September Round-Up from the Steering Group

September was a busy month for the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands, with three important meetings shaping our plans for the months ahead — the Steering Group on 10th September, the Members Meeting on the 23rd, and a discussion with the Council’s Parks Department at the end of the month. Together they gave a good snapshot of how much is happening in and around the woods, from meadow management to volunteer recruitment and upcoming grant opportunities.

Steering Group – 10 September

The Steering Group began by looking ahead to November's celebrations — 30 years since the start of the Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party. Ideas ranged from a community meet-up to features in local magazines and our own newsletter.

On membership, our numbers continue to grow steadily, reaching 659 by early September. We’ve welcomed 35 new joiners this year, a net gain of 25. However, some of our newsletters haven’t been getting through to members using Hotmail or Outlook. To improve reliability, the group agreed to trial a low-cost professional email service that will give us a more dependable way to stay in touch.

The group also noted that volunteer recruitment is at a record high — we’ve already had more new volunteers this year than in the whole of 2024. That success means we’ll soon need to refresh some of our tools and ensure coordination between the different working groups.

Two key volunteer roles have become vacant — Membership Officer and Health & Safety Lead — and we’ll be inviting interested members to step forward. These roles don’t require joining the Steering Group and would suit someone who enjoys helping to keep things organised behind the scenes.

There was also discussion about the longer-term governance of the Friends, including whether charitable status might help us access more grants and formalise our growing activities.

In woodland matters, a rotational mowing regime for our meadows is being developed in consultation with the Parks team, and Thames21 will be installing leaky dams later this autumn as part of the Wickham Catchment Project. The newly formed Coppicing Group is preparing to start its first training and work sessions, with a small budget approved for essential tools and training.

Members Meeting – 23 September

Two weeks later, members gathered for our quarterly update. The overall message was one of steady progress and continued enthusiasm across all volunteer groups.

Financially, the Friends remain in a strong position, with over £14,700 in the bank and further matched-funding opportunities available. Membership numbers were confirmed at 659, and the growth in volunteer activity was highlighted once again.

The Pathways Project continues to be a key focus. A new grant application is being prepared under the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund to refurbish another section of the Green Chain Walk near Shooters Hill.

In the Woodland Gardens, the major phase of Jackwood House Wildlife Garden is now complete, leaving a small balance to support ongoing maintenance and planting. The restoration has also been entered into the RHS London in Bloom Awards — a well-deserved recognition for everyone involved.

In the Woodland Conservation update, members heard about the new meadow mowing plan and the natural flood management works being carried out by Thames21. A new idea was also shared — creating a set of Tree Maps to help visitors learn more about the woods and explore them more easily.

The meeting closed with thanks to all volunteers and a reminder that we’re still looking for new members to join the core team, especially to help with membership coordination and health and safety oversight.

Meeting with the Parks Department – 30 September

At the end of the month, representatives of the Steering Group met with the Council’s Parks Department to discuss ongoing management of the woodlands.

A joint Woodland Management Plan is taking shape, including the formal launch of the Coppicing Group, which will work seasonally to avoid nesting times. The group’s first area, just south of the main ride, has now been marked out, and the work will support both biodiversity and woodland health.

The Parks team also confirmed that the leaky dams planned by Thames21 will go ahead this autumn, with some preparatory coppicing work carried out by contractors and Friends volunteers.

The Council shared that budget constraints remain challenging, but cooperation with local volunteer groups continues to be a high priority. Funding opportunities are being explored, including for defibrillators in key locations.

Other issues discussed included reports of fires, drones, garden waste, and encampments in the woods. The Parks team encouraged everyone to keep reporting these via the dedicated parks email Parks@royalgreenwich.gov.uk, ideally with photos and a What3Words location to help them respond quickly.

Finally, Froglife will soon be installing a new interpretation board at the pond near Welling Way — a small but welcome addition to help visitors learn more about local wildlife.

Looking Ahead

As we move into autumn, the Friends are entering one of the busiest and most rewarding times of year. With the new coppicing group launching, pathways projects underway, and our gardens thriving, there’s plenty to get involved in.

If you’d like to lend a hand, join a volunteer session, or take on one of the open roles, we’d love to hear from you. Together we’re keeping Oxleas thriving for the next generation.