@harrowncf.bsky.social
Volunteers from the TCV coppicing hazel at Bentley Priory today. As set out in the manangement plan, we coppiced a third of the hazel; another third will be coppiced next winter, and the last third the winter after that. The wood is not wasted: most will be used for fencing on other reserves.
December 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Volunteers from the TCV coppicing hazel at Bentley Priory today. As set out in the manangement plan, we coppiced a third of the hazel; another third will be coppiced next winter, and the last third the winter after that. The wood is not wasted: most will be used for fencing on other reserves.
While working at The Scrape yesterday we found a puffball and set it puffing.
December 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
While working at The Scrape yesterday we found a puffball and set it puffing.
Before and after our emergency working party this morning at The Scrape, Wood Farm, clearing an enormous number of trees that vandals had cut and dumped into the water - one of the best quality ponds in Harrow.
December 5, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Before and after our emergency working party this morning at The Scrape, Wood Farm, clearing an enormous number of trees that vandals had cut and dumped into the water - one of the best quality ponds in Harrow.
Gorse in bloom yesterday under blue sky at Stanmore Country Park. We are glad that we did not timetable any outdoor work today - the weather is horrible!
December 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Gorse in bloom yesterday under blue sky at Stanmore Country Park. We are glad that we did not timetable any outdoor work today - the weather is horrible!
A lovely winter day at Stanmore Country Park today. Volunteers cut bramble on John's Ride to keep the ride open and maintain the grassland flora. We are using our lovely quiet Stihl battery brush cutters.
December 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A lovely winter day at Stanmore Country Park today. Volunteers cut bramble on John's Ride to keep the ride open and maintain the grassland flora. We are using our lovely quiet Stihl battery brush cutters.
Low sun gives heightened colour to the green bramble and yellow hazel leaves in woodland at Old Redding Nature Reserve this afternoon.
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Low sun gives heightened colour to the green bramble and yellow hazel leaves in woodland at Old Redding Nature Reserve this afternoon.
Volunteers raked up cut grass and bramble at Bentley Priory today to help preserve the species-rich grasslands. It was damp but not nearly as bad as predicted! This is our last raking session; now we move on to winter activities.
November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Volunteers raked up cut grass and bramble at Bentley Priory today to help preserve the species-rich grasslands. It was damp but not nearly as bad as predicted! This is our last raking session; now we move on to winter activities.
Volunteers from Sainsburys raking cut bramble at Bentley Priory today to help preserve the species-rich grasslands. Thanks guys!
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Volunteers from Sainsburys raking cut bramble at Bentley Priory today to help preserve the species-rich grasslands. Thanks guys!
Volunteers from William Hill at Bentley Priory today - thanks guys! They raked up cut bramble then moved it to piles off the grassland; we hope this will reduce the bramble growth next year and encourage the growth of grassland flowers. The sky was blue and the sun shone!
November 17, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Volunteers from William Hill at Bentley Priory today - thanks guys! They raked up cut bramble then moved it to piles off the grassland; we hope this will reduce the bramble growth next year and encourage the growth of grassland flowers. The sky was blue and the sun shone!
The lovely ball of mistletoe in Furze Heath, Bentley Priory, photographed on a soggy misty morning today. This plant has been growing on that branch for at least ten years. Kissing under it would likely result in lots of scratches!
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The lovely ball of mistletoe in Furze Heath, Bentley Priory, photographed on a soggy misty morning today. This plant has been growing on that branch for at least ten years. Kissing under it would likely result in lots of scratches!
Lovely colours at Stanmore Country Park this morning as we used battery brush cutters to cut back the bramble along the edges of the grassy glades.
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Lovely colours at Stanmore Country Park this morning as we used battery brush cutters to cut back the bramble along the edges of the grassy glades.
Volunteers from the Building Research Establishment today at Bentley Priory moving one of the many piles of cut bramble that they had raked up. Removing the bramble will help restore the species-rich grassland. Thanks guys!
October 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Volunteers from the Building Research Establishment today at Bentley Priory moving one of the many piles of cut bramble that they had raked up. Removing the bramble will help restore the species-rich grassland. Thanks guys!
Guelder Rose berries and foliage at Bentley Priory this afternoon.
October 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Guelder Rose berries and foliage at Bentley Priory this afternoon.
Nice autumn colours at Bentley Priory today as volunteers from the Conservation Volunteers @tcvnational.bsky.social raked cut bramble to protect the species-rich grasslands.
October 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Nice autumn colours at Bentley Priory today as volunteers from the Conservation Volunteers @tcvnational.bsky.social raked cut bramble to protect the species-rich grasslands.
