan, hazel, blackthorn, crab apple and dog rose varieties. This is approximately half the total number of saplings needed, and the Parish Council are looking to source a further 420 trees from The Woodland Trust for delivery in March to complete the project. – any timeline for this?
For those of you who are interested in finding out more about laid over hedging the link below gives more information. https://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/Default.aspx. There are several good examples locally to us – the closest being in Bottle Lane.
Our immediate plan is to create short sections of hedging in December as a pilot – with a core group of residents who have experience of this. It will give us the opportunity to test out what will be needed and how to approach the creation of the hedge as a whole. The pilot is expected to focus on short sections closest to Oakwood Cottage and closest to the kissing gate.
Once the pilot has been completed, we will commence the planting of the remainder of the saplings in the period from mid-December through to the milder weather of March. This will take place over several weekends. Jonathan Wort is the lead councillor. John Bennett has kindly undertaken volunteered asthe role of project manager as he has experience of creating a laid over hedge.
For this to be successful we need a team of willing volunteers. Each volunteer will need a garden spade or trowel to be able to plant the trees. If you are interested in being involved in this project, please email our clerk, Susan Richardson on clerk@rotherwick.org.uk