The Wood
Beginnings
Snail Wood, until November 2006 was a hybrid poplar plantation of approximately 0.6ha. The woodland is bounded on two sides by the river Snail. The land is owned by Quotient Bioresearch and is managed by the Snail Wood Steering Group - an elected group of Quotient employees, which in the future will include members of the local community not employed by Quotient.
Felling/Planting
Our vision is to create an area of native wet-woodland, so, in November 2006 the non-native Poplars were all felled. The area was then cleared during November, December and January in preparation for re-planting. The Forestry Commission provided a grant to aid the felling process. You can see some photos of the felling and clearing here.
In February 2007 340 new trees and shrubs were planted on just over half of the site. The trees are mostly Alder and Ash with some Oak and other taller trees in a high forest section along one river bank. You can see some photos of the planting sessions here.
Check back soon to see our planting plan.
Biodiversity Study
In August 2006 Hannah Simmons, a sixth form student from Thurston College, undertook the first ever biodiversity study on Snail Wood.
Christine Whinney, of the Cambridgeshire Biological Records Department supported Hannah in this work. We'll be carrying out this type of study on the wood on an annual basis, to monitor the success of the wood and as an educational aid.
You can download and read Hannah's study here: Biodiversity Study 2006 and you can view Hannah's map of the wood here: Map 2006
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Biological Records Centre has been set up to gather, store and share information on the area's wild species, habitats and protected sites.
