Parks and Countryside newsletter

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Parks and Countryside [Spring/Summer]

In this newsletter:

  • Join the Great British Spring Clean
  • Warfield bridleway resurfacing
  • Wildfire prevention
  • Sites of the season

Join the Great British Spring Clean

Great British Spring Clean 2021
Lily Hill Park litter issue

The picture to the left was recently taken at Lily Hill Park in Bracknell. It sadly shows how bad the issue of littering is becoming in some of our parks.

To look after our parks and open spaces, please dispose of your litter in the bins provided, or where they are full, take your rubbish home with you.

If you would like to do more to make a positive contribution to your environment, then why not take part in The Great British Spring Clean, which continues until 13 June?

This mission, led by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, aims to gather public support to clear litter from our streets, parks and beaches. After all, what is good for our environment is also good for our mental and physical health!

Find out how you can get involved.


Warfield bridleway resurfacing

Our rangers have resurfaced a section of Hawthorndale Lane in Warfield to improve year-round access to this rural bridleway.

To resolve an issue with seasonal waterlogging, 30 tonnes of recycled highway materials were used to raise the surface of the lane, which means that users such as walkers and horse riders can now enjoy better access.

This is just one example of how we are working in partnership to improve access to rights of way and the countryside.

Resurfaced section of Hawthorndale Lane

Wildfire prevention

Swinley Forest Fire 2011

Picture: Swinley Forest fire, 2011.

With the weather warming up, many of us will be enjoying outdoor activities again, such as barbecues and camping.

When spending time outdoors, please take some simple precautions to avoid accidentally starting fires that can turn into destructive wildfires.

- Please extinguish cigarettes properly and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground, as these can set fire to dry grass and leaves.

- Educate younger people about the dangers of lighting fires.

Cigarette end causing grassland fire

- Do not leave bottles or glass in woodland, as sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them).

- Only light barbecues in designated areas and do not leave them unattended. Fire damage from an unauthorised barbecue at South Hill Park can be seen pictured right.

Fire damage at South Hill Park

Guidance about staying safe when outdoors, including water safety and fire prevention, is available from The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.


Sites of the season

There are many hidden gems just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed in our parks and countryside. From amazing art, natural wonders and ancient monuments, Bracknell Forest has it all!

Tarman's Copse in Bracknell is well worth a visit this spring to explore some of the amazing Green Man wood carvings that are located throughout the site.

Tarman's Copse

Tarman's Copse is a 9.68 hectare (24 acre) ancient woodland in the Jennett’s Park residential area. The woodland dates back more than 400 years, and has changed very little in shape and size since the 1870s.

Green Man sculpture

Today the woodland consists of older Sweet Chestnut and veteran Oaks with smaller native trees and a ground vegetation layer of bluebells and wood anemone.

In 2019 our rangers provided new attractive features for visitors, including wood carvings, directional finger posts and an interpretation panel.

Green Man sculpture

The Green Man, which is depicted in many of the wood carvings, located throughout the woodland, is a legendary being that is thought to symbolise the cycle of life, death and re-birth.

Tarman's Copse can be explored using the surfaced paths, and information about how to get there is available on our website.

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