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IN FORDHAM

FORDHAM HALL ESTATE, MARCH 2005, NEWSLETTER No 3

Contents

Welcome

Welcome to the third email newsletter for Fordham Hall Estate. The newsletter has developed from an aspiration of trying to keep people informed about what we are doing at Fordham Hall Estate. It has been really eye opening and reassuring to find out how many people want to be kept in touch with developments at Fordham.

Each week I get at least 10 enquiries about what we are doing at Fordham and in writing the newsletter I have tried to address these enquiries on the basis if one person raised it several more must be thinking it! Equally as a bit of an 'anorak' on site management the newsletter reflects what I think people are interested in. Experience suggests I have probably got that wrong so please feel free to help me by suggesting what needs to be included in the next newsletters.

Activity Update

Tree Planting: 18705 new trees were planted this year in what we call Sub Compartment 6b, the area at the back of the village hall. This brings the total planted so far to 78583 trees. The survival of the trees planted last year has been good-to-average with some 15% of the trees needing to be replaced. For those into the details the following species were planted this year: Ash (21.5%) Hazel (21.5%) Pedunculate Oak (17%) Hornbeam (10%), Open ground (10%) Field Maple (9%) Small Leaved Lime (3%) Downy Birch (2.8%) Grey Sallow (2.6%) Aspen (2%) Crab Apple (0.6%)

Volunteer Planting Day: Our annual community-planting day (on xx November 2004) was a big success. Around 300 people came along and planted 2960 trees. Many thanks to everyone who helped us host the event this year and also to the WI who ran the tea stall. The attendance of 300 people was amazing as we had intended to advertise and do press notices but the pre-event enquiries were so high before we had done any publicity we thought it best to not advertise for more people and just put up posters and email round people! With the help of so many people we were in the end well set up to cope with many more people, so who knows next time we should go for a 500 people!

School Planting Project: In November we had weeklong programme of tree planting with local school children. In total 383 children from 9 schools joined us for a 1 ½ hour education package ending with each child planting a tree. Last year we worked with 17 Schools and 707 children over a two-week period. Places for the school-planting project all went on a first-come-first served basis and we were fully booked within the first day of notifying schools in the region and sadly the most local school missed out on a place. The next School Planting programme will occur in Jan/Feb 2006 and is financially supported by the Tesco Charity Trust.

Eco Friendly Weed control Trials: In one of the first field planted we have been working with the Forestry Commission Technical Development Branch to research 'Eco Friendly' Weed Control. A complete kill of all 'weeds' around the base of each planted trees is crucial for the establishment and growth of tree. At the scale we work at the only 'practical' option at the moment is the use of pesticides. At Fordham I use Glyphosate (ROUND-UP), which is sprayed in a 1m wide band along the planting row twice a year. The techniques being tested are possible candidates for large-scale use eg use of mulches, heating of the ground in various ways to kills weeds and deep ploughing to bring up infertile subsoil's. Detailed fact sheets on the techniques used are being produced by the TDB for publication in the near future. Attached with the Newsletter is pdf of a poster about the trials

Our First MA!: Robin West from the University of Essex successfully completed his Sociological Research MA at Fordham Hall Estate. His thesis was called 'Early Grounds: the memory and performance of environments in contemporary rural life'. The Thesis is based on research carried out at Fordham talking to local people and examines the levels of attitudes and practices towards the natural environment in contemporary rural life. Robin has now moved on to a more detailed development of his work through undertaking a Sociological PhD based at Fordham. Robin will be talking about his research to the Fordham Local History Group. See Diary Dates below for details.

Hedge Cutting: During Feb we cut all the hedges we need to cut across the site. The Hedge cutting programme is based on a detailed Hedge Management plan which in itself is based on a hedge-by-hedge survey, hedge map and survey are available on email if you would like more details. We have a total of 14680 m of hedgerows comprising a total of 40 woody species. Some people have commented that it would be nicer if we cut the hedges in a more tidy way, ie less bits of twig left lying on the ground. As a cyclist I sympathise and will discussing options with the Bradshaw's who are our hedge-cutting contractor.

Woodland Creation Scheme: To help us raise funds to pay for the management of Fordham Hall Estate an important source of funds is the sponsorship of tree plots under the Woodland Creation Scheme. At present we have just over 800 plots available and almost 25% of these were sponsored in the first 6 months of the scheme. Please get in touch if you would like more details on the scheme.

