Drawing Conclusions

In conclusion to our results, High Woods is in very good hands. Ranger Lindsell (remember?), the volunteers and the management teams are doing a fantastic job on keeping the park at its best. Of course, we can all help out ourselves by simply going to the park and keeping it used. Thank you for reading (or listening in class) and have a good time at the park. ^^   

Lake at High Woods

 Now that we've found out what we need to know, all this has to come to an end. This is the Cupcakes Are Forever team, signing off.

- Cupcakes Are Forever xoxo

From The Ranger

Hey there!
We've been in touch with the ranger at High Woods, Sonya Lindsell, and she has told us a lot about what goes on at High Woods for conservation.

Woodland management –

 What goes on here happens to be coppicing, sycamore removal, treating invasive Knotweed and glade creation. This ensures that the woodland is kept healthy and lively, and protected from invasive species.

Pond/lake management –

This is a very important thing to take care of, otherwise the life there won't be able to grow in the habitat. So clearing invasive non native plants such as Australian Stone Crop, clearing bank-side vegetation on rotation, creating open water in the marsh area by pulling reed mace all helps to keep it clear and healthy.

Grassland management –

To many people, grass may just be grass- just let it grow! But keeping it healthy and free of things you don't want can be hard. So clearing invasive plants such as Ragwort and Creeping thistle, grazing on rotation and taking a hay crop in late September is all done to ensure that the grass is kept luscious and flourishing.  

Hedgerow management – 

Hedgerows are important so coppicing and trimming is done on rotation as well as planting up any gaps to keep it neat.

Scrub management – 

This involves creating clearings and areas for lizards to bask in. This important because lizards are cold-blooded, meaning they can't keep themselves warm. So they use the rocks heat them up. If they can't do this, they could die. 

This is all helping to keep the park healthy, lively and flourishing. 

Thanks for the information Ranger Lindsell! ;)

- Cupcakes Are Forever xoxo

 

Conservation Efforts

"The park is run by its team of country park specialists who follow a site plan to conserve and enhance this beautiful place."

- Colchester, High Woods 

Volunteers also make a tremendous contribution. They are all highly commited to their jobs and taking care of the animals and the plants that all live there. Management is carried out for wildlife, the animals and plants that share it, and for everyone to enjoy. High Woods has had the Green Flag status since 2002.  The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met high standards. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

Volunteering

If you are looking for a social ativity, work experience, to get fit, or simply have passion for the park, the park is the place to volunteer! This will help with the conservation efforts that are already in action. And it doesn't matter if you're not an experienced- training is provided.

- Cupcakes Are Forever xoxo ^.^

Woodland, Wildlife and Grassland

 

Woodland

High Woods is an enchanting, ancient woodland full of wild cherry trees and rich in flora as well as forna. It was grown in the traditional way through the centuries. This lets sunlight into the wood and encourages bluebells and other flowers to flourish. Much of the meadow is acidic grassland where herbs - such as cat's-ear and heath bedstraw- grow.

The woodland is thriving with life such as tawny owls, sparrowhawks, woodpeckers, nightingales, badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, mice any many others. During the day, small herds of roe and deer roam between the tree trunks of our mixed woods, red squirrels bustle around the treetops in pine woods and butterflies alight on flowers at the forest. A night descends, mammals like foxes, bats, badges and dormice come out to hunt.

Woodland trail through High Woods

Grassland

There are several different types of grassland, characterised by their soil types. Acid grassland can be found in both upland and lowland area where fine-leaved grasses grow, alongside wild flowers like heath bedstraw and pretty blue harebells. Neutral grassland is associated with calys and silty soils.

A well-used High Woods trail

Species

Species found in grasslands are adder's-tongue fern, wild flowers and bee orchids which attract butterflies, such as the eye-catching Adonis Blues (below) and Marbled Whites. Many other butterflies are found here, such as Orange Tip butterflies, Chalkhill Blues, Meadow Browns and any more.  

Adonis Blue butterfly

- Cupcakes Are Forever xoxo