The Great Bradley Grove, looking north to Clarendale in Jan and June 2005
The Great Bradley Grove,
looking north to Clarendale in Jan and June 2005
The Great Bradley Grove was planted in January 2005. It is a plantation of native trees at the far (western) end of the Recreation Ground. The Stour Valley Trust was consulted on the appropriateness of species to be included and about 225 small trees (or whips) and 25 larger saplings were planted out. It was first raised as a project to commemorate the Millennium. The cost has been funded by the Parish Council and the Ryder Estate. Sue Sylvester-Bradley created the design and the planting was completed by Rod Pass from the neighbouring village of Thurlow and his team, Gloria and Tony. It took most of the day on a rather damp and blowy January 17th 2005 (Click here to read about Rod's work as Head Forester on the Thurlow Estate).
The term 'grove' was chosen because the 1:250 000 map showed a great many small pockets of woodland in the area being called grove, rather than say copse (Click here for the map). The dictionary says the term grove can be a woodland with a path through it for walking. This grove has certainly been designed to allow access through it for the local residents to enjoy in a few years time.
Great Bradley Grove, looking south east to Thurlow and beyond
The 25 standard trees are of 5 varieties:
Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam), Fraxinus excelsior (Ash), Prunus avium (Wild Cherry), Quercus robur (Oak) and Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
The other 250 shrubs are tiny plants at the moment but we hope most of them will flourish with just a little attention and care. The mix, all found locally, is made up of:
Acer campestre (Field Maple), Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood), Corylus avellana (Hazel), Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Euonymus europaeus (Spindle), Ilex aquifolium (Holly), Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple), Rhamnus cartharticus (Buckthorn), Salix caprea (Goat Willow), Taxus baccata (Yew), Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring Tree) and Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose).
We hope, as time goes on, to introduce further plants but intend that these will also be native species in keeping with natural woodland. So, for instance, just one specie of aconite or snowdrop and proper English bluebells, not the Spanish ones that are often offered today.
There is a wide curving path through the grove which will be kept mown so you can enjoy a walk between the trees as they grow. Do go and see the new plants but take care especially with dogs, toddlers and runaway balls, the little plants and their shelters (to protect them from the elements and from being eaten by deer and rabbits) can easily be knocked over or uprooted.
Double click on the image above to play a 30second
video of the Grove taken in March 2007
For a good on-line guide to these, and
other native trees click here
For a link to the Woodland Trust web site click here
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