Wormwood Scrubs maintenance work

In the autumn and winter months, our grounds maintenance contractor (Idverde) undertakes their annual programme of scrub and bramble management activity across Wormwood Scrubs.

The Scrub management work plan for 2024-25 is split broadly across 3 locations:

  • the western meadow area
  • the eastern side of the Scrubs, beyond the sports pitches
  • behind the Old Oak Community and Children's Centre.

Scheduled works

This autumn, most of the work will be focussed in the meadow area with a combination of tools and techniques to be used throughout the programme.

All work will be precluded with ecological surveys to identify areas to be retained. Idverde hope to complete all work using machinery by the end of September.

The remaining work will be undertaken using hand tools by volunteers in the autumn and winter months, before the start of ground-nesting season in March 2025.

The following image shows the areas to be cut back using machinery and those to be cut back using volunteers.

Areas to be targetted in the western meadow.

The small meadow north of the model aircraft flying zone make up areas A, B and D.

Area C is along the pathway north of the small meadow.

Area E is along the northern pathway of the western meadow.

Area F is along the pathway that cuts through the western meadow from the north.

Area G is around the loop pathway that connects to Area F.

Areas A and C

Areas A and C will be cut back 5m and works will involve:

  • retaining hawthorn and isolated islands of sloe
  • removing cherry plum trees.

Handheld petrol or electric machinery will be used as these areas are too dense and have too much vegetation to remove by hand.

Timescale: Throughout September.

Areas B, D and E

Areas B, D and E will be cut back 4m and works will involve:

  • removing bramble encroaching into the proposed meadow
  • retaining hawthorn and isolated islands of sloe
  • removing cherry plum trees.

Handheld petrol or electric machinery will be used as these areas are too dense and have too much vegetation to remove by hand.

Timescale: Start late August or early September.

Areas F and G

Areas F and G will be cut back 4m and works will involve:

  • retaining hawthorn and isolated islands of sloe
  • removing cherry plum trees.

This section will be worked on by volunteers with handheld tools as the areas are less dense.

Timescale: Start late August or early September.

Rationale

The aim of scrub and bramble management is to:

  • cut back the encroaching bramble, which grows at pace, so we can access areas of scrub that require further maintenance
  • ensure there is a range of young, mature and developed scrub on the site to maximize the wildlife it can support.

Cutting back and removing dense areas of bramble will also help to:

  • prevent encroachment onto paths and into areas designated as meadow
  • encourage new growth which is ecologically beneficial
  • open up areas for a more diverse range of vegetation.

We are removing some cherry plum trees as they are non-native and have limited ecological benefits.

The low-level vegetation restricts light levels for herbs and other species and so should be thinned to help open up views, increase light levels and restrict future spread through suckers. Left unmanaged cherry plums could start to dominate.

As work progresses, cherry plum trees will be marked up for removal by tree surgeons Red Squirrel once scrub clearance is complete.

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