Management Plan Consultation

The first draft of the 'management plan' for Fordham Hall estate has been prepared. This sets out the management priorities we have identified for the area and is based on the previous three years of fact-finding and much help from local naturalists and others. Attached with newsletter is map summary of the Conservation and Access Plans that gives you a pretty full idea of what is proposed. We are still unclear on some activities, eg the management of the floodplain areas so the Plan is very much part of developing process.

If you would like a copy of the plan sent via email please contact me for a copy. I will also be placing a few copies in the local area shortly for people to look at once I get the okay form local establishments.

Formal Opening of Fordham Hall Estate

A formal opening ceremony, hosted by our patron Ronald Blythe, for Fordham Hall estate will be undertaken at 2.30pm on Wednesday 16th March 2005. We will be gathering at the car park area for a ribbon cutting and tree planting ceremony. As well as opening the site it is also an opportunity for us to thank the many people who have helped us over the last few years at Fordham. Joining us will be one of our major sponsors the Essex Environment Trust.

Once the formal bit is done I will lead a short walk to outline our proposals for the area. If you would like to join us on the day please contact my colleague Anna Fisher on Tel 01476 581 111 email annafisher@woodland-trust.org.uk . Formal invites have gone out to some people and we have catered for around 80 people (Tea and cakes) however we would be please see as many people along as possible to mark the occasion.

Forthcoming Tasks and Projects

Installation of new information points: To help keep people informed about our work at Fordham we are installing a number of information points. In essence these will give people without access to email the chance to get up to date on what is happening at Fordham. The first two points will be at the car park and opposite the three Horseshoes pub.

Tree and site maintenance: Over the next few months the main tasks being undertaken will include:

Grassland Creation opportunities: My main task for the next few months is pulling together the proposals for the grassland creation works, including the floodplain area. This will involve working with a number of specialist advisors such as Flora Locale, Colchester Natural History Society, and the Environment Agency. In some ways this will be the most exciting part of the project and certainly the one where the changes for wildlife and people will be seen quicker.

Some Recent Issues

Motorbikes: Through last summer we had a spate of local youths using motorbikes on the site. This caused some local concern, as apart from the damage to our paths it was a significant noise nuisance. I have discussed this issue with quite a few people and been led to understand that the local 'grapevine' has dealt with some of these concerns through speaking to parents of some of the local young people concerned.

Damage to fences: We have been suffering damage to our fences around the tree planting blocks, eg in January we had 13 sections of fence damaged across the site. The fences provide essential protection against rabbits and hares, which eat young trees. The damage we believe is typical of that caused by someone letting dogs in and out of the planting blocks, however a number o local dog walkers disagreed with me on this when I mentioned this on posters! It has transpired that some dog walkers like walking their dog in the fenced areas as they can let the dog off the lead and know they cannot stray too far. I had not anticipated such use and as a consequence the planting blocks do not have appropriate entrances. I have recently installed a number of entrances into those planting blocks most commonly used, which hopefully will remedy the fence damage problem.

Diary of Events

March 16th 10.30 am - 2.30 pm. The Colne Valley Project are undertaking a range of conservation tasks on the new common at Fordham. Tasks include building a stag beetle pyramid, Tree and pond maintenance. Task will end at 2,30 so that you can join us at the formal launch of the Fordham Hall Project! Contact Simon Amstutz for more details: Tel 01206 282472, Email Simon.Amstutz@colchester.gov.uk

March 16th 2.30 pm to 4.30pm. Formal opening of Fordham Hall estate. Contact Anna Fisher on Tel 01476 581 111 email annafisher@woodland-trust.org.uk to confirm you would like to come along.

March 26th: 10 am. Local naturalists Joe Firmin and Phillip Smith are leading a 'Bird walk' in the nearby Woodland Trust Wood, Hillhouse Wood at 10 am. The walk start form the Old Church at West Bergholt and is a great chance to find out more on of spring birds and butterflies. This walk is hosted by the Friends of Hillhouse Wood, contact Mike Pluck for more details Tel 01206 514 173

May 8th 3.45 am! Dawn Chorus walk at Hillhouse Wood. Your chance to hear the nightingales for which Hillhouse Wood is famous as well as many other spring bird songsters in the company of local naturalists Joe Firmin and Phillip Smith. The walk start form the Old Church at West Bergholt and is hosted by the Friends of Hillhouse Wood, contact Mike Pluck for more details Tel 01206 514 173

