High Batts Nature Reserve
The task on Saturday was pulling up invasive Himalayan balsam either side of the ride. Although this can feel like a task of Sisyphus, there are tentative signs that progress is being made and there is notably less balsam at
High Batts’ Open Day took place on Sunday 10th July 2022, and was the first since 2019. It was warm, especially in the afternoon. There was lots on offer, with demonstrations, displays, guided walks and plentiful supplies of tea and
Twelve members tackled Himalayan Balsam at the Muck-In Morning on Saturday 2nd July 2022 on the riverbank in Pennycroft. Pulling up invasive balsam is a tiring but rewarding and necessary task. Volunteers were serenaded by a Garden Warbler as they
A benevolent sun shone down on the volunteers who turned up to muck in on Saturday 30th April. The main task was raking up cut grass, which was then taken away by dumper truck. We finished the morning removing tree
From Thursday 24th March 2022 the Pond Hide is closed. This is because we need to make some urgent repairs which are essential for safety. Update: after a safety inspection on 26th March, the Pond Hide is open again.
Saturday 5th March was sunny, if a little cold first thing. The team of volunteers raked cut grass by the ride, then turned their attention to removing tree guards from 4-year-old saplings on Pennycroft. The mesh type of guard has
After the recent closure due to flooding on Sunday 20th February 2022, the waters have subsided and it is safe to visit the Reserve again. High Batts will therefore be open from today, Thursday 24th February 2022.
The Reserve is closed from the evening of Sunday 20th February 2022. This is due to flooding after the series of storms that have blown in from the West. Please check this website to find out when High Batts opens
The Muck-In Morning on 5th February 2022 was organised by Generals Pan and Laurie, who did a first-class job. The troops (and the generals) set about coppicing willow near the North Clearing, and by the end of the morning we’d
A hardcore/elite group of volunteers turned out on a cold and foggy morning to tackle a variety of jobs. The tasks included tree-guard collecting, pollarding of trees, building screens by a hide, and preparing a wall for re-pointing (pictured above).