Jo Whitaker, Panshanger Park People & Wildlife Officer, reports from Panshanger Park as winter approaches.
Hints of winter are starting to creep in; the hours of daylight are getting shorter, trees are becoming barer and the incoming winter migrants such as the wigeon and gadwall on and around the lakes are fully settled in for the season.
The jays, squirrels and other small mammals are still busily caching the remaining acorns and chestnuts for the coming months.
Whilst these colder, darker months may sometimes be perceived as gloomy, the good news is that at Panshanger we have a winter project that will help brighten things up.
Planting of a new jubilee woodland will be taking place at Panshanger Park in December and January, with members of the local community being given the opportunity to show their respects by planting trees in memoriam to honour Her Majesty the Queen.
Inspired by the historic design of the Grade II* listed park, the initiative will restore woodland areas and parkland in the northern part of the park as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Across the UK people were invited to 'Plant a tree for the Jubilee' to create a legacy in honour of the Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations.
With the sad passing of the Queen, the Jubilee woodland will now also become a place of memorial, serving as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people over seven decades.
Park owners Tarmac have worked closely with partners Hertfordshire County Council, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, and Maydencroft to develop the woodland design, with additional advice sought from Historic England, Natural England, and Hertfordshire Gardens Trust.
As the delivery of the saplings is imminent, we are looking for volunteers who would like to help plant the 17,000 trees required to create the woodland.
The woodland will include 19 different species to develop a diverse and resilient woodland resistant to future climate changes.
The planting will link existing woodland, creating new corridors for wildlife to move freely.
The woodland design will also include open rides to allow light in and increase biodiversity and encourage a varied woodland edge.
This new woodland will, in time, become a fantastic habitat for woodland flora and fauna as well as create new spaces for visitors to access, enjoy and reflect.
If you would like to be involved in contributing to planting trees for this new woodland please go to panshangerpark.tarmac.com/qgc for more information.
We are also welcoming local community groups, schools and businesses to get involved. For group bookings please email panshangerpark@hmwt.org
Panshanger Park is 1,000 acres of countryside situated between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is working with the park's owners, Tarmac, and Herts County Council to manage the park for both people and wildlife.
Jo Whitaker is the Panshanger Park People and Wildlife Officer. She works for Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and her role is funded by Tarmac.
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