(Erica cinerea Linn.) has demonstrated its great ability to rapidly colonise
suitable new ground. By cutting large areas of old gorse into smaller com-
partments we shall reduce the fire risk, increase public access and also com-
mence a vigorous new cycle of regrowth and flowering of great benefit to in-
vertebrates, birds and mammals.
Woodland on the perimeter and along the banks of the stream will be
retained as a valuable habitat and a source of interest to visitors. Young birch
scrub however in the interior of the Heath will be periodically cut, especially
adjacent to the heather areas. A typical dense thicket of scrub was recently cut
in the belief that it was suppressing heath spotted orchids IDactylorhiza
maculata (Linn.) ssp. ericetorum (Hunt and Summ.) and whilst the work was in
progress smothered plants of common ling ICalluna vulgaris Linn.) were
found. This is likely to happen wherever scrub is removed and is further reason
to believe that the heather zones will expand in the next few years.
Although depleted by fires, drought, erosion and scrub, the Heath flora is
important and so far all our nature conservation projects have been directed at
improving the habitat of rare or local heathland plant species.
THE CONSERVATION GROUP
The group held its first work weekend in December 1975 and all the people
who attended are active members still. The current strength of the group is
about 20 adults, plus assorted children of various ages and sizes. They all
combine masochistic tendencies with an appreciation of the countryside! Three
quarters of them, however, do not regard themselves as naturalists and do not
belong to conservation organisations.
Colchester Borough Council provided the money for the necessary range of
cutting tools and litter-pickers. Most of the group had never seen a long-
handled slasher before, let alone used one, and broken handles and blisters
were common in the early days. Such is the extent and maturity of the secondary
woodland that the group required help in the form of professional foresters with
chainsaws to create clearings and thinned areas. This aid from the Borough
Council is much appreciated, as is the tractor that flails the firebreaks each
year. The machines quickly complete jobs that take many hours by hand and
free the group for other pressing tasks.
Tree felling in the name of nature conservation created some concern
within the group and also adverse press publicity, underlining the importance of
prior explanation of proposed projects and the anticipated effects. Having
established the conservation group the next step will be to interest local
youngsters in the Heath through conservation work and simple biological
projects such as soil profiles or mapping bird territories.
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