Play Lane Millennium Green Winter Update 2024/25

The shortest day fell on 21st December 2024, with 22nd December marking the first day of winter. I chose to walk the Green seven days into winter at the start of a cold snap.

My expectation was to see storm damage in the canopy and evidence of excessive wash-out on some of the informal paths, as we have experienced during many of the Met. Office named storms crossing the Atlantic throughout 2024. However, I am pleased to report that the damage to date is minor. Most of it is at the boundary section, where local tornado style gusts have uprooted some of the Willow clumps together with parts of he under storey. The area where the Ash trees have been removed (due to Ash die back) show vigorous growth of Hazel, Field Maple, Holly and Yew.

The main all-weather paths are holding up very well, although the informal paths need less footfall in order to recover properly.

As ever, we owe our thanks to the Trustees and volunteers who maintain our Green and our many friends and Guardians who visit the Green and assist with litter picking and keeping a check on the general health of our wild woodland.

As I write we are now fifteen days on from my visit, which equates to about thirty more minutes of daylight already and the birds can be heard calling out loudly at the turn of the year.

We wish our visitors all the blessings that Mother Nature brings to us!

Ian Jefferies

Guardian of PLMG

15 January 2025