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tree wardens and what we do
The Tree Warden Scheme is a national initiative to enable people to play an active role in conserving and enhancing their local trees and woods. The scheme was founded by the Tree Council and is co-ordinated by the Council with the support the government department Communities and Local Government.
With its origin in the early 1980s, the object of the Scheme was to create a network of informed people who could co-ordinate local tree based environmental improvements on behalf of the County Council. In 1989 there were 173 Tree Wardens in East Sussex and Leicestershire. In that same year in the wake of the Great Storm The Tree Council initiated a National Tree Warden Scheme, based on the East Sussex model. It grew and spread with enormous speed and 18 years later has 8,000 Tree Wardens volunteering in 140 local networks.
Tree Wardens are volunteers, appointed by parish councils or other community organisations, who gather information about their local trees, get involved in local tree matters and encourage local practical projects to do with trees and woods.
Tree Warden Scheme Network Co-ordinator
Julie Bolton
West Chiltington Parish Tree Wardens
Amanda Apps
(01798) 813229
Jonathan Trees
(01798) 813568
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Bracken has been invading areas of grassland, heathland and moorland in the UK to such an extent that its been described in some areas as now being out of control.
We need to protect the heathland in Monkmead Wood because it's not only extremely rare but this habitat is now home to many species who have evolved to live only there.
Once established bracken is very hard to remove. It's deceptive in size - a bit like an iceberg - with the bulk of the plant being underground in the form of rhizomes. It's this part of the plant which is so invasive. Bracken is tolerant of many different soil types and climates giving it a distinct advantage over other less tolerant species. Once established in large clumps it fern like leaves interlink and cause large areas of heathland to become shrouded in shade and other plants are no longer able to florish.
If the bracken around the area of heathland in the woodland were left to colonize the area freely we'd soon lose much of the heathland and the species that live within in.
Once areas were cleared of bracken, the volunteer group found small clutches of bell heather, grasses and small ferns which should all now have a better chance of survial.
If you'd like to find out more about the work of the volunteer group why not join us on one of our next tasks?
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