11:54am Thursday 11th March 2010
JEREMY Evans has started something he may never finish.
But when he gazes around Credenhill Park Wood, he knows that future generations will admire his handiwork.
“Sometimes I stop working, stand back and appreciate the landscape.
It’s so incredibly peaceful,”
said the woodland officer.
“But the work never stops here.
It’s frightening from my point of view because I may never see the full development.”
Jeremy and the Woodland Trust have spent the last decade turning Credenhill Park Wood into a garden of eden.
But the job is a balancing act that involves more than chopping a few trees or birdwatching.
That’s because Credenhill Park Wood – or just Park Wood to officers – hides a multitude of secrets, from Iron Age and Roman settlements to endangered wildlife.
It’s also a haven to walkers, horseriders and cyclists, and a tiny bastion of industry.
The trust’s main job is conservation, and the plan is to return parts of the hill to its original nature while highlighting the past.
The site is historically deciduous, but the ecology has changed due to the mass planting of pine (coniferous) trees.
These plantations are largely devoid of wildlife, as little vegetation grows through the undergrowth.
That meant clearing several hectares at the summit in 2008 and laying tracks to get the timber out.
Grass and moss is now replacing a barren forest floor, while a Herefordshire farmer is introducing sheep from protected land around Lake Vyrnwy.
Rodents and other key species are arriving, along with new vegetation on the roadsides.
The timber has gone towards fencing, a livestock pen, and a small carpentry school for Credenhill youngsters.
But there are some problems – the Trust discovered the land was unsuitable for cattle, while the fencing around the clearing has blocked several paths and cycle routes.
“We assumed the land would be ideal for cattle, but we discovered it was only suitable for sheep, as cattle could not survive on the vegetation,”
said Mr Evans.
“We have realised that the fencing has blocked a few paths and we hope to put stiles in places.
“I’m also very happy for the mountain bikers to come here as I know it’s a popular place and we see quite a lot of them.
“But I don’t want them digging the earth and making mounds, because this is a scheduled ancient monument.”
People have been living in Park Wood for more than 3,000 years.
The site contains one of the three largest iron age hillforts in Britain, and was probably occupied by the Romans in the early ADs.
A Herefordshire Archaeology survey in 2007 found an iron brooch and Roman army pottery, leading experts to believe the hill was an outpost before Kentchester was founded.
The massive embankment around the fort is now clearly visible in parts, while noticeboards have appeared at the car park.
“One of the embankments was cut away for research, and that really surprised us,” said Mr Evans.
“You would think the Iron Age people just piled a lot of earth, but it was layered so they knew what they were doing.
“The Roman pottery was dated to around AD46 and was probably used for olive oil.
“This place definitely had a Roman presence, and would have been part of a supply chain that went from the Welsh coast.”
The project was backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and there are plans for a “roadshow” to local schools, highlighting the findings and the conservation.
Many people have also adopted a tree, although this has caused some amusement recently.
One couple “moved” their adopted tree to another site after rumours of illicit behaviour in the car park.
“Someone rung up and said they felt sorry for the tree and adopted it,” chuckles Jeremy. “It was a happy ending all round.”
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