5 Goodgymers convened on Parkland Walk this morning, extra kudos to those that came after doing a Parkrun!

The Parkland Walk is a nature reserve which lies along the path of a former railway line which used to connect Finsbury Park to Ally Pally. As the Parkland Walk is 4km in length we met at the Highgate end where we were greeted by Simon and around half a dozen other volunteers who are part of The Friends of The Parkland Walk . Shawn, Abi and I were tasked with making the back part of the nature reserve more accessible by removing a pile of mulch, sticks and roots. Meanwhile Vicky and Sally were tasked with planting rootlings by the fence. We managed to clear a path and also have time to appreciate some sizeable spiders, after which we were taught the difference between; coppicing and pollarding – pruning/cutting back of trees but at different heights, and how to identify Ash and Hazel trees – the former has a light, smooth bark with black buds and the latter has a browner bark with yellow spots. After equipping us with some loopers Simon walked us a few minutes down the path so we could coppice some Ash and Hazel – they will be weaved into a small fence which will border the walkways in the nature reserve. With it getting close to noon we amassed our cuttings and carried them, on what felt like a much longer walk, back to the nature reserve.

The Friends of The Parkland Walk run conservation days during the weekdays and one weekend in a month so we may be back soon!