Volunteer Working Group March 2026.

Hail the CWC Volunteers!

The Coombes Woodland Committee (CWC) volunteers braved multiple hailstorms at the end of March to help build their first dead hedge. Beneath typically unpredictable spring skies, the structure was constructed by 8 CWC volunteers to deter people from walking under a large beech tree that our tree surveyor had recognised as having the potential to drop huge boughs.

The tree is estimated to be well over 200 years old, meaning that it was just a sapling around the time of the French and American Revolutions, and as the Industrial Revolution was maturing in a Britain with a population of just some 12 million people. At that time, Wokingham was a small, quiet Berkshire market town and the parishes of Barkham and Arborfield were overwhelmingly agricultural.

The ancient tree is still alive but has weaknesses and some fungal growth that could result in large branches falling from it. Hence it was decided to construct a dead hedge to steer people away from walking beneath its substantial boughs. The work entailed driving an avenue of retaining posts into the ground and then filling the space with an assortment of dead branches and freshly cut rhododendron branches gathered from the surrounding area. Rhododendrons are considered an invasive species to the Coombes and so all efforts to reduce their spread are welcome.

To reduce the risk of the hedge being broken down, a detour for an informal path was also created to guide walkers wide of the tree’s canopy.

The CWC is always looking for new volunteers, so if you fancy getting involved fill in a ‘contact us’ form or email info@thecoombeswoodlands.com and we’ll get in touch to arrange some induction for you.

Author – Jeremy Towler, Volunteer