SUSTAINABILITY

AROUND THE REGIONS
7
Essex
DIO SD Training East
EWT staff and volunteers © EWT
Friday Woods
Three years ago, Friday Woods North
Local Wildlife Site was a dense tangle
of mature cherry laurel Prunus
laurocerasus. Very little light made it
through the evergreen canopy which
suppressed ground flora and
prevented natural regeneration of
native trees.
Essex Wildlife Trust (EW T ) has now
been working in par tnership with the
Defence Infrastruc ture Organisation
for three years to clear areas of this
invasive shrub from the ancient
woodland. EW T staff and volunteers
combined, last winter, with
volunteers from the University of
Essex Student Union V Team to cut
and burn even more laurel than in
previous years.
Now in early summer the positive
effects of this work can really be seen
with some regeneration of native
ground flora in the areas cleared.
Unfortunately, more prolific is the
regeneration of the cherry laurel on
any untreated stumps and from the
seed bank in the ground. This clearly
demonstrates the need for follow-up
herbicide treatment of the cut stumps
and the carpet of seedlings. Hopefully,
a supply of herbicide will be secured
and treatment can commence.
Fingringhoe Ranges
Thanks to the new grazier on the
marsh land who is using cattle and a
new breed of sheep, called ‘Easy Care’,
and the scrub management by
Landmarc, has ensured that the
borrowdykes remain clear and
unshaded. A recent survey has shown
that important aquatic invertebrates,
such as the scarce emerald damselfly
still flourish within the brackish waters.
John More
Local Wildlife Sites Offcer
Essex Wildlife Trust
Friday Woods North - before with ground flora shaded out by cherry laurel © EW T
Friday Woods North - after removal of cherry laurel, restoring the natural light © EW T
Scarce emerald damselfly on Fingringhoe marsh © Crown
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Sanctuary 44 • 2015