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Hillhouse Wood featured in The Times

Article from the Times about Hillhouse Wood
Extract from The Times – 13th April 2013

Last weekend The Times published an article on “30 wild days out for Spring” including within it recommendations for beach, meadow & wood walks.  Featured amongst the wood walks (with a near full-page picture) was Hillhouse Wood about which they said:

A superb springtime wood with a flood of bluebells enhanced by the light created by coppicing of hazels.  If you’re lucky, you’ll hear blackbirds and nightingales.

The Times – 13th April 2013

Bluebell Walk in Hillhouse Wood

Bluebells in Hillhouse Wood
Bluebells in Hillhouse Wood

Following an unseasonably cold March and early April, the Friends of Hillhouse Wood have decided to delay their annual Bluebell Open Day and Spring Nature Walk by one week.

The event will now take place on Saturday 4th May with the guided walk starting from outside St. Mary’s Old Church, Hall Road, at 2pm.

This is a Free Event and all are welcome.

Obituary – Joe Firmin

It is with sadness that I report that our colleague and friend, Joe Firmin, passed away at his home in West Bergholt on Monday 18th March.  Joe was well known for his articles in the Village Bulletin as well as leading many varied nature walks through Hillhouse Wood where people benefited from his great love of birds, beetles, insects and plants.

Who will ever forget a ‘Dawn Chorus’ event with Joe where around 20 people would meet up at 3:45am to listen to the songs of many birds including nightingales?

Joe will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with Joe’s widow, Linda, and his daughters.

Joe’s funeral will be held at Colchester Crematorium on Wednesday 27th March at 9.30am.  It will be a humanist service and Linda requests no flowers.

Andrew Savage
Chair of The Friends of Hillhouse Wood

Winter Bird Walk – 2nd February

Poster for Hillhouse Wood winter bird walkSteve Hallam will lead a winter bird walk in and around Hillhouse Wood on Saturday 2nd February.

The walk will afford the opportunity to see resident woodland and meadow species as well as some winter visitors.

Meeting at the Old Church at 9:30am (weather permitting), it is advised that you wear stout footwear and warm clothing and to bring a flask of hot drink.

Friends of Hillhouse Wood – AGM

Friends of Hillhouse Wood AGM Flyer 2012The 18th Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hillhouse Wood will be held on Wednesday 12th December 2012 at 7.30pm in the Orpen Hall, Lexden Rd.

Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm. Members and Non-members welcome.

Following formal business, there will be an illustrated talk entitled:

The Woodland Trust Today

Tony Chadwick, our newly appointed Site Manager talks about the Trust’s plans for 2013, Ash Die-back and other hot topics.

M.R. Pluck
Honorary Secretary
Telephone 01206 514173

Dawn Chorus 2012

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood are offering the exciting opportunity to attend a guided walk through the woods just as the birds are waking and greeting the dawn. Meeting at the Old Church at 3:45am (yes am) on Saturday 19th May, walkers are advised to wear warm clothing, wear stout shoes and bring a flask of hot drink and a torch.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Bluebells & Nature

Join the Friends of Hillhouse Wood for their regular Bluebell Open Day & Spring Nature Walk from 1pm on Sunday 22nd April.  The Friends’ display at the Old Church will feature information about the wood and offer a chance to collect maps, nature trails and quizzes on the wood for both adults & children.  Weather permitting, guided walks, led by Joe Firmin, will start at 2pm and be repeated as necessary, to see the Bluebells and other spring flowers, butterflies and spring bird life, possibly early nightingales.  Refreshments are available.   

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Friends & Water Voles

Wednesday 14th December sees the 16th AGM of the Friends of Hillhouse Wood taking place at Orpen Hall.

Starting at 7pm with refreshments the AGM will be followed by an illustrated talk about water voles in Essex to be given by Darren Tansley, Water for Wildlife Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust and a committee member.
This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Join the fungus foray on 8th November

With some 60-70 species of fungus in Hillhouse Wood this is a great opportunity for you to discover them.  Ian Rose will be leading the walk which starts from the Old Church at 10am on Tuesday 8th November.  You are advised to be dressed appropriately since the paths in the woods can be wet, sturdy shoes in particular are advised.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net

Summer Wildlife Walk at Hillhouse Wood


Joe Firmin and Philip Smith will lead this walk starting at the Old Church at 10am on 10th July.  Being in and near the wood the walk offers a chance to see butterflies (including whiteletter hairstreaks), dragonflies, damselflies and other colourful insects, as well as summer wildflowers and resident birds.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net