Community Fund Grant to Friends of Greenway Spinney

Started by local residents in winter 2009/10, this 5-year project, now complete, has:

restored the diversity of trees and plants by a planned programme of selective clearance of invasive species and replanting with native species.
restored the ancient hedge along the green lane.
created an improved range of wildlife habitats.
maintained public areas.

Over the five years supporters from the local community have worked more than 1,400 man hours to clear all invasive laurel and snowberry and planted 1,500 hedge plants and trees in their place. The spinney is now a very popular area of mixed native woodland with a range of diverse habitats, and Natural England has agreed it can be classified as a Local Nature Reserve. It is also being used every week by Grove Nursery and Grove Infants for Forest Studies.

Support has come from several bodies - St. Albans District Council, Herts County Council Locality Budget, Biffa Award as well as the Harpenden Trust Community Fund. The Trust responded very swiftly to the urgent need to purchase 410 hedge plants and trees for planting in February 2015 to complete the programme.

02 May 2020

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