Wildlife Maintenance at the Co-op Field
When: Wednesday 4th September 2024
Time: 10am to 12pm
What to expect: Meet at the posted coordinates to support Chesham Environmental Group to continue the regular maintenance of the nature corner of this field, including the bug hotel, herb bed and bee scrape bank. Tools are available, but you may want to bring your own loppers / shears / secateurs / pickaxes / rakes / forks. Litter pickers and bin bags will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing, footwear and gloves. The Field can be accessed between 14 and 16 Chapmans Crescent, or up the footpath near the junction of Shortway and Deansway (see the additional waypoints).
What to bring: Tools are available, but you may want to bring your own secateurs / broom / shears / weed extractor / loppers / dustpan & brush, or anything you feel may be useful. Litter pickers and black bags will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing, footwear and gloves. If you do not have these tools, please let me know in your Will Attend log, so I can inform Chesham Environmental Society and they can provide spares.
Parking: There is some on-street parking nearby. However, it is a residential area, so please be mindful and not to block driveways
Public Transport: London Underground (Metropolitan Line), also the 77 bus leaves Chesham Broadway at 10.05am, and should arrive at Deansway at 10.10am. Otherwise, it's an uphill walk from the Town Centre.
Additional information about Co-op Field, Chesham:
The Co-op Field is a sloping 4-acre field, near Asheridge Road. In 2017, it was agreed to mow an area at the top of the field less frequently to encourage a greater diversity of plants to grow. In 2019, this area was extended following the removal of the old play area. A variety of wild plants have been recorded on the site, including comfrey, cow parsely, garlic mustard and germander speedwell.
In 2021, the Council agreed to change the management of the whole field, so that the field is only mown once a year in late summer, with the exception of paths that will be mown through and round the field to assist walkers. This change in management will reduce our carbon footprint and also give us an opportunity to work with the Chesham & District Natural History Society to see what grows naturally across the whole field. It will also be interesting to see how this change provides habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. In the first season of changed management, volunteers from Chesham and District Natural History Society have already identified two species of orchid growing on site. We are working with the society to create additional habitats for invertebrates.