Today we will be doing a task for BBOWT at Bowdown Woods. This will be our first visit to this site. We will be cutting bracken in an open area to encourage other plants to flourish.

Directions from Thatcham: from Thatcham Station follow Crookham Hill for about three quarters of a mile, then turn right onto Burys Bank Road. Follow Burys Bank Road for about three-quarters of a mile until you cross a cattle grid. Drive about another three-quarters of a mile from the cattle grid and then turn right onto a track. As this is not signposted and there are no obvious landmarks nearby, we will arrange for a volunteer to stand by the turning. If you cross a second cattle grid you have gone too far, so continue to the Control Tower roundabout to turn round.

Directions from Newbury: follow Burys Bank Road towards Thatcham and drive straight ahead at the Control Tower roundabout. After about half a mile drive past a turning on the left, then cross a cattle grid and take the next turning on the left onto a track. The turning is not signposted but is just after a road sign showing the road bending left.

Whichever direction you are coming from, drive under a height barrier and continue to the car park at the end of the track, What3words:///ripe.glow.chip We will meet Julian in the car park then walk to the worksite with him.

Please bring gloves, hand sanitiser and a drink.