Millennium Project

 After much discussion and consultation, it was decided that the Society's Millennium Project would be to create and maintain a tree nursery which would eventually restock impoverished areas of the Wood with trees of local provenance. Trees would be grown on from seeds, saplings, cuttings etc collected from within the Wood.

Norsey, with its ancient trees and long history, contains important populations of many native trees and the new nursery will be an additional means of ensuring that these populations flourish in the future.

The site chosen was carved out of the former Council Parks nursery at the junction of Norsey Road and Outwood Common Road, bordering the Pond Meadow and measures 50m by 30m. It is best viewed from the new footpath that leads from the bus shelter opposite the junction of Norsey Road and Potash Road to the Wood's entrance just along Outwood Common Road. This provides safer access to the Wood, as there is no footpath along Outwood Common Road.

Work started by enclosing the site with a 2 metre high fence to exclude deer and rabbits and the ground within was rotovated and sprayed. Workparty volunteers covered the area with black plastic sheeting to prevent weed seeds germinating prior to planting out the cuttings and saplings. Following this, they assisted the Warden in digging and preparing the first transplantion and stratification beds. The stratification beds will help to speed up the seed germination process and break the period of dormancy - the seeds are put into sand filled containers which are then buried in a pit full of sand. Initially, oaks will be propagated to provide a good supply of saplings to plant back into clearings after coppicing the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). Gradually, the trees and shrubs that most benefit wildlife will be encouraged to replace those of lesser importance. Much more wildlife activity is associated with oak (Quercus), ash (Fraxinus), hornbeam (Carpinus) and hazel (Corylus) than with, for example, sweet chestnut.

It had been planned to transplant some oaks and hornbeam last spring into area 16, which had been coppiced the previous winter. However, the repair of the heavy rutting of the area and unfavourable weather conditions delayed this.

This caused some concern that the young trees would sustain root damage when they were eventually lifted if they were left in the nursery beds much longer. One large specimen of each species was lifted as a trial and although the root systems were well developed, the damage was fortunately slight! The rest of the larger trees were then lifted and heeled in temporarily until the autumn, when it is hoped to plant them in their permanent positions. (Weeks later, most trees were showing no signs of distress following this treatment!).

In November and December 2002, the first set of trees was transferred (from the Society’s Millennium Project tree nursery). Some 30, mostly oak and hornbeam, were transplanted into area 16, which was coppiced the previous winter. Fortunately, the wet weather prevailing at the time made the need for watering them in unnecessary. A few hawthorn and wild rose were also moved and replanted by the deadhedge bordering area 16 along the Main (Norsey) Drive.

We value the opportunity to nurture this young progeny, which will be of benefit to the future well-being of the Wood  and will help the generations to come in their enjoyment of the Wood.