Volunteers from @tcvnational.bsky.social raked cut bramble at Bentley Priory today to preserve the species-rich grasslands. Thanks guys! The cattle spent the morning eating acorns; then the one closest here investigated our arisings pile and had fun tossing it about and having a good neck scratch.
October 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Volunteers from @tcvnational.bsky.social raked cut bramble at Bentley Priory today to preserve the species-rich grasslands. Thanks guys! The cattle spent the morning eating acorns; then the one closest here investigated our arisings pile and had fun tossing it about and having a good neck scratch.
A misty Middle Dragonfly Pond this morning at Bentley Priory. Shows the wonderful mix of habitats at this location: pond, bramble, young willow, grassy meadow, trees. One man, Peter Peretti, was responsible for creating the dragonfly ponds which so enhance the site.
October 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
A misty Middle Dragonfly Pond this morning at Bentley Priory. Shows the wonderful mix of habitats at this location: pond, bramble, young willow, grassy meadow, trees. One man, Peter Peretti, was responsible for creating the dragonfly ponds which so enhance the site.
Like a natural Christmas wreath: lichens on a branch of hawthorn at Bentley Priory yesterday
October 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Like a natural Christmas wreath: lichens on a branch of hawthorn at Bentley Priory yesterday
Gadwall looking trim beside three Mallards at Summerhouse Lake, Bentley Priory today. There were quite a lot of gadwall all having a good conversation
October 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Gadwall looking trim beside three Mallards at Summerhouse Lake, Bentley Priory today. There were quite a lot of gadwall all having a good conversation
Volunteers from @tcvnational.bsky.social raking up cut bramble to preserve the species-rich grassland at Bentley Priory SSSI today. Absolutely gorgeous day, sunny, blue sky. Thanks everyone!
October 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Volunteers from @tcvnational.bsky.social raking up cut bramble to preserve the species-rich grassland at Bentley Priory SSSI today. Absolutely gorgeous day, sunny, blue sky. Thanks everyone!
Look at all those holes! Something has been nibbling holes in these hornbeam leaves at Bentley Priory. Taken this morning while we were clearing invasive rhododendron from around the trees - mainly to help forest floor plants, but the hornbeams will appreciate it too.
September 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Look at all those holes! Something has been nibbling holes in these hornbeam leaves at Bentley Priory. Taken this morning while we were clearing invasive rhododendron from around the trees - mainly to help forest floor plants, but the hornbeams will appreciate it too.
Volunteers from Sainsburys clearing invasive holly at Stanmore Country Park yesterday. Holly is OK in parts but tends to invade the whole wood, shading out the forest floor and preventing growth of woodland flowers. Image shows two yellow Tree Poppers in action - these are great tools!
September 26, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Volunteers from Sainsburys clearing invasive holly at Stanmore Country Park yesterday. Holly is OK in parts but tends to invade the whole wood, shading out the forest floor and preventing growth of woodland flowers. Image shows two yellow Tree Poppers in action - these are great tools!
Nice little oasis of epiphytic fern and bramble in the fork of an ash tree at Bentley Priory this morning.
September 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Nice little oasis of epiphytic fern and bramble in the fork of an ash tree at Bentley Priory this morning.
Images taken today: Bolton's Pande in Roxbourne Rough, that we cleared of excessive vegetation on August 10th and 15th, is filling nicely. This male Common Darter has spotted this good site and chosen it as his territory - he was taking advantage of a sunny period between the showers.
September 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Images taken today: Bolton's Pande in Roxbourne Rough, that we cleared of excessive vegetation on August 10th and 15th, is filling nicely. This male Common Darter has spotted this good site and chosen it as his territory - he was taking advantage of a sunny period between the showers.
Main picture is the wild pear tree at Bentley Priory in bloom in April with people at the bottom for scale - it's a big tree! Inset shows three windfall pears from this morning. They are small but clearly pearshaped.
September 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Main picture is the wild pear tree at Bentley Priory in bloom in April with people at the bottom for scale - it's a big tree! Inset shows three windfall pears from this morning. They are small but clearly pearshaped.
One of the many Yellow Meadow Ant ant hills at Stanmore Country Park. Mouse Ear Hawkweed grows around the entrance to a rabbit hole. The hawkweed likes to grow on the dry warm soil of the ant hills, it does not grow on the ground around the ant hills.
September 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
One of the many Yellow Meadow Ant ant hills at Stanmore Country Park. Mouse Ear Hawkweed grows around the entrance to a rabbit hole. The hawkweed likes to grow on the dry warm soil of the ant hills, it does not grow on the ground around the ant hills.