Roughmoor Spinney in Whilton Village has been open to the public since 2000, and has been developed, maintained and managed by a Spinney Management Group (SMG) comprising volunteers from the Parish. At a meeting in early 2019, it was agreed that the Parish Council would take over the running and Chairmanship of the SMG, including it as an agenda item at the Parish Council meetings.  The SMG still maintains an active Working Party for maintenance activities in the Spinney, and a core of active members to run the Spinney activities, all under the guidance of the Parish Council.

 

Why not take a walk through the Spinney this spring?  The volunteers in the working parties have ensured the stream is running freely. The reflections in the pond are clear.  Following on from the new walkway, we have begun our first dead wood hedge along the diverted top path and the top path bridge has been wired.  As the flowers come out in the sun this walk will enhance your appreciation of the coming season.

 

Recently, about 300 trees have been planted across Daventry District.  This is part of the Woodland Trust's Big Climate Fightback initiative - a campaign to get one million people to join the fight against climate change by pledging to plant a tree during National Tree Week.  This week ends on 1st December, but of course there will be time to plant more through the winter.

National Tree Week is the UK's largest tree celebration, inspiring communities across the UK to plant thousands of trees every year since 1975.  Marking the start of the tree planting season, the campaign has its roots in the response to the Dutch Elm Disease crisis of the 1960s, which wiped out more than 20 million of our most significant landscape trees.  People came together to "Plant A Tree in ‘73", and every year since, organisations, professionals, schools and our amazing network of volunteer Tree Wardens have planted trees around the country to lay down roots for a tree-filled future.

Whilton Parish Council has joined the campaign and has received a pack of native trees, namely Crab Apple, Field Maple and Hazel.

Most of these are now in the Spinney and have been planted by volunteers and the Pre-School children.

 

 

Over autumn 2019, members of the Spinney Management Group working in partnership with the Parish Council were able to organise three work parties, with volunteers from the village too.  The pond was cleared and the overgrowth removed. Trees were pruned, and work began on clearing out the stream with the aim of preventing blockages.  Some work was done on weekdays as well as weekends, according to the times offered by volunteers.  A new raised walkway was professionally installed by a contractor in March 2019 using grants from the Parish Council, Daventry District Council and funds held by the Spinney Management Group, now replaced by the Parish Council.  This makes the whole Spinney more accessible whatever the weather and the viewing platform at the pond gives much better access for observations there.

We would like to thank all who have given their time and energy.