Green Space Action Team - Blunts Wood

IT ISN'T UNTIL you retire, or just stop working that you realise how many of your routines are built around work, when do you do your shopping, washing, and many other activities.   You then have to start writing new routines and behaviors, for the first time in 32 years I suddenly understand what "the weekend" means.   Whilst writing those new routines I found The Green Space Team, working with the Mid Sussex Rangers.

The Green Space Action Team work around Mid Sussex reclaiming public green space.   I went on a run around Haywards Heath and decided to go through Clair Park on the way back.   This was when I noticed their poster saying they were going to be there and encouraging community volunteers to help them.   They operate between 10:00 and 12:00 (noon) on Thursdays.

I thought this was an opportunity to network, learn some new skills, and enjoy a few hours out in the morning doing something worthwhile and giving the people of Haywards Heath something worthwhile in the process.   I couldn't do the first event at Clair Park due to working, but was free for the second at Blunts Wood.

You don't know what you are going to do until you turn up on the day.   Blunts wood was to repair fencing around a pond to protect the local Great Crested Newts.   The stakes for the fence had been pulled up, fence destroyed and dogs were having a great time running in and out of the pond.

Nearby there was a footpath that was overgrown with blackthorn, so the aim was to cut it all back, drag the blackthorn to the gap around the pond and use that to build the dead hedge, which explained to me why it's called a dead hedge.

With 13 volunteers all playing an integral part in the restoration we had the blackthorn under control, footpath resorted and usable again, and the new hedge firmly in place to protect the pond and Great Crested Newts in no time (well two hours to be correct).  This type of dead hedge is also a really good home for the Brown Hairstreak Butterfly.

A very worthwhile and satisfying morning, I will be looking forward to the next project.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the Green Space Team, it's once a week on a Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00 (two hours).   You can email them direct for more information and they will send out dates, times, and locations.   You only need to attend the ones you can, there is no pressure.

Email:  rangers.midsussex@glendale-services.co.uk