Sample Action Days
Interested in a team action day?
Here are two examples of challenges you might like to tackle. . .
BENTLEY PRIORY
A Monastic settlement in the 13th Century, home of Dowager Queen Adelaide in the 1850s and to the RAF in later years - playing a pivotal role during the World Wars – Bentley Priory now offers over 200 acres of woodland, open grassland and water habitats to the city’s wildlife.
Untouched by fertilisers, the open grassland is so abundant with wildflowers, many uncommon, that it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England. In addition a wide variety of birds frequent this Stanmore site; buzzards, spotted flycatcher and warblers.
Heriot’s Wood has been in existence since at least 1600 and next to Summerhouse Lake stands the ‘Master’, a mighty oak at least 500 years old.
The task in hand
Left to their own devices the open grassland and heath areas of this site would become overgrown with scrub and revert to woodland, with the loss of the species relying on them for survival.
Cattle and rabbits help to keep some of the grassland clear, but glades and dells within the site need special assistance, and that is where your team can help.
Join us on site to clear the invasive vegetation and protect the valuable and varied habitats and the flora and fauna they support. We would plan to clear a specific area enabling volunteers to see the results of their labour as well as enjoy working together in the great outdoors at a fantastic site.
ALEXANDRA PALACE
Famous Haringey former home of the BBC news broadcasts, ‘The People’s Palace’ has had a challenging history.
Destroyed by fire only 16 days after it’s opening in 1873, the Victorian environment and recreation centre was rebuilt and reopened within 2 years. Having survived 2 World wars, it was then ravaged by fire again in 1980.
Now the remaining palace buildings and 196 acres of parkland, awarded a Civic Trust Green Flag for 2008-9, are managed by the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust.
The task in hand
Managing this area is a mammoth job, and one which BTCV regularly helps out with. The Conservation Area extends to around 2 hectares encompassing areas of woodland, meadow, scrub and a pond. Within the woodland are some old oaks, estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old, and this area, with the scrubland, is home to 113 bird species.
In addition to keeping woodland glades clear of encroaching vegetation to allow plants and wildlife to flourish, the pond needs regular maintenance and fences, bridges and steps are in need of repair. In the regenerated woodland at the Old Blandford Hall site new glades and paths need to be created and hedging trees planted.
Tasks like these give tangible and visible results for volunteers who get a real sense of achievement from their efforts as well as greatly benefiting the local wildlife.
