Annual Reviews

Each year we now produce an 'Annual Review' for Friends and Members, which incorporates a summary of our formal Year-end Report, plus what we hope are some interesting highlights of the year in question.

The previous few Annual Reviews can be downloaded here:

2018 Annual Review

Members and Friends are sent these annual reviews as soon as they are produced each summer, and have an opportunity to attend our AGM each October and raise any issues.

If you would like to become a Friend, you can read more on our Join Us page, and then complete the application form.

News from the Down prev : next

Woodland on Magog Down - Thinning Programme

Woodlands were established on Magog Down in 1990 with high density planting with the intention of thinning to yield a harvest of crop poles in 12-15 years as an income stream for the trust. However, with the influx of cheaper poles from Eastern Europe at that time, the market for UK grown products collapsed. As a result, the trees were left to grow, producing tall, thin trees with a dense canopy inhibiting growth of the shrub layer so important for nesting birds. This has produced a plantation type habitat which is 'bereft' of wildlife and lacking the variety that makes woodlands an enjoyable walk.

Our aim with the current thinning programme is to remove trees of poor long term potential - ie those with twisted trunks, existing wounds, or poor growth - and so create space for well-growing trees to thrive, and enhance natural glades that have developed since this will benefit birds, insects and small mammals.

Additionally we hope to start a coppicing programme on species such as Hazel to create and diversify the shrub layer. Some stacks of felled timber will be left to improve the wildlife habitat.

December 2012

Old Newsletters

Up until 2011 we produced a twice-yearly Newsletter, and you can still download copies of some of these here:

In 2011 the re-designed website was launched, and so the decision was taken to stop producing these Newsletters, and instead to use this website as the main means of communication for news and articles of interest.

This move away from a regular Newsletter meant that more of the Members' and Friends' subscriptions could be spent directly on the costs of upkeep and husbandry on the Down.

We would love every regular visitor to Magog Down to help support its upkeep by becoming a Friend. Read more on our Join Us page, and then complete the application form.