Thursday, March 20, 2008

Important Message from CMS - Volunteers required!

To all Friends of Norton Common and CMS volunteers

Due to a change in our volunteer task programme we have the opportunity to hold another task at Norton Common next Wednesday 26th March. We are therefore going to carry on the path improvement work of the past few years. We will be working along the east/west ride, which is the grassy path that runs between the tree-lined avenue/cycle path and Cowslip Hill. For those of you joining us on site, meet at 10.15 at the junction between the ride and the avenue (not far from the tennis courts). We'll be cutting back bushes to widen the path. Weather permitting we'll be having a bonfire.All tools and training will be provided. As always, we'll lay on teas and coffees but bring lunch if you plan to stay all day. Wear old clothes and sturdy footwear or wellies (the common may be wet and muddy).
Hope you can join us.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Youngsters’ efforts boost the Friends

NEWSLETTER OF THE HERTFORDSHIRE CMS cmsnews No 101 • Spring 2008

When Letchworth Garden City was built after 1903, Norton Common was retained as an open space close to the town centre. Local farmers once had rights to pasture cattle but the farms went as the houses advanced. Without regular grazing, most of the grassland gradually disappeared under trees. Members of Letchworth Naturalists kept open some parts where
interesting plants grow and the CMS has joined in for over 20 years.

Now that the Friends of Norton Common has successfully recruited plenty of members, more ambitious clearance work and tackling narrow and muddy paths is possible. Twenty-five scouts, cubs and beavers helped them widen a path alongside the Pix Brook and another in a
wooded area. CMS staff and Wednesday volunteers removed larger bushes and stumps to complete the job and accomplish targets set by the management plan.

Applying for Green Flag status for the site will be a priority in 2008.