Friends of Carpenters Wood (FOCW)

Meeting

Thursday 5 March 2026

at

Whitegates, Shire Lane, Chorleywood, WD3 5NT

Present: Barbara Green (BG) (Chair), Malcolm Green (MG), Dorothy Freedman (DF), Claire Casey (CC)(Secretary),  Rosie Seddon (RS)(Treasurer), Julie Rees TRDC (JR), Anne Pickard (AP), Janet Mason (JM), Melissa Fabio (MF)(Social Media), Andrew York (AY), Stephen Ramsay (SR), Tirzah Bottomley CMS (TB),  Shamoon Karimjee (SK)

1        Apologies for absence

John McAllister, Martin Free, Dave Rapp

2        Matters Arising

A       New ride creation

The new ride might be an aspirational part of the Green Action Plan.  TRDC are still not certain of the exact route the ride will take nor if the funds are available.  JR will do a site visit during 2026.  The ash die back problem will take precedence.

Action Point      JR

B       Brush Cutter Training

MG/AY/MF are trained to use the brush cutter.  FOCW do not need any more volunteers trained.

C       Date for litter pick

The date for the litter pick will be decided later by DF/CC for one of the summer months.  Litter picking is carried out during regular sessions.

Action point      DF/CC

D       Fungus monitoring

MF has updated the website with many photos of fungus from the woods.  CC has been unable to find a local group that can help us with a survey.  TB has a member of her volunteer group who might be available to help us with a survey

Action point      TB

E        Butterfly monitoring

DF/CC will arrange a butterfly monitoring for the summer months, it may be outside the normal volunteer sessions.

Action point      DF/CC

F        Archaeology progress report

The NIDAR reports will be uploaded to the FOCW website.

Action point      MG/MF

Illustrative discs with QR codes have been produced to document the history of the woods.  These need to mounted on wooden posts and a corresponding map produced for the noticeboards and the website.

Action point      MG/TB – location of posts

                               TB – Map

                               TB – funding and supply of posts

                               MF – website/noticeboards update with map

G       Bat survey update

The results of the autumn 2026 bat survey is outstanding.  JM/RS to follow up for the results and the £50 contribution.

Action point      JM/RS

TRDC has bat detecting equipment which could be loaned to FOCW

Action point      JR

H       First Aid Courses

DF has completed a first aid course.  CC needs to give TB dates for her availability for a course.

Action point      CC

I         Bird Song Survey

AP has used the Merlin Birdsong app to work out what birds are in the woods.  This information can be used to update our website and distribute on the various whatsapp groups in Chorleywood to increase visits to the woods.

Action point      AP/MF to record bird activity and update the website.

3        Green Action Plan 2025-2030 next steps

A       update on progress of Hornbeam hedge regeneration

BG thanked JR for the hedging and hornbeam hedge regeneration because it has been on the FOCW agenda for many years.

Two sections of the hedge have been completed.  The last section is the stretch to Farm Road.  Some of the fence for the horse field is tangled in with the Hornbeam and FOCW must be aware of this when working on the hedge.

All Holly must be cut between hip and knee height to avoid damage to the horses.

New planting will go in between the existing trees and will be mainly hornbeam but survival of the new trees might be low due to planting taking place in early Spring.

B       Beech/Birch thining

JR explained that the budget has been allocated to deal with Ash dieback which takes precedence over beech/birch thining.  The birch does act as protection for the beech therefore the work is not urgent.  This work should stay on the agenda and be reviewed in one year.

C       Ash removal

TRDC have removed some trees already but the major work in the Ash plantation will take place in Autumn/Winter 2026/2027.

4        Report on Progress of Volunteer Group

A       Work covered since September 2025

Cleared around new trees at H8

Hedge laying at Farm Road

2 arms on 3 benches

Bird boxes installed

Hillas glades and paths with BC and mower

Tree planting in glades in Hillas

Trees planted in gaps in Hillas hedge

Holly removal in Hillas

Hedge planting in gaps in Horse Field hedge

Dead ash removed from Whitelands Path C7

B       Membership update

FOCW has had two new members in 2026

C       Tool review

We have bought and sharpened a bill hook but this needs constant sharpening.  TB reported that the type of sharpening implement is relevant.

AP would like a post rammer or mallet for hedge laying.

Action point      DF to buy mallet

We need new leather gloves.  TB noted that CMS may be able to supply FOCW with PPE including gloves.

Action point      TB to check whether CMS can supply PPE to FOCW without cost to FOCW

DF noted that we need new blades for the saws.

Action point      DF/MG to supply new blades for saws.

D       Safety Issues

DF reported that FOCW have had no reported safety issues since our last meeting.

MG reported that he has completed the ladder checklist.

DF showed the meeting the FOCW safety checklist and certificate book.

E        Bird Boxes

MG and MF have built new bird boxed and installed them in the woods. MG noted that the boxes are monitored every Autumn and that they are fully inhabited by bluetits.  The map of the boxes will be put on the website.  JR requested that the location of the boxes be identified using WhatThreeWords.

Action point      MF upload map to website

5        New Volunteer Campaign

BG to contact Chorleywood News and Chorleywood Magazine and the CRA to promote FOCW to attract more visitors to the woods and new members to the group.

Action point      BG to contact magazines

6        Treasurers Report

RS reported that expenditure since September 2025 has been £118.56 and the remaining balance is £768.79.  FOCW has no source of income.  The group discussed different ways of attracting funding, new members and visitors to the woods.

Action point      RS to investigate how to subscribe or donate to the group.

                               MF to investigate how to subscribe/donate via the website

                               RS to collate the cost of the PPE for TB

                               MF/DF/CC to produce a short note for the group to send out on their local whatsapp groups

                               CC to distribute the note via local shops

                               TB to update group if TRDC are providing a hospitality grant in the Winter 2026

7        Volunteer work plan for the Spring/Summer

Clean signs

Varnish notice boards

Varnish benches

Litter pick

Woodchip and weed round new trees

Holly at waist height along the Hornbeam hedge

New right of way post at H2

Regeneration project – collected and planting seeds

Action point      CC to varnish benches

                               TB to supply new post

                               FOCW to fit new post

8        Website update   

MF reported that the website had 1200 views from 631 people in 2025 and ytd 2026 it has had 214 views from 139 people.

Action point      MF to investigate how to drive more traffic to the website

9        AOB

We discussed new ways of attracting members and funding.

Action point      BG to investigate a stall at Chorleywood Common Day

DF requested a key for the entrance at Farm Gate for emergencies.

Action point      JR to supply a key for Farm Gate

JR explained that there will be ongoing tree works in the woods from April.  Many of the large trees that are dying will be turned to monoliths – crown removed and trunk reduced to approx. 3 metre

Action point      JR to email BG/DF/CC/MF to explain the process which we can use to update the website and produce a whatsapp update

10     Date of AGM

Agm 17 September 2026

Spring meeting 18 March 2027