© 2010 Witchford Online
The Background
The Witchford Village Society Open Spaces Group (OSG) consists of volunteers from Witchford working for conservation and for access to the countryside. The group is associated to the Witchford Village Society and is a member of the Woodland Group, and although the group works closely with the Parish Council, it remains independent. We meet every two months to plan the management of the open spaces and rights of way that our volunteers help to maintain.
The summer of 2009 was the 20th anniversary of the founding of the OSG. During these 20 years we were successful helping to achieve the opening up of public rights of way that were blocked, and the reopening of the bridleway across the old airfield. Today we carry out waymarking and maintenance, and lead guided walks. The OSG is instrumental in creating and managing areas for conservation, benefiting wildlife and public enjoyment. For example, we have Sandpit Drove Conservation Area with its restored pond and Sparrowhawk Way circular path through woodland and meadow. At the Old Recreation Ground in Grunty Fen, we have provided an area for public enjoyment and increased biodiversity. With the benefit of the award of a £1000 grant two years ago we have restored a pond and planted a hedge, and provided a picnic area with tree planting.
Witchford Millennium Wood
The Open Spaces Group works closely with the Woodland Group, which manages the Millennium Wood on behalf of the Parish Council. Last year was the 10th year anniversary of the planting of the wood in December 1999, which was marked by the planting of an oak tree donated by the Open Spaces Group. We have also made and installed tree name plaques, which identify most of the native tree and shrub species planted in the wood. The wood is maintained by Woodland Group members, working to a 6 month maintenance programme. As part of this programme there is an annual meadow mow, when the small meadow in the wood is cut and the mowings raked off. This took place this year on Sunday 27 June, with refreshments including barbecued bacon and baps provided by Witchford scouts.
The Old Recreation Ground
The phase of the amenity improvements paid for by the grant was completed in March 2010. After a lot of hard work by all concerned over the previous two years we have provided a restored pond, 50m of hedging and fencing, tree planting and the oak sleeper picnic bench. We hope that the bench will be used and appreciated by many. The adjacent pond refilled after the winter rain and had frogspawn in the spring, and the new hedge, now protected by tree guards, is in full leaf. On the recent Wildlife Trust guided walk to the Old Rec we saw and heard a turtle dove, and barn owls can often be seen in the surrounding fields.
To visit the Old Recreation Ground, follow the footpath from Main Street near to Witchford House, past the pond at Toad Corner, turn right at Old Scenes Drove (Holts End) into Long Meadow (Clover Piece), and then past the orchard at Kevin’s Place to the bench and pond.
There will be a conservation and maintenance session at the Old Rec and in the adjacent Kevin’s Place on 18 July, when we shall be pleased to welcome volunteers.
Sandpit Drove Conservation Area
Members of the Open Spaces Group have recently opened up a new length of footpath passing through the trees and shrubs on the drove between Broadway and the pond. We have already improved the route by taking away a large quantity of glass and other rubbish, and held a litter pick in May along the drove as far as Manor Road.
Witchford Festival Guided Walk
The OSG will lead a walk on Wednesday 21 July as part of the village festival. We will meet at the pub at 7.30pm and start with the Millennium Wood, which is well worth a visit at the moment. We will go on to Kevin’s Place and the Old Recreation Ground via Footpath 1, Grunty Fen on the permissive path, and Sandpit Drove (Byway 11). These are all areas where the OSG has been working to improve biodiversity and access. You can find these paths on the Witchford walks map, a copy of which you should have received in the May Witchfordian. Other than this we do not have any guided walks planned at the moment, but if you are interested in a walk on Witchford’s Rights of Way, then please give us a call.
News and announcements of village events will be posted here.
If you would like to advertise your local event on this website, please contact us at the email address shown at the top of this page.
Welcome to the web page for the Witchford Village Society Open Spaces Group. You can find out more about the group in the section below. Diary dates for the activities that we organise are on the Announcements page.
Contact us
You are always very welcome as a participant in the activities of the Open Spaces Group, and your contribution to conservation and the improvement of amenities in the village and surrounding countryside much appreciated.
For more information about the Open Spaces Group and the Woodland Group, contact:
Shelagh Monteith: 665707 witchfordparishcouncil@eastcambs.gov.uk
George Jellicoe: 663402 jellicoe@tinyworld.co.uk
Richard Braund: 665222 richardbraund50@hotmail.com
Looking for a good walk around Witchford?
Try clicking here.