FULMER NEWSLETTER - Fulmer Village

STOKE COMMON
Terry Cork
Restoration work on the heathland at Stoke Common has continued apace in 2011
and is set to continue at a similar rate in 2012. The City of London has again worked
with volunteers to clear smaller areas of scrub and small trees; a total in excess of
1700 hours have been worked by volunteers during 2012. Most of the volunteer work
was carried out by the Friends of Stoke Common group (FOSC) and Burnham Beeches
Volunteers, but there was continued success in attracting corporate volunteers from
Price Waterhouse Coopers, Honda and British Airways. As usual, the bigger tasks
required staff and contractors using machinery. During 2011, 0.5ha of scots pine has
been felled, chipped and sent as fuel to the power station at Slough. This cleared area
was then mulched in late October to remove stumps and encourage heathland
regeneration. 3ha along the Frome Wood boundary was cut with the cut material
being stacked to create habitat piles for reptiles and soil, which had been scraped to a
depth of 100-150mm from a further 0.3ha, was deposited on top. The scraping and
mulching were both aimed at exposing the considerable seed bed of heather and other
heathland plants which lies dormant in the soil. An additional 3ha of young birch
regeneration was mown as part of the continuing program to cut and deplete the
birch whilst allowing other species to remain undisturbed. The cattle were again on
both parts of the common and have started to make a significant impact in controlling
the growth of scrub and increasing the biodiversity. Cattle need to be contained so as
part of the on-going maintenance programme, new fencing will be installed along
Stoke Common Road from the lay-by to the traffic lights.
There will always be plenty of work to do so if you want more information, or would
like to join FOSC or the Burnham Beeches Volunteers, please call the Burnham
Beeches Office on 01753 647358. - CHRIS MORRIS, Senior Ranger