May 18th 6.30-8.30 pm: Bird Box making and erecting Fordham Hall Estate. Come along and help us make and erect bird boxes as part of our work to conserve farmland birds at Fordham Hall Estate. Contact Geoff Sinclair for more details Tel 01473 327 771 email geoffreysinclair@woodland-trust.org.uk

July 13th 6.30-8.30 pm: Stag Beetle and Kestrel/Owl Conservation at Fordham Hall Estate. Come and help us construct special woodpiles to attract Stag Beetles, our largest and one of our less common beetles. We also hope to erect a number of perch post across the planted areas for owls and other raptors to help me control the vole population. Voles also like to eat young trees! Contact Geoff Sinclair for more details Tel 01473 327 771 email geoffreysinclair@woodland-trust.org.uk

September 14th 6.30-8.30 pm. Meet the Woodmen Walk. An informal chance to walk the site and discuss its management with the site manger. All topics open for discussion! Contact Geoff Sinclair for more details Tel 01473 327 771 email geoffreysinclair@woodland-trust.org.uk

Contacts

Geoff Sinclair (Site Manager) 2 Five Acres, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2QE Tel 01473 327 771 email geoffreysinclair@woodland-trust.org.uk

Woodland Trust Head Office, Autumn Park, Dysart Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG 31 6LL Tel 01476 581 111

It's History Now!

Public Consultation Meeting on 15th May 2002

In case you are not aware, 505 acres of farmland surrounding Fordham, has been given to the Trust by an anonymous donor for a period of 99 years. Having now taken time to consider the possibilities of how to proceed, Andy Beer with Jack the dog, Geoff Sinclair and Janet Watt from 'The Woodland Trust' gave a guided tour of the newly acquired land, which is due to be handed over to them in October 2002.

Local residents turned out in force (around 100 people) to take the tour and to see an overview of the plans to create a mixture of woodland, heath and wetland. The idea is that 50/60% of the land will eventually be planted with trees. Grasslands and wetlands will take up the remainder. A small area of archaeological interest will be left as grassland to allow for possible future excavation. Special consideration is being given to retain some of the much enjoyed scenic views, that might otherwise be lost by tree planting.

The importance of the rural landscape, to residents and people visiting the area, has been kept in mind and although some views may be changed, by the planting of trees, every effort will be made to minimise this. During the initial 4 to 5 years, the Trust, will continue to farm some of the land until the planting is well under way. This will enable them to bring in revenue, which will help to finance the project. As they pointed out, the land has been given to them but no money.

Following the walk, we adjourned to the Village Hall to view maps of the land, which showed field names, designated footpaths, possible new footpaths, etc. Residents were invited to ask questions and give their own ideas about how they see the future of the land. Many people were keen to see some arable farming remain and made various suggestions about how we might work with the Trust to enable them to realise their plans.

The Trust have offered to take the residents of Fordham to visit another of their projects which was planted about 5 years ago, to give an idea of what could be expected. They are also keen to hear from local people who will be available to offer their services to help with the many tasks ahead. One suggestion was to hold fund-raising events. The Trust has agreed to send details of the project to us, as it unfolds, and will be posted on this website and elsewhere as it becomes available.

FORDHAM HABITAT CREATION PROPOSALS

ACCOMPANYING NOTES

The draft habitat creation proposals are summarised on the attached map (not available). These proposals are intended as a starting point and it is expected that the plans may change following consultation with local people, or on the basis of new information. The proposals reflect the following:

Woodland creation

Our aim is to create a native woodland and our choice of tree species will be informed by the soil type and also by the trees found in neighbouring ancient woods (such as Hillhouse Wood). We will aim to plant lots of trees with the help of volunteers and the trees will be planted in wavy lines to create a natural effect. The trees will be small (30-40cm high) and around two metres apart

Fencing and gates

We will need to fence the land, either to contain grazing animals or to exclude rabbits from the newly planted areas. We will install gates at all the path entrances to ensure that the land is accessible. Where possible we will fence close to hedgelines to reduce the visual impact of the fencing.

Paths

Footpaths and new permissive paths will be wide and grass covered. As a rule, we do not put hard surfaces on paths, but we may explore this on one or two routes if there is a clear need (subject to obtaining funding and planning consent). Currently some of the paths are used by horses under the East Anglian Farm Rides scheme. We are likely to continue with this arrangement, although we may amend some of the riding routes.

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