Car Park closes at 7pm

Check the Blackwater River to get an idea when the paths maybe flooded. At Eversley Bridge (external site) this occurs when the level is around 0.85 to 0.9m. Or at Blackwater Bridge when the level reaches 1.95 to 2m.

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Notice - Work Parties resume 9th September 2025 - more info

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Volunteer work on the reserve

Tuesday 12th July 2025

Path clearing and riverside work

A large team of BCVP volunteers turned out on a very hot day to clear all the overgrown footpaths. High level overhanging bramble, branches, etc. were cleared using hedge trimmers. The ride on mower munched its way along the path from the car park to the river then both ways along the river path to Grove Hide and Longwater Road. This work is always much appreciated by everyone walking the paths.

Duncan led a team to improve the area around the large overflow non-return flap which drains water from Colebrook Lake South into the River Blackwater. Both sides of the flap had become eroded.

Litter was picked along the paths, and several large items (traffic bollards and part of a car) were removed from the river.

David mowing along the laid hedge. ©2025 MGLG

Sunday 9th and Tuesday 11th March 2025

Copping and Pollarding continued

The work, started in February, was continued in March when three further coupes were cleared. Again, almost everything that was cut was incorporated into a dead hedge, contained by using wooden stakes; the larger trunks used to create log piles. Many log piles created in previous years can be seen over the fence covered in moss, lichen and fungi. Inside there is a smorgasbord of insects that provide food for birds, small mammals and frogs

These open areas all along the south side of the lakes and next to the Blackwater Valley Path provided excellent viewing spots for birdwatchers and the many walkers who use the path.

BVCP also replaced the barn owl box that can be seen from Colebrook hide.

Coffee break for the volunteers ©2025 MGLG

Sunday 9th and Tuesday 11th February 2025

Coppicing and pollarding

On both days the volunteers worked along the Blackwater River path continuing the task that had been carried out in the previous years by a contractor.

Areas (coupes) inside the reserve are cleared on a 10-year cycle. Hazel coppiced, hawthorn pollarded and very large trees left untouched. Bramble very often needs to be cleared for access and within the coupe. The aim is to create a variety of different habitats ensuring there are areas suitable for many different types of wildlife

The tangled mesh of a dead hedges, created from the cut trees, provides a hideaway for small birds such as robins, wrens and dunnocks. Small mammals also use these.

In addition, 5 disease resistant elms (Ulmus Lutece) were planted. Three along the path leading from the car park and two more, just inside the reserve, at the west end of Grove Lake.

Coppicing before and after ©2025 MGLG

Tuesday 14th January 2025

On Tuesday a group of BVCP volunteers continued the hedge-laying that had been started by the Sunday volunteers. By the end of the day a stretch of about 50 m had been completed. It looked very neat and impressive.

Work continued with coppicing the two slots left unfinished from Sunday and, although the one near the hedge-laying was completed the one near Moulsham Bridge needs more work so this will be continued in February.

In addition, some clearing was carried out on the Colebrook cut behind the hide to improve the flow of water.

Newly laid hedge ©2025 MGLG

Sunday 12th January 2025

It was a very cold day, but 20 regular and 3 new volunteers braved the weather and turned up. We welcomed Tony Elston, back after recovering from surgery and looking very well. The team were split into 4 groups. Two worked on the hedge-laying led by volunteers Adele Dodgson and John Wheatley who were able to teach our newest volunteers some new skills including pleaching (interlacing branches to form the hedge).

The two other groups worked on coppicing separate lakeside slots (the perimeter of the reserve is divided into slots of about 10m length). One on the path to the river provided posts and binders for the hedge-laying. The second slot, not far from Moulsham Bridge hadn't been tackled for some years and was only partly completed.

Coppicing before and after ©2025 MGLG

For previous installments click here

If you are interesting in volunteering or for more information on planned work click here

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