Festive outdoor activities included another volunteer session planting trees and shrubs around the edges of the area between the cinder track and the railway. This will improve biodiversity by creating habitat and connectivity to other areas of the Common. We now know this works as bat sightings have increased above areas that have been planted on the Bolingbroke side of the Common. Two more black poplars were planted in the same area making three in total for these rarest of our native trees. These latest specimens were grown by Enable’s tree team from cuttings of a pure (genetically tested) black poplar in the Skylark playground. You’ll see the saplings protected behind picket fencing.

Nick Rutter’s last birdwalk of the year identified over 40 species and brought Nick’s annual tally close to a record for the Common. His tally increased just before Christmas as he spotted a rare Water Rail skulking at the edge of the lake by the stone bridge. That brings his annual total to 86 – equalling the Common’s record. Barbara Littlechild meanwhile has spotted a rare firecrest.

The Heritage group raised over £1,000 from the sale of donated prints from Ron Elam’s collection, part of which we now own. This will help finance the cost of digitisation and cataloguing in 2025. Members of the Lost Houses project team presented their findings about the houses that once stood on the edge of the Common near where Burntwood Grange and Collamore roads are now.