Every Autumn committed and willing volunteers gather, to plant bulbs round Zebon Copse for the upcoming spring. The 27th of October 2024 the bulbs were planted. Driving through the estate you will see the beautiful daffodils coming through.
Five months later, we see the success of that hard work.
Zebon Copse’s Residents Association annual general meeting.
Following receipt of many concerns regarding the recent clearance in parts of the copse, we have received the following response from the ranger.
“Over the past many decades, woodland management at Zebon Copse has been somewhat absent. Since 2012 we have put in place a woodland management programme to try and help restore the woodland flora and fauna. This work is carried out in stages with the previous compartment being coppiced a couple of years ago and the first compartment a couple of years before that. Over the next 8-10 years, further, similar work will be carried out in the wooded areas to the north of the site reducing the thick, choking understorey of holly to open up the woodland floor. Holly has little value for wildlife other than the odd berry for food (only the female trees).
Whilst this work may seem a little damaging at first, it will in the long run allow much more light down to the ground providing optimum conditions for more wildflowers and other flora to flourish. It will also allow other tree species such as hazel to flourish, rather than being overwhelmed by the holly. These new saplings will create a much more valuable understorey for the wood itself and for wildlife too; better nesting sites for birds and food sources for butterflies, for instance.
The works are in line with our woodland management agreement.
The works are now complete for this year, but as the wood is so close to housing we don’t have bonfires to get rid of all the cut material. Bonfires are used on our other more open sites, but the amount of smoke and ash would be detrimental to the local residents, hence why we don’t have them here. Traditionally, this material would not have grown so tall/mature, it would have been cut long before now and would have been used for rural crafts such as hurdle making, fencing, brooms and the like, but due to the current size and amount of cut vegetation, it has to be chipped and/or stacked. The material will rot down quickly as has been the case in the other two compartments already worked on and the display of wildflowers will hopefully be better than ever. We also hope to use some of the cut material to create a dead hedge to the southern edge of the site to support the collapsed fence currently in place. The larger lengths of wood will be removed.
We are very mindful that not everyone welcomes work such as this, but if we left it, all the trees would eventually decay, so for the longevity of the woodland, some woodland management is necessary.”
Can you spare an hour or two from time to time to collect ZCRA membership subscriptions and deliver newsletters for your road?
The committee are in urgent need of some more ZCRA members willing to help with delivering the quarterly newsletters, and collecting ZCRA subscriptions when they are due.
The ideal is to have at least one member to cover each road, so each person’s work is kept to a minimum.
If you would like to help, or to find out more, please email chair@zcra.org.uk, or come along to the Fete on the 05 July 2026 and speak to one of the committee.
The January edition of the Basingstoke Canal Bulletin is packed full of interesting information and news, and is now available to read and download.
The Bulletin is produced by the Basingstoke Canal Society who work tirelessly protecting and promoting the canal.
Click here: Basingstoke Canal Bulletin Jan 2019 , or on the image below for your copy.
It’s easy to take the canal for granted and overlook the fact that the upkeep alone is extremely costly, not just in terms of money, but in manpower too. The Society are always looking for volunteers; if you’re interested, take a look at their website for more information: BCS Volunteer Roles
The canal is a wonderful resource for all the residents of Zebon Copse to enjoy, right on our doorstep. Keep an eye out for a new section here on the ZCRA website with canal information and regular updates.
Hart First Response (HRF) have funds to support 6 young people (aged 16-24) by providing training, supervision, volunteering opportunities and a qualification in first aid.
HFR a registered charity that aims to help save lives by providing ambulance and first aid cover at local events, and by teaching first aid skills within the community.
This video at the bottom of this page shows what our previous young volunteers have achieved.
Are you aged between 16 and 24?
Are you free on Tuesday evenings?
Could you save someone’s life?
Do you want to know more?
How to apply:
For further details please contact Hester on: 07941 980914
Email: admin@hartfirstresponse.org.uk
Twitter: @hart1stresponse #ACF17
Website: www.hartfirstreponse.org.uk
The Hart District Council Dog Warden has recently launched a poster on responsible dog walking, which can be viewed below. We would like to draw all residents’ attention to this, so that we can all enjoy walking around our beautiful estate together.
Further information can be found on the Hart District Council website.
On the 28 February, friends and grateful members of the Zebon Copse Residents’ Association gathered together to thank their long-standing Chairman who recently retired. Guests of honour, David Jackson and his wife Vicky, were treated to a farewell supper at the Exchequer in Crookham Village.
For over 20 years David Jackson has served on the ZCRA committee dedicating much of his time and effort to maintaining a pleasant living environment and community spirit on the Zebon Copse Estate.
As a parting gift, David and Vicky were presented with a bouquet of flowers and a holiday at Leeds Castle, which we hope they will enjoy.
We would like to thank David for his dedicated service, and wish him and Vicky a pleasant retirement.
Hart is currently consulting on housing strategy and their vision for the future as they develop their vital Local Plan. Without a Plan we risk yet more “Watery Lanes” where developers chose sites with scant regard for whether or not they are the most suitable for development.
Every household should by now have received a leaflet from Hart describing the options Hart wish to refine.
See the Crookham Village Parish Council web site for links to the various documents and the on-line response form.
Closing date for the consultation is 15 January 2016 and it is VERY important that as many thoughtful responses as possible are received by the deadline.
New timetable came into force on 24 May 2015. See HERE.
