Horton, Colnbrook, Poyle and Wraysbury are situated at the southern end of the Colne Valley Park and unfortunately, over the last decade, many of the green spaces and paths in this area have become neglected, negatively impacting the quality of the landscape and its attractiveness for local people to walk and explore the green space on their doorstep.
Connecting with green spaces and the countryside can do wonders for both mental and physical health. However, as these areas continue to be neglected, it becomes less likely that local residents will be able to enjoy their benefits.
The Colne Valley Park Landscape Recovery Team is on a mission to reverse this decline. With the right support and funding, our goal is simple yet ambitious: to enhance, protect, and restore these green spaces so that both people and wildlife can thrive—now and for generations to come.
What have we done so far
One of the gems in the south of the Colne Valley is Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve and Poyle Poplars Community Woodland. The beautiful wetland reserve of Arthur Jacob features four reedbeds and an attractive riverside setting. Poyle Poplars Woodland offers a peaceful, shaded walk—a haven of tranquillity so close to Heathrow. The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead owns and manages the reserve, and the Colne Valley Park team is working in partnership with them to further enhance the site for both wildlife and people.
Access Improvements
One of our key missions is to improve access to the nature reserve. The entrances have been suffering from increasing litter problems, making the area feel unwelcoming. We have made a good start with our small team, clearing the majority of the litter at the entrance.
A special thanks to the owner of Greene King’s Golden Cross for their support on the day—a beautiful pub that we highly recommend visiting while enjoying a walk around Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve and Poyle Poplar Woodland.
We are grateful for the positive feedback we have received about our work, and it’s clear that this place means a lot to local residents. We will be continuing our litter-picking efforts in March and April. If you would like to join us, please reach out at [email protected].
Biodiversity Enhancement
We have also been working to enhance biodiversity at the nature reserve and woodland. We recently welcomed a corporate volunteer group from SEGRO, whose main task was coppicing hazel and field maple in Poyle Poplars Woodland.
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management technique, used historically to ensure a sustainable and regular source of firewood and timber by taking advantage of the natural process by which trees regrow.
Coppicing is now more commonly used as a way to improve the biodiversity of a woodland by opening up areas to sunlight and enabling other plants to establish.
As well as working on Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve, we have also been improving access and biodiversity at Crown Meadow in Colnbrook with the help of one Green Skills Team. Green Skills Teams are programmes that enhance the landscape, biodiversity, and public access by supporting individuals from job centres, providing them with work experience in a practical setting, and offering free training in conservation and grounds maintenance. Find out more about this fantastic initiative here.
River Improvement
Rivers are a vital part of our landscape, and we have been working on improvements along the Colne Brook. A new site for Riverfly Monitoring has been identified and is in the process of being set up between Horton and Wraysbury. This initiative involves surveying our rivers for small invertebrates and crustaceans, which are key indicators of water quality.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help survey and monitor the river. If you are interested in getting involved, please email us at [email protected].
In addition, we have been working on clearing Himalayan balsam along the Colne Brook. This invasive species dominates wet habitats, suppressing the growth of native plants. It dies back in autumn, leaving riverbanks bare throughout winter, which increases erosion and threatens our local rivers. Tackling this issue is crucial, and we are committed to addressing it whenever possible.
Safeguarding our green spaces
In addition to enhancing our green spaces, we also work hard to protect them! While we may not be able to prevent major developments in the area, we actively fight for mitigation measures that help improve the green spaces and landscape around them for the benefit of local residents and our precious wildlife. Find out more about our campaign, ‘Your Countryside in Crisis – A Call for Action!’ here.
How can you help?
We look forward to continuing our work in and around Horton, Colnbrook, Poyle and Wraysbury and we plan to welcome some of our task to local volunteers. If you would like to stay updated on our future events and volunteer days, please get in touch!
Donate today and help us protect and enhance your precision green spaces:
Find out how your company can support us by becoming corporate supporter of the Colne Valley Park here: https://www.colnevalleypark.org.uk/become-a-champion/corporate-supporter/
Donation can be made here: https://www.colnevalleypark.org.uk/donate/
