FRIENDS OF FURZEFIELD
Briefly, from the June 99 Newsletter....
Winter Woodland Work
The woodland management work finally got under way around Christmas '98 and the tree felling was completed by the beginning of the new year. Twenty five large oak and ash trees were removed and the hazel coppiced. After the work, the area looked as if a bomb had hit it. This, coinciding with a bout of very wet weather turned the area into a quagmire. During January the area was planted up with the help of several community groups. The 'Friends' Group planted several hundred trees and two groups from the British Trust for Conservation continued the planting.
New Woodland Management Plan
After the publicity surrounding the launch of the Local Nature Reserve in September '98 and the felling work at Christmas, folk may be wondering what's happening next. Last winter was the first time any large trees had been taken from the wood for a number of years so it made a large impact on the wood. This type of felling will not be taking place every year though; the work from now on will take place over a longer time period to give wildlife an opportunity to adapt and thrive under the new conditions.
The work done in the wood is organised under a five year plan. If you would like to see a copy of the next five year plan due to start in August this year then phone Hazel Walsh (number below) to make an appointment to visit the CMS Office at Blanche Lane in South Mimms.
Establishment of Young Trees
Have you seen any deer? There have been reports of Chinese Muntjac deer in the woods for years and there is evidence that they visit the woods from time to time. You are most likely to see the deer in the early morning or in the evening. If you have any sightings to report, call the Countryside Management Service, they would like to hear from you. This is because the young saplings that have just been planted are very vulnerable to grazing by the Muntjac. Rabbits present much less of a problem. If you see any deer, report the fact to CMS at the number below as soon as possible.
Interpretation Panels
By the Autumn there should be two new signs at the entrances to Furzefield LNR to give the site an identity. They will be made of oak and contain contact information and serve as notice boards for forthcoming volunteer tasks.
Muntjac are small deer of the genus Muntiacus in the family, Cervidae. They are sometimes called barking deer because of their short, hard cry, resembling a dog's bark. They are chestnut to yellowish brown in colour, about 60cm high at the shoulders, about 1m long, and usually less than 20 kg in weight. Adult males have small antlers, about 13cm long, usually unbranched except for a small front tine; each antler is set on top of an elongated, bony structure (the pedicel), about as long as the antler. The males have small tusks that protrude beyond the lower lip. Muntjacs are solitary, living in woodland thickets. Mating occurs year-round in the tropics but usually in January and February in the north. Gestation is six months, and the does bear one to two spotted fawns. The Chinese muntjac, M. reevesi, a small deer native to Asia and adapted to cold winters, has been introduced in small numbers into France and England. The male has short antlers -- usually a large branch plus a smaller tine -- that are shed each year.
Forthcoming Activities for the 'Friends' Group...
- Sunday, June 13th
Hand weeding around the new trees planted earlier this year. Clearance of rubbish in the wood.
- Tuesday, August 17th
Evening walk around the woodland and surrounding area. Meet at the Furzefield Centre 6.45pm. Walk should finish just after 8.00pm.
- October sometime
Start of the Winter Conservation work clearing back the scrub which has encroached on the grassland.
