Elm Copse

The Elm Copse runs north of Park Lane and is characterised by mature trees which include sycamore and one of the Avenue horse chestnuts as well as elms.

The Long Meadow property boundary line runs through the Copse; HIGS responsibility is for the eastern portion. Whilst the position of the property boundary line is not precisely known, metal pins mark the position for normal working purposes.

Northeast of the tall trees is an area of elm saplings, some (maybe all) are suckers from the mature trees. These are in an area of generally long grass.

Whilst the tall elms seem to be resistant to Dutch Elm disease, some saplings of several metres’ height have died, possibly due to the disease. As the beetle which is the vector for the disease predominantly flies at around 5m above ground level, some saplings may be coppiced on a trial basis to see if they flourish if kept as lowish bushes rather than being allowed to develop into trees.

Others will be left to grow as controls.

The long-term concept is to retain the Elm Copse as a healthy small woodland.

The Spinney

This sits in the northern tip of Long Meadow and comprises a small area of mature ash and sycamore trees.

The Long Meadow property boundary line runs through the Spinney; HIGS responsibility is for the eastern portion. Whilst the position of the property boundary line is not precisely known, as in the Elm Copse metal pins mark the position for normal working purposes.

Following tree safety surveys in 2021 and 2023, tree surgery reduced the height of three trees, two to form monoliths. One additional tree was felled to ground level. This work has allowed more light into the Spinney, prompting a bit more vigour in the undergrowth.

Currently there is no plan to plant any replacement trees but any saplings that survive will be allowed to grow unhindered.

Part of the floor area of the Spinney is a log pile. This wood is being allowed to rot down, providing potential habitat for insects and other creatures.

The Spinney borders on the Brook. Aside from routinely checking there are no impediments to flow in the watercourse, no specific actions are taken here.

The West Hedge

This runs between the Elm Copse and the Spinney. It includes a large mature ash tree.

The Long Meadow property boundary line runs in an indetermined position along the hedge. The working agreement with the neighbour is that HIGS looks after the eastern side of the hedge and the neighbour the west side. Cutting the top would be by agreement.

The core of the hedge is a traditional hawthorn hedge. On the Long Meadow side additional shrubs have been allowed to establish so thickening the hedge. In the medium term the intent is to retain this form, intervening periodically to ensure the hedge does not turn into a line of trees lacking continuous low-level vegetation.

Grassland

Adjacent to the Copse and hedge there is grassland. Some elm saplings (with a couple of other species) are establishing here. From time to time, but no more than annually, this grass will be cut, leaving the saplings undamaged. This might happen in the spring to favour some invertebrate species, but before the cow parsley starts to grow up.

Some locally sourced wildflowers have been grown from seed and transplanted in a small area near the sycamore monolith as a trial. These are species new to the meadow (though may have historically been present). We are monitoring whether these flourish or perish.