About our group
Oakley Woodlands group (OWG) was formed in 1997 with the support of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the Hampshire Wildlife Trust to manage Cowdown Copse and St. Johns Copse. OWG members are all unpaid volunteers from the community.
The group’s aims are to:
• restore and maintain the woodland and its wildlife
• encourage a sensitive co-ordinated approach to the management of the woodland environment
• encourage and promote community involvement
• encourage educational usage of woodlands by local people, schools and youth organisations
Activities
The group has a varied and interesting work timetable. Its summer programme comprises of surveys of flora and fauna, guided walks and moth evenings. Winter events include footpath clearance, hazel coppicing and replanting and sorting and selling of woodland produce such as stakes.
The Sites
Both Cowdown and St. John’s Copses are genuine examples of managed woodlands, and several species of wild flowers can be found in both woods which are indicators of semi ancient English woodland. In May 2011 the woodland floor in Cowdown was adorned with a spectacular display (and the scent) of bluebells.
The predominant tree species are oak, ash, and birch. Hazel dominates the shrub species.
Woodland product sales
The group was formed primarily to restore the coppice cycle for conservation purposes and to provide amenity value to the public. However, we have endeavoured to make and sell simple products from the materials arising from cutting coppice, all the profits from these activities help to pay for the group’s running costs. We have mainly made garden products such as beanpoles, peasticks and stakes.
We also use a kiln to make charcoal. This has proved very popular with some bags finding their way as far as Cumberland and France.
One of our members, trained in chainsaw use, has made and sold oak strips for garden constructions using the timber from oaks which have fallen naturally or been trimmed for safety reasons. Another of our members has made turned mushrooms for garden decoration, many of which have been sold at the Village Show.
Fauna and flora surveys
The group’s conservation activities follow a management plan, designed to ensure that the overall health and biodiversity of the woods are maintained and improved. To provide information on the impact coppicing has on the woodland environment, regular surveys of butterflies and small mammals are conducted.
Occasionally, moth and bat evenings are held in the woods where the public are invited to take part. These are very popular with children who, in the case of moths, can get very close to the action. Over forty people attended our most recent bat evening.
Bird counts take place every year. Chiff chaffs, black caps and nuthatches can
usually be heard in the trees and sparrowhawks have nested in both copses.
Several of our members have been trained to conduct surveys of dormice, small mammals and butterflies.
An ongoing ten-year survey of woodland butterflies started in 2011. This followed a pilot study in 2010 when twenty three species of butterflies were identified, which included healthy populations of silver washed fritillaries in both copses.
An informal survey conducted in 2000 found twenty two species of butterflies which suggests that our conservation activities have not adversely affected butterfly numbers.
Future work parties
Work parties are usually held during the winter months. All tasks are related to woodland management. A list of conservation work parties for 2011 to 2012 can be found in the Work Party Schedule.
