Glade clearing at Ockwells Park

At Ockwells last week the team cleared a section of bramble and thorny scrub. This area will be further uprooted and disturbed by the Windsor and Maidenhead Conservation volunteers throughout the year ahead.

Disturbance doesn't sound great for nature, but actually is an essential conservation process to maintain the wonderful dynamism of biodiversity. In historic times, large grazers would trample areas of vegetation, allowing space for new ones to grow. If this doesn't regularly happen, only the more dominant few species, such as brambles, ever get a chance.

By mimicking this natural disturbance in areas of thick vegetation cover, woodland glades are created. These sun dappled spots will hopefully be perfect for numerous sensitive wildflowers and herbs.