DOWNLAND NEWS FOR THE SOUTH DOWNS VOLUNTEER THYMES RANGER SERVICE ISSUE 78 | WINTER 2017 IN THIS ISSUE: 2 UPDATE FROM THE VOLUNTEERING TEAM 3 WHAT’S IN A NAME? 4 TREE QUIZ 6 NEW STARTERS 8 MY SPECIAL SPOT 9 WASP DRAMA STORM BRIAN TASK ON CASTLE HILL SDNPA VOLUNTEERS ARE A TOUGH BREED AND 10 STORM BRIAN WASN’T GOING TO PUT US OFF. MEET YOUR blown away or forced to give Luckily, the heavy showers didn’t NEW ASSISTANT up as the weather got worse. materialise and we only had to dive RANGERS for shelter once and even that didn’t The task was to clear an area put the fire out. We almost managed 12 of scrub just the other side of the lunch in the sunshine too. YOUR REVIEWS A27, between Mile Oak Farm and Truleigh Hill. Fortunately the site Despite the usual scratches and Despite the day starting with heavy 14 was on the northern side of the slope thorns from cutting and dragging rain showers and the forecast for SHOWCASING so we were protected from the worst the hawthorn, given the initial more of the same along with high of Storm Brian. forecast, which didn’t look as if THE SOUTH winds, a hardy group turned up we’d even get started, it turned DOWNS at Stanmer for the weekend’s task. We cut back an area of bramble at into a good day’s work. Towards the After checking the forecast again the bottom of the slope and several end of the afternoon we were even Main: Double and discussing options, we still isolated hawthorn bushes on the treated to a glorious full rainbow. rainbow decided to head out in the hope steeper top part of the slope to stop ©Clare Evans we might at least manage to the spread of scrub up the slope. CLARE EVANS, EASTERN DOWNS, get some scrub cleared before This will help to create more space Inset:Bonfire VOLUNTEER RANGER lunchtime without getting soaked, for grassland species. ©Clare Evans Tell us your story. Email your Downland Thymes articles to the editorial team [email protected] DOWNLAND THYMES WINTER DOWNLAND THYMES WINTER UPDATE FROM THE A NOTE FROM VOLUNTEERING TEAM THE EDITOR As many of you may know, Becka Saunders, the regular editor of Downland Thymes, is now on maternity leave after delivery in September of her best project yet CHAIRMAN’S – baby Bobbie! You will be pleased to know that mother and daughter CORNER WHAT’S IN A NAME? are doing very well. Goodness, doesn’t time fly! The clocks have changed Until Becka returns I will be taking and I’m writing the Christmas message for Downland the reins of editing the Downland Thymes, another year has passed and we have done STEPHEN’S CASTLE Thymes newsletter and have been so very much. We started the year with a survey fascinated by the variety and to you all asking about the new VRS Committee breadth of the content we have structure. I’m pleased this was so well supported by Central Downs Volunteer Rangers pictured with SDNPA Ranger Simon Mockford, DOWN received this edition. Huge thanks © Rob Nicholls, Western Area Countryside Ranger you and led to the changes at the AGM in March. during a summer visit to Winter works sites. © David Gibson, Volunteer Ranger Central Downs to all our contributors! The Committee is now leaner but the essential work What makes Downland Thymes such remains, we have officers to carry out the specific Following the popularity of the regular THE UNUSUALLY NAMED STEPHEN’S CASTLE DOWN LIES a special and successful publication tasks and we get on with things without lengthy update meetings between rangers and ABOUT A MILE NORTHEAST OF THE VILLAGE OF UPHAM, is that it is written by volunteers debate. We have also successfully held meetings volunteer rangers (VRs) in the western for volunteers. However this does by video conferencing, enabling us all to stay at downs, the other areas have been NEAR BISHOPS WALTHAM. mean that we are very reliant on home yet be in discussion on tablets or computers convinced to try them too. It is a regular location for the VRS to engage “preservation of order” overrode his daughter’s volunteers supplying us with articles to agree VRS actions. I went along to an Eastern Downs in their favourite activity of scrub bashing. stronger claim to the throne and had granted for each edition. The year has also seen us extend the range of meeting earlier in the year and in early Nowadays, the most danger you are likely Stephen succession. discounts being offered to volunteers by local October had the chance to say a few to encounter there is a gang of marauding, So, if you think you have Stephen’s coronation hastily took place but businesses, full details of which are on the Intranet. words at a get together of the Central delinquent heifers but this was not always the something interesting