Artemis Working for the Common Good

Artemis Tree Services was happy to work on Chorleywood Common recently.  The Common is a County Heritage Site, a Conservation Area and a Local Nature Reserve. Covering 80 hectares (the equivalent of 110 football pitches) it comprises grassland, wooded areas and ponds.  There is a Nature Trail with play structures, wood sculptures and other structures to encourage play.

The Common has a long history.  In 1917 Sir James Henly Batty bought the Cedars Estate and became the Lordship of the Manor and the Common. Batty retained the Lordship of the Manor and the Common until 1921 when he gave the Common to Chorleywood Urban District Council as a memorial to the men of Chorleywood who fell in the First World War. It remained in the possession of the Urban District Council until the new system of local government was introduced and ownership of the Common was transferred to Chorleywood Parish Council in January 1974.

Open grazing used to be permitted but since this was restricted in 1950s, trees have become more established and continue to thrive in numerous copses.  The Common is cared for by Parish Rangers who organise educational events and maintain the Common and the trees.

Artemis was called in to help when some more skilled tree work was required.  Our team had to remove some overhanging, snapped branches and pollard a dead tree. 

The beautiful tree-lined avenue was made safe again and in keeping with the ethos of the Common, our team carved the felled tree trunk into a low bench with several seats for walkers to take a rest. The team stacked the other remaining debris into eco piles to encourage insects and fungi. 

Next time you’re out on the Common, see if you can find the tree-seat and pause for a while.