Welcome to the West Berkshire Countryside Society

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Copyright © West Berkshire Countryside Society 2012



Site last updated 16th May 2012

The Latest Book

Introducing the latest book by Dick Greenaway and Lesley Dunlop with illustrations by Dorcas Ward. The book would make a wonderful gift for someone, or just for you.

“Around the 3 Valleys” is an exploration of the geology, landscape and history of the Lambourn, Kennet and Pang Valleys in West Berkshire.

Ordering details below:


To order copies of the book, email your request to rg.greenaway@btinternet.com and an invoice will be sent with the book.

£10 plus P+P £1.50.

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Our Mission

‘THE NEW ORGANISATION EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION AND CONSERVATION OF THE WEST BERKSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE BY ITS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND ALL OTHER GROUPS AND BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN ITS CARE AND MANAGEMENT. THE ORGANISATION WILL ALSO PROMOTE PRACTICAL WORK TO FURTHER THESE AIMS’.

If you have any questions regarding our activities please e-mail:

enquiries@westberkscountryside.org.uk

Woodland Wildflower Workshop

Managing Woods for Diversity.

  Tuesday 22 May 2012

Mapleash Copse, Snelsmore, RG14 3BL

Lead by Charles Flower.


Workshop entry is free to West Berkshire Countryside Society members and £5 per place for non-members.


           Provisional Programme


Identifying woodland flora (as well as trees and shrubs), their management requirements and the effects of restoring hazel coppice





























The wood lies on a steep slope and paths are normal woodland paths – often uneven and slippery. Please bring a packed lunch and suitable clothing. We will attempt to arrange a shelter in the wood in case of wet weather.



Joining our Society

If you should like to consider joining our society download our interim membership leaflet and application form HERE. It is a PDF document so you can easily print any part of the leaflet. If you have any queries e-mail us at membership@westberkscountryside.org.uk

10.00 - 10.30am

Registration  Tea/Coffee (Courtesy Mapleash Livery Stables)

10.30am - 12.00pm

Identification – a walk round the wood identifying trees, shrubs and key wild flowers, their management needs and other woodland features

12.00pm

Hazel Coppice – Seven x 0.75acre coppice plots are being restored so that a 7 year cycle can be re-established either for stakes and bindings for hedging or more ambitiously for thatching spars. We will look at coppicing efforts, layering techniques and all the detail involved in restoration.


1.00pm

Lunch in the wood.    Bring a packed lunch.

1.30pm

Lunch talk on:  ‘The History of the wood. Methods of restoring wild flowers to new woods’


2.00pm

We will examine the 2010/11 coppice plot and record the species which have appeared from dormant seed, with a brief discussion on the significance of this for woodland wildlife.


3.30pm

Finish

Download the Spring edition of our quarterly newsletter “UPSTREAM”
HERE
If you need Abode reader to read Upstream it you can access a free download on our download page


Workshop booking procedure

Places on this workshop are limited to 20. To book a place please e-mail bookings@westberkscountryside.org.uk. Our response will include details of how non-members should pay the £5 fee.