Tunbridge Wells Commons Conservators

Current work / Management

This is an extract from the Wardens report for July 2010:

The work period just finished is traditionally the quietest of the year as we suspend cutting during the nesting season. This year, however, we have had to carry out an unusual amount of emergency tree work. There have been a number of sycamores on Castle Rd which have died suddenly and have been pollarded, as well as a willow opposite the Royal Wells that has had to be removed. I am also noticing an unusual amount of die-back on rowan trees, including a very prominent group near the coach park on London Rd. We have also crown lifted a number of trees to improve access for the mowers as well as lifting trees at the bottom of Castle Rd to allow greater visibility for the CCTV camera there.

Cutting on the areas of amenity grass has been underway since the end of March and we are now halfway through our contracted cuts for the year. We are now starting our flail cutting of our tracks and paths as well as clearing the hay meadow areas with the collector flail. We have been using the collector flail for about five years now and I am delighted to see this year that our attempts to reduce nutrient levels are working and the areas we have treated are coming back with much finer grasses and wild flowers.

Please follow this link to read the full text of all the recent Warden's Reports.

The Coming Season

Asulox is proving an excellent treatment for the dense areas of bracken - even the contractor carrying out this work has been surprised at its effectiveness but it is presumably connected to the geology of the Commons. We will be undertaking further clearance this year as well as re-treating some of the first areas we targeted. It appears that a single treatment lasts for about four to five years, making it a very cost effective management technique.

We will be starting on bench renovations in the next few weeks and will be replacing some timbers completely and turning some over to re-use the same timber. Because they are by far the most heavily used, we will again be concentrating on the benches around the cricket pitch by Wellington Rocks.

Volunteers

Although all the work requiring specialists or equipment is done by professionals, the Conservators rely heavily on the goodwill of volunteers to do much of the clearing through the autumn, winter and spring. These voluntary work parties are organised by the Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, and meet on the first Saturday of the month from October to March at 10.00 at the Fir Tree Road car park. Everyone is very welcome, however little or much you can do.

Volunteer work parties this winter will be held on the following dates:

October 16th

Nov 6th

Dec 4th

Jan 8th

Feb 5th

March 5th

There is also a new group of young volunteers, set up especially to clear litter from the hard to manage areas. They would be delighted to welcome new helpers.

If you haven't helped before and would like further information, please contact the Warden at the office on 01892 554250 or by email at info@twcommons.org.

Page last updated: 10/08/2010