News on Haringey’s Ancient Woodlands

Monitoring and Fixed Point Photography: Summer 2023

The aim of Monitoring and Fixed Point Photography is to record the changes of ground flora in the fenced conservation areas with photos. A photo is taken at specified locations. This process is carried out four times annually (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring). By documenting the changes, we capture visual evidence of changes in the project sites over time. This technique helps track habitat development, vegetation growth etc demonstrating the positive impact of introducing conservation areas. 

Here are the FPP photos and target notes from Friends of Bluebell Wood (The photos are cropped)

Compartment No1 (BW1) End of June 2023

Plants were quick to colonise this area once the fence was up, spreading from the existing understory towards the fence. The most common species were annual meadow grass and common knotgrass. Other species present: cocksfoot grass, dock, burdock, plantain, shepherds' purse, cleavers, cow parsley plus some oak seedlings and a small hawthorn (maybe one or two years old).

Compartment No1 (BW2) End of June 2023

Less plant growth here and slower to appear. Annual meadow grass is the most common plant. The majority of growth is towards the boundary ditch. There are also a few common knotgrass and cocksfoot grass plants plus some small, new growth that look like plantain. The upper part of BW2 close to the fence has little or no topsoil and no plant growth.

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)

“It was very heartening to find that little plant had found its way into the wood and made the most of the protected ground”. - Sheila, Friends of Bluebell Wood.

Posted on 23rd August 2023

by Cassandra Li