Roving Work Party, Common Hill, Friday 23rd January, 2026

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Reserves Officer Rosie Wilson led a small group of volunteers through a varied range of tasks on and around the Trust's reserves at Common Hill, Fownhope, highlighting the interesting, engaging and effective nature of this aspect of the Trust's conservation work. 

New volunteers are encouraged and welcome to join the growing team, participating in a wide range of tasks across far-reaching County locations. (For more details see: Practical Conservation Volunteer - multiple locations | Herefordshire Wildlife Trust)

Some time ago, a hawthorn tree fell across the Wye Valley Walk to rest "hung up" on the boundary of the Trust's Round's Meadow reserve. The tree presented an awkward obstacle to horse riders on this bridleway section of the popular Long Distance Path. 

Rosie negotiated with the landowners to agree that volunteers would remove the tree and stack the logs for the landowner. The work involved "spotting" for passers-by, cutting the tree off at the base of its trunk, winching it to rest on the ground in a stable position, removing the ivy that had covered it and then cutting it into logs that could be lifted by hand.

Once that task was finished, the Wye Valley Walk was safely passable for all permitted users.

The work party them moved a short distance to the old orchard in North Meadow reserve, where a contractor had previously pollarded an overgrown willow. Tasks here included stacking large willow logs as a habitat pile, dragging brash and starting a fire for this on a pre-existing fire site. 

Meanwhile, work continued on laying a line of hazel into a hedge, creating an additional wildlife habitat and a traditional, easier to maintain boundary alongside the drive that provides access for several of the reserve's neighbours.