The Dinton Wednesday Conservation Volunteers came together on Wednesday, November 19, to help support the Countryside Services Team to conserve the woodland and heathland areas around Wokingham Borough.
The day started off rainy, but this didn’t stop the team. The volunteers prepared the sight at Highwood Nature Reserve by clearing a lot of the brambles so light could reach the ground, encouraging new heather to grow.
They then removed willow and birch trees to prevent their leaf litter from turning the heath into woodland. Finally, the team raked debris to keep the soil low in nutrients which will stop it from becoming overgrown again.
Despite the snow beginning to fall, the team was able to clear the area to prevent enrichment.
This project revealed that a large area that was previously scraped back a few years ago, has regrown as it is now thriving with heather and will once again be open to light.
Over the past 30 to 40 years, different groups have tried to restore the heather in this Nature Reserve but have had no results.
Many members of the public say they have been left feeling disappointed with the damage done during the process.
One member of the community said on Wokingham Borough’s Facebook page how “many trees and wildflowers had been dug up, and it looked awful”
By the end of the event the sun was shining, and Highwood Nature Reserve was unrecognisable.