On the ground: an autumn conservation update
Autumn marks a change of pace across our green spaces. As grassland work comes to an end and attention turns to woodland and hedgerows, our wardens and volunteers are helping prepare habitats for the seasons ahead.
We caught up with James, our Senior Warden, to find out what’s happening at Wandlebury Country Park, Coton Countryside Reserve and Grantchester Meadows, and why these seasonal jobs matter.
Wandlebury: from grassland to woodland
At Wandlebury, the team has been completing the annual cutting and collecting of vegetation from areas of chalk grassland.
Removing the cut material helps prevent nutrients building up in the soil, maintaining the conditions that allow a wider variety of grassland plants to thrive. Where livestock cannot graze, cutting also helps keep vegetation in check.
Some areas need particularly careful treatment, including a patch where wild liquorice has been planted in the hope of supporting moth species associated with it.
As trees begin to enter their dormant season, the focus is shifting towards woodland management, including coppicing near Beech Avenue.
Coppicing involves cutting suitable trees close to ground level, allowing them to produce new shoots from the base. By working on a different patch each year, the wardens create a mixture of younger growth, dense cover and older woodland, offering different habitats for wildlife.
Opening up small areas also allows more sunlight to reach the woodland floor, encouraging plants to grow beneath the trees. Standing deadwood is retained where possible, providing another valuable habitat.
Coton: finding the balance
At Coton, much of the autumn work is about maintaining a balance between scrub, grassland and woodland.
Blackthorn provides valuable dense cover, but it can spread into areas being managed for a greater variety of grassland plants. The team is controlling that spread while retaining thickets for wildlife.
One approach has been to lay blackthorn stems in circles, using a technique similar to hedge laying. James reports that this has helped concentrate regrowth into dense patches rather than allowing it to spread outwards.
The team has also been cutting back vegetation around stock fencing and along access routes, keeping the reserve’s paths and infrastructure clear.
Grantchester Meadows: a shared effort
At a recent work party at Grantchester Meadows, 20 volunteers helped clear vegetation from paths, cut back grass and ditch edges, and collect litter.
Along the cycle path, cutting back an encroaching hedge revealed around another foot of usable path beneath the vegetation — a visible difference from a morning’s work.
Managing the grass and edges also complements the wider mowing programme, helping create a mixture of vegetation heights and keeping bramble growth in check.
Litter remains a recurring task. As dense vegetation is cut back, the team continues to uncover bottles and other rubbish hidden beneath it.
The people behind the work
Our regular volunteers and corporate teams make a substantial contribution to this conservation programme. While wardens carry out specialist cutting and prepare work areas, volunteers help rake, clear, stack and process the resulting material.
That shared effort allows the team to tackle more work across our green spaces. Recent corporate volunteering at Wandlebury has included processing coppiced timber, while our regular work parties continue to support tasks across the reserves.
If you would like to take part, there are different jobs to suit different abilities, with instruction and tools provided. It’s an opportunity to spend time outdoors, learn practical skills and help care for the places you enjoy.
Visit our events page for upcoming volunteer work parties and details of where to meet.
