Habitat Enhancement at Lea Wood

Lea Wood Nature Reserveis a large ancient woodland of 30.23 ha and home to many plants and animals now under threat from habitat loss, mainly through the spread of non-native rhododendron. The project aims to restore the woodland ecology and biodiversity contained within this ancient woodland by the use of volunteers. Volunteers will cut back the invasive rhododendron and control other pest species, such as Himalayan balsam and sycamore, to allow the ancient woodland flora of bluebell, wild daffodil, wood anemone and yellow archangel to spread and flourish.

Protected species will be encouraged to remain and multiply, such as the pied and spotted flycatchers, lesser spotted woodpecker, hairy northern wood ant, grass snake, bat species and slow worm.

We aim to train up the volunteer team to make them competent to use power tools and apply pesticide will be survey techniques to identify protected species (reptiles and bats) and key species (moths /birds /vascular plants).