We’ve long been asked for a tree trail leaflet, to accompany the virtual trail we’ve offered for some time. Well now we have one, thanks to Sarah Webley who made it her lock down project. 40 trees linked by an easy walk round the Common, though it does take around two hours. We launched it with no fewer than seven small group tree walks led by a variety of guides. All were pretty much fully booked – a great success and a perfect time of year given the great autumn colours. The idea is that you can easily do it yourself so if you’d like a leaflet to try it out let us know. They’re free to Friends or £2 on sale at Skylark. A perfect lockdown pursuit.

October was a busy month for walks. Not only the tree walks but two more plant walks, a bird walk and a fungi walk. Many thanks to all our walk leaders who’ve willingly put on more walks to give more of our members the opportunity given current constraints on numbers.

There was a stakeholder meeting earlier in the month to discuss the future of Neal’s Lodge – the buildings in the middle of the Common that have been empty for over a decade. There’ll be a bigger public consultation soon when everyone can have a say.