News on Haringey’s Ancient Woodlands

Alastair, a member of The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), recently introduced the Woodland Condition Assessment (WCA) tool to the Friends of Bluebell Wood, Coldfall Wood, and Queens Wood, on the Networking Day. This tool will help improve the understanding and preservation of ancient woodlands.

What is the WCA?

The Woodland Condition Assessment (WCA), created by London Wildlife Trust as part of the TCAF/London Urban Forest Partnership, helps people study and record information about woodland health. The assessment consists of a thorough walk through the woodland to assess the tree canopy, the native shrub, the ground layer, problem species and wildlife features. Participants will fill a form for every bit of the woodland with its own marked identity, e.g. different species of trees, the different age of trees, planted area, different ground conditions.

Alastair introducing WCA to the Friends in Queen's Wood Cafe

Using the WCA

The Friends groups are excited to use the WCA for their upcoming woodland assessments this autumn with Alastair. This tool will enable them to gather data systematically, understand woodland conditions better, and make informed decisions for conservation efforts.

Get involved:

The WCA can be used in any woodland space in London, to find out more get in touch with TCV: alastair.mckinlay@tcv.org.uk

Alastair leads on the ‘Urban Forest Community Volunteers’ and is also assessing the support needs of woodland volunteers across London as part of the Heritage Lottery’s ‘Trees Call to Action Fund’(TCAF). This will lead to the provision of training, engagement events and the development of a Woodland Volunteer Toolkit along with ongoing support for woodland volunteer/community groups.

To join Friends groups for more citizen science opportunities in the woods: click here

To join London Day of Nature, click here