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Fungus
Foray
Phil Budd, a local
expert on fungi, recently conducted a 'Fungus Foray' in the
grounds of Chilworth Manor, accompanied by a diverse mixture of
naturalists, science park tenants, local residents and various
children & dogs!
Phil suspected that
Chilworth would be a good location for fungi due to the diversity of
habitats and the lack of interference from agriculture. He was not
disappointed. Phil showed how to recognise various species using
colour, texture, smell and, for the brave, taste. Fifty-two species
were discovered on the day, making this site one of the most
species-rich in the whole of Hampshire.
We plan to repeat
this event in autumn 2005, when it will again be open to
participation from anyone who is interested in fungi. Next time we
hope to explore deeper into the Chilworth Conservation Area and we
expect to discover further new fungi.
Phil's work has
added significantly to our knowledge of the wildlife value of the
Chilworth Conservation Area and will be invaluable in the
development of our programme of conservation measures.
Chilworth Arboretum
To the west of Chilworth Manor is the
Chilworth Arboretum, an area rich in exotic trees, shrubs and
historical features. Some of the Chilworth Conservation Committee (a
group of enthusiasts from the university and the local community)
wanted to see the Arboretum recovered as it had been badly
neglected. We decided to form a new group to focus on the Arboretum
in order to maintain the species diversity and see the area used for
research, education and leisure. Since
its inception early in 2004, the Chilworth Arboretum Committee has
begun cutting back invasive plants, particularly gorse, brambles,
rhododendron and bracken, so that the trees and especially the many
varieties of Azalea can again be enjoyed to the full. A survey has
been completed, which identifies 54 exotic tree varieties in
addition to native species. A planning application will shortly be
made to carry out necessary maintenance work on the trees in the
area, which are subject to a tree preservation order.
This work is already increasing the
accessibility of the area to local people and we are confident that
within 2 years we will have returned it to the state it was in 20
years ago when Chilworth Manor put on special teas for visitors who
came to enjoy the azaleas in full bloom.
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