FOLLOWING a successful first meeting, volunteers are being sought for ‘re-wilding’ action days at land near Cookbury.

In December last year the Post reported that Nick Rosen, writer and documentary maker, had purchased a wetland field in Cookbury and was in the process of setting up a re-wilding project. He was due to host a walk around the land he had purchased to gauge the interest in such a project. After a strong turn out Nick is continuing his work and will be hosting a number of actions days at the end of this month.

Nick said: “We had a planning meeting in December and five volunteers arrived with a great deal of knowledge and advice — including the very important information that bringing tractors on to the land at this time of year would turn it into a quagmire.

“Therefore there will be at least two scythers all day (more welcome), and no tractor, and we will need help spreading the cut vegetation, ready for mulch, and digging in the trees. This is very light work as the trees are very small.”

He added: “There is also an ancient well in the same field. The well is thought to have been disused for over a century, but was once the centre of the Lashbrook Estate. At the moment it is under a mass of brambles but we will clear it and restore it over the next few months. Local historians welcome.”

Since the first planning session, Nick has received grant funding from the Woods for Water and is keen to get volunteers on board to help with the clearing and planting of the land.

Nick said: “This is a shoutout for volunteers to join us on a re-wilding project for a day of land clearance and tree planting.

“The 480 trees we plant will help take carbon out of the atmosphere and stop agricultural water draining down into our rivers and streams.

“We have a grant to plant a new woodland off Allen’s Lane, near the Dunsford Estate, and we will be preparing the land and planting the first few hundred trees on Saturday, February 22 — [Sunday] February 23 is the rain-date in the event it is too wet on the 22nd.

“We will come back the following day to finish the planting if necessary. We will begin works on February 21, for those who cannot make it on the 22nd.”

He added: “Volunteers are asked to please bring a spade and fork and any cardboard you can find.”

The action day meeting point is in the middle of Cookbury village — outside the Norman Church St John and the Seven Maccabees. This is not to be confused with the Church of St John nearby.

Nick will meet volunteers at 9.30am or 11.30am to take them to the site. Lunch and soft drinks will be provided.

For more information contact Nick by email at [email protected] or call 07971 543703.

UPDATE: Due to waterlogged conditions and the high chance of more rain, the re-wilding action days planned by Nick Rosen at his field in Cookbury have been rearranged.

They will now be held on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7. Scythers and tree planting will be held on March 7, with pickup from church in the centre of Cookbury available at 9.30am. Preparation and permaculture will then be the focus on March 6, with pickup from the church available at 2.30pm.

Nick said: “If it rains it will just be a chore for everybody so best to wait a few days for better weather.”