Friends of Carpenters Wood (FOCW)

Meeting

Thursday 18 September 2025

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), Rosemary Allen (RA), Julie Rees TRDC (JR), Anne Pickard (AP), Janet Cullen (JC), Melissa Fabio (MF)(Social Media), Andrew York (AY), Stephen Ramsay (SR), Tirzah Bottomley CMS (TB)  

1 Appointment of Officers

Barbara Green, Rosie Seddon, Dorothy Freedman, Claire Casey reconfirmed in their roles

2 Apologies for absence

Shamoon Karimjee, Janet Mason, John McAllister, Martin Free

3 Matters arising 

CMS are arranging the brushcutter training and will notify us of the proposed dates.

4 Greenspace Action Plan

BG ran through pages 28 – 31 of the Greenspace Action Plan.

Points 0.01 -0.15 are complete or in action with CMS or FOCW

Point 0.07 FOCW should be included in the action under the ‘delivery’ section

Point 0.08  JR confirmed that this is Bramble Ramble.  FOCW carry out the regular maintenance of this area.  TB confirmed that her team will carry out the irregular maintenance including large tree felling.  JR confirmed that Kallum will get contractors to carry out tree felling.

Point 0.09 Hillas Glade BG confirmed that this work is part of the regular work of FOCW

Point 0.12 FOCW carry out a twice yearly litter pick.  DF has arranged with JR for contractors to remove larger rubbish.

5.2 Year 1 April 2025 – April 2026

Point 0.01  CCF implementation to fell 0.5HA groups – JR confirmed that the priority for TRDC/CMS is to fell the diseased Ash trees rather than these areas.

Point 1.03 Hornbeam regeneration – JR confirmed that trees have been identified and marked and the work is scheduled to be carried out.

Point 1.04 30% selected thining, these trees are next to Bramble Ramble – see point 0.08 above.

Point 1.04 JR confirmed that the area for the new ride requires a site visit to understand the exact nature of the work required.

Point 1.05 CMS have carried out the work in Hillas, FOCW can carry out regular maintenance but may require help from CMS because the brambles are very dense.

Point 1.06 Regeneration planting – the new trees are growing but the area just off Bramble Ramble is very overgrown but FOCW will tackle that in the October and November sessions.  TB confirmed that the plastic guards should remain on the new trees for the foreseeable future.

Point 1.07 FOCW carrying out regular holly removal and will revisit sites to keep new growth at by.

Point 1.08 New noticeboards have been installed and are kept up to date by MF

Point 1.09 Hillas paths are regularly cleared by FOCW

Point 1.10 Ash trees in Hillas are too big for FOCW to remove JB/TB to consider removing this Ash with the Ash removal in Whitelands Wood

Point 1.11 FOCW carry out regular clearing of the bramble around the new trees

Point 1.12 Hornbeam removal along the boundary of Carpenters Wood – JR confirmed this is a big project and is under consideration.

5 Report on Progress of Volunteer Group

A – Work covered since March 2025

DF gave a comprehensive report on the work of FOCW since March 2025

Path clearing at Boundary Walk E3/4

Brambles cleared from around new trees (F3) – ones at H8 still to happen

Bramble Ramble Zone 1 clearing in May

Whitelands entrance and path

Hillas paths

Way marker post at F4 replaced

Barrel Arch entrance A6 and Railway View B7 cleared

Farm Road and Field View

K8 tree over path and K10 dead tree sawn up plus numerous others

2 of 3 benches sanded and stained

2 sessions cancelled because of bad weather

Between 5 and 10 volunteers at each session (average 7.5)

B – Butterfly count and Bat walks

The butterfly count didn’t go ahead but the group will make the count a regular event and record the information on the website

The bat walks did go ahead.  Thanks to Janet Mason

This is Janet’s report:

Using the bat detector and gps devices kindly loaned to us by the Herts and Middlesex Bat Group (HMBG) we carried out the following evening walks, all starting at around sunset:

Monday 25th August (Malcolm, Barbara, Martin F and Janet M) 
This walk started at Whitelands entrance, up Carpenters path, along the top of the fields, down the lane to the stables, and then back down through the middle of the woods to Whitelands. We got a number of readings.

Wednesday 27th August (Dorothy, Melissa and Janet M)
Started at the gates to the stables, up the path adjacent to fields and bordering Hillas,, round and through Hillas and along top of wood to triangle. Again, a number of readings noticed at fringes of wood as bats emerged from roosts we assumed.

Wednesday 3rd September  (Rosie, Janet C and Janet M)
From Whitelands entrance along the length of Whitelands path to Barrel Arch and back. Readings noticed where trees were less dense and around Barrel Arch.

Friday 5 September – static overnight recording 
The device (covered in plastic in case it rained) was left hanging overnight from a tree at the bottom of Dorothy’s garden next to Carpenters Path.

The kit will be taken back to the group administrator based in Welwyn Garden City, hopefully week commencing 22 September, together with monitoring sheets about each walk. Then the data from the recorder and gps will be analysed so we can see the results. These will also be uploaded to a national database. There might be quite a back log of summer recordings from other devices so the results could take a while.

The group agreed that a £50 donation should be made to HMBG.  Action point RS

Thanks to Janet for organising and carrying out the Bat Walks.  The information will be incorporated in the website and articles in local publications for new membership drives.

The group will also carry out surveys of fungi.   Action point – CC to explore options using the Herts and Beds Fungi group

C – Membership Updates

The previous membership drive only gained the group one new member.  We will consider using word of mouth in future and articles in local publications highlighting the flora and fauna of the wood.

D – Tools

The bow saws need maintenance and new blades

Action point – MG/SR

One new hard hat required

Action point – MG

E – First Aid training

DF is going on a training course in October and CC will attend the next available course.

6 Treasurers Report

RS reported that we have a balance of £887.35.   We have bought protective equipment and paid for printing materials.

The Parish quiz night may not go ahead in future, FOCW get £500 funding from this event.  We spend roughly £300 per annum and so have approximately 3 years in hand.  To keep spending at a minimum we should ensure our tools are well maintained.

7 Volunteer work plan for the Autumn/Winter

1 – TB has engaged a professional hedge layer to train FOCW in hedge laying.  This will take place on 17 October in Carpenters Wood.  TB will bring hazel stakes, binders and the equipment for the day.  A further day – 24 October – has been arranged with TB’s volunteer team and FOCW to continue hedge laying and carry out any further work identified.

2 – We will carry out fungi walks during the normal sessions

3 – MG and MF to build new bird boxes Action point MG/MF

4 – Holly removal in the bluebell area and around Farm Gate Bench during autumn/winter Action point CC/DF

5 – If the group sees signs of fires lit in the woods JR recommends that these are logged with 101 in case a pattern is noted and the police can investigate or make regular patrols.

8 Website Update

MF is loading new photos each session and will update the website with the Bat Walk and the fungi reports.

9 AOB

SR asked for an update on the archaeology report carried out last year. 

Action point MG to look into it

Action point MG/SR/MF to look into SR’s documents on Carpenters Wood to see if any of them can be put on the website.

10 Date of next meeting

TBA