to share The draft Volunteering Development Matilda was not prepared to take this lying I am pleased that the Area Update Meetings are now Downs staff and VRs, in Singleton case. The top of the steep slope affords wide and with the other volunteers in the Plan has now been reviewed by down and there followed a 19 year long civil being held for outdoor practical volunteers in each Village Hall. It was great to see and distant views on a clear day which partly explains National Park for future editions Area teams and other staff working war known as The Anarchy, where neither side Area. It is a crucial opportunity for us to engage with hear about some of the projects that the origin of the name. King Stephen, crowned then please email any contributions, with volunteers and by the time you could find the resources to defeat the other, Rangers and Leaders on topics and be kept abreast of you have been involved with and in 1135, erected a fortification or earthworks on including photos where possible, read this a second draft should have with battles taking place in many locations issues facing the National Park. I hope that something particularly the benefits of winter work the down which was, of course, Stephen’s Castle to [email protected] been presented to our Community, and fortifications being erected or strengthened. equivalent will also be in place soon for all other that can be seen once summer comes. and evidence of this has been identified in aerial Outreach, Volunteering and Education What happened in the end? Eventually, in It just remains for me to wish you supporting volunteers, no matter how they contribute. photography. But why was it necessary for King Gemma North and I spent two days (COVE) Programme Board for review. 1153, the Treaty of Westminster was drawn up, all a very Merry Christmas and Stephen to erect a fortress here and why did he Our education courses have continued with River in Buxton early in October, meeting Volunteer Rangers will have a chance allowing Stephen the throne for life. In reality life a Happy New Year! need such long and clear views? Ecology, back by popular demand, and Cultural Volunteer Co-ordinators from the to feed back on it shortly. turned out to be less than a year and Matilda’s Heritage, planned for early next year. The Committee other UK National Parks to share ideas Nearly 900 years ago and only some 70 or so son Henry II was crowned in 1154, so you could Finally, could I make a general plea are always seeking new ideas for this initiative, along and best practice. This is an annual after the Battle of Hastings, securing the throne say that Matilda won in the end. to those of you going out with the with any other things you would like to try. Please meeting and to illustrate the increasing of England was no mere straightforward matter outdoor groups, particularly when continue to complete the Volunteer Attitude Survey. importance of volunteering and of succession. Henry I was juggling maintaining you’re with partner organisations, to It is a vital tool for us to communicate with you and for volunteers to the National Park ‘family’, power in both England and France, and it was During The Anarchy, Matilda escaped help make sure that Task Report Forms your comments and desires to be considered. I intend for the first time, all 15 National Parks following his victory at the Battle of Bremile in from Devizes Castle disguised as a are completed and passed on to the to give you a full update on the survey’s findings and were represented. Normandy that a ship carrying a party of 300 corpse dressed in a shroud and bound Area team by Task Leaders, so we’ve the actions that will flow from it at the AGM on the victorious revellers back to England struck a to a bier. Later, while imprisoned at One of the most important common always got a record of who has done morning of 17 March 2018. It will be at The Pavilion rock and sank, drowning almost all on board Oxford, she was lowered down the wall themes that we all seem to be looking what. If the report doesn’t come back, in Petersfield, with thanks to the Mayor of Petersfield including William, the Prince of Wales. This by ropes during a heavy snow storm. at was how do we attract and facilitate we don’t know what work you’ve done, who is providing this facility for us in recognition of incident became known as The White Ship people to have a go at volunteering in how much time you’ve given, or have a One person’s haughty, proud and the work the VRS have carried out on Nature Reserves Disaster, so grave were its implications for our National Parks who currently don’t clear picture of what is being achieved.