SECOND OUTING with the Green Space Action Team, this time the destination was Beech Hurst Gardens at the northern end of Haywards Heath. A beautiful park, children's play area, miniature railway (in the summer), and a Harvester Restaurant where you can eat, get a drink from the bar or just grab a coffee in great surroundings.As I walked from the car park to the meeting point I saw the signs up giving information that we were going to be there and asking if anybody was interested in volunteering. Today we were split into two groups, one clearing dead plants, just behind the Harvester and one to the left of the park clearing brambles from the rhododendrons. I took the battle with the brambles!They have some beautiful rhododendrons (rhododendron ponticum), popular woodland shrubs which put on spectacular flowering displays from spring to summer. The whole area had been taken over by brambles, weaving through and covering the beautiful rhododendrons, with signs of infecting the bay leave bushes as well (laurie nobilis).
After a few hours work and we had the area cleared, cleaned, and bagged with all the composting on the wagon ready to be moved. We even managed to build some natural habitats for the wildlife (including hedgehogs) in the area with some of the debris from the overhanging trees.Similar to the first experience it was good to walk away knowing that the area was cleared for the public to enjoy, the rhododendrons can breathe and flower for everybody to enjoy. It is satisfying to do this work on a voluntary basis and allows people the opportunity to help out for a couple of hours once a week.
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
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