I have made first official contact regarding the possibility of changing the use of Hoo and Dark Woods from Unclassified, to Nature Reserve. I have done a little information mining. I have discovered that Dark Wood is considered one of the richest botanical sites in Northern Worcestershire by those that know their botany really well. I’m not sure if this information will make a critical difference to the eventual outcome of my proposal, but it’s far better than being told it’s just a piece of useless waste ground. Allegedly, the invertebrates in both woods are considered pretty spectacular too.
It seems the land was originally scrub. The oldest oak trees are likely to be less than 100 years old, so we are not dealing with ancient woodland here. Even so, the positive influence that Hoo and Dark woods have on Wilden Marsh has convinced me of their value; in fact, considering the implied status of Dark Wood’s botany, I am now more upbeat about this area than I was at the start. Since I am a pragmatist, I’m not bothered about being proved wrong, nor do I fear having to change my perceptions under pressure from reasoned argument. We’ll have to see how the cookie crumbles, as they say!
The standing birch deadwood is short-lived, but it’s being naturally replaced: excellent news for invertebrates. Standing deadwood eventually falls to the ground to continue the rotting process, which again opens up opportunities for inverts. At the moment, though, a significant amount of the fallen deadwood in Hoo Wood is sawn up for firewood. Most of the standing deadwood in Hoo Wood is oak, and in Dark Wood it’s birch.
A View into Fox Hollow
Good luck.
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Thanks Tom. I guess it will happen if the owners agree it’s the right thing to do.
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I’m sure your instincts are correct, you know the habitat so well. I wish a successful outcome.
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Thanks Ratty.
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I also hope the outcome is positive.
Can’t hurt to put the proposal forward anyway. They can only say Yes or No.
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That’s right, Vicki. If a proposal isn’t made the owners can’t agree or disagree with it. I find life more exciting when I’m trying to do interesting and worthwhile things.
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Keeping our fingers crossed for you and all of the marvelous creatures of Hoo and Dark Woods! Nature deserves better than what we humans have done so far.
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Thanks Tom. I will do my best to help it happen.
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I hope you are successful in your endeavours. Do the local council also get involved in this process?
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Yes, but in this case, both owners of the woods must want the reserve to happen.
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Of course! Lets hope it works out.
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Thanks! If it is the right thing to do, I hope the owners will feel will feel similarly.
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I will do my best to make it happen.
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Ooh, that’s fantastic! Keep building that evidence and good luck 🍀
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Thanks Sarah. I will do my best.
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I know you will Mike!!
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Your confidence in me might be misplaced, Sarah.
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No, my confidence in your determination is spot on! Confidence in the councils and other bodies to do the right thing for our environment is not so strong. I know you’ll do what you can for the good of the woods there 🙂
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Well we will have to see how it pans out, Sarah. 🙂
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