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Mapping at College 13/04/26

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  Today we were introduced to Ordinance Survey Map reading and how to plot where we are using Northings/ Eastings (the Numbers that go along the sides). We then had to plot exactly where we were on the map we were given on the map, with that being Shuttleworth College's Red Brick Barn at 145-443. We then used the map to navigate ourselves to the reservoir just west of the starting point and then north east just above the college grounds where there was an old adventure course, which they want us to help clear at some point in the future. We also discussed how to gauge elevation on ordinance survey maps using the Height above sea level (MSL) markings, which I believe are in feet on this map. Below is a rough translation of these markings into what one may see while actually looking at the land formations from a ground level. We also discussed Map Scale. These OS maps are 1cm to 250M but physical map scales can vary wildly. This can be useful for gauging how long it may take to trave...
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Wymondley Wood Greenway Mapping/ Information

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Here is a map of a regular walking route of mine that goes around a small segment of the Letchworth Greenway and then through Wymondley Wood. The area is a gravel track bridleway surrounding the Wood with a mixture of kissing gates and bridleway gates as entrances.  While Maydencroft doesn't manage the fields nor the wood, associated businesses do; such as A.T. Bone, who we share our Letchworth yard with, then possibly the Letchworth Heritage Foundation who do the wood. This annotation of the map covers the locations of kissing gates, signs, benches, boardwalks/ bridges and bodies of water on and near the route.  This is the key: Red = Kissing Gates Green = Signs and Information Orange = Boardwalks and Bridges Magenta = Benches and Picnic Tables Black = Bins Blue = Bodies of Water that can be crossed (Not including surrounding drainage ditches) While not dangerous, most of the aformentioned site features are in some disrepair. Most of the gates have damaged latches and, while ...
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College Day 16/03/2026

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 Today I was introduced to Rotavators and got to practice with a Grillo GZ2. Rotavators can be used for a multitude of reasons on soil. They can be used to aerate soil, prepare/ level soil for planting, uproot weeds, mix fertiliser etc. In terms of operation and architecture it feels very similar to a push-mower, so getting to grips with it only took seconds as I've used push-mowers at Maydencroft many times before. Before operating, we did a quick visual Risk Assessment and discussed safety precautions one must take before partaking in the use of such equipment.  Essential PPE would be: Ear Defenders - the GZ2 produces 96db while the engine is running, anything above 85db requires ear protection Gloves - A thicker pair of gloves would reduce the strength of the vibration caused by the machine on hands. Foot Protection - Steel-toe cap Boots or other appropriate protective footwear would be required due to wear the tiller operates Eye Protection - Although there is a guard abov...
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Location: Park House, Old Warden, Biggleswade SG18 9DU, UK
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Scorecard Review

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As it has been around two months since my last scorecard review, I decided that another one was due as I have obviously learnt a lot more since mid-January.  The following criteria below are ones that I have increased my score in since the previous review: K2 - Ecology - I bumped up my score in this criteria because of what I learned recently while researching the soil triangle, pond habitats, pond weed and how flora that have rhizomes can rapidly overspread K5 - Common farming practices - I recently was introduced to the aforementioned soil triangle, I also did a blog on the farming calendar K8 - Countryside legislation - I increased my score on this criteria because of what I learn form the countryside pollution course that I did, which covered some of COSHH regarding how and where fuels, oils and chemicals can be stored as well as the penalties regarding harm/ disruption to invasive species such as newts, badgers and bats K12 - Map reading - I recently refreshed myself on taking...
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College Day 02/03/2026

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 Today we were introduced to two new pieces of machinery which Maydencroft do not own, to my knowledge, but are still very common across industry: an Auger and Scarifier. Auger: This is essentially a rotating shaft on the end of a motor which you attach to a 'Helical screw blade' in order to drill holes in various materials and surfaces. Here you can see an annotated diagram of the operating/ motor end, very similar to a strimmer or a hedgecutter in its design. There are also some safety features left unannotated such as the hip pad attached to the handlebar and the brake's quick stop feature.  The brake engages as it is pushed away from the operator, so if the operative gets the screw head stuck, the anti-clockwise motion will cause the handle to swing into the operator's thigh - automatically applying it. Scarifier: A Scarifier RL 540 - the same model as Shuttleworth's Scarifiers are used to remove debris from grass such as moss, dead grass, roots etc. This allows...
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Pond and Stream Weeding 16/02 - 20/02

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Last week I spent a majority of my days weeding ponds (mainly dead reeds), which is a new task for me. All of the 4 separate bodies of water that we weeded were on two separate new-build housing estates [Terlings and Duck-Riddy] and all were used for drainage so I assumed we were carrying out the works as it was in the owners' interests to keep the water clear for that reason. A recently cleared 'Pond A' at the Terlings Estate More efficient drainage, however, is not the only benefit for removing reeds however and there are a multitude of benefits that it brings to the pond such as: Preventing aggressive growth/ spread - Like Japanese Knotweed, Reeds can grow out of any part of a rhizome, which leads to it spreading perpetually at an accelerated pace. This gives other aquatic plants a chance to establish themselves Habitat diversification - Open bodies of water on a pond are more likely to attract Waterfowl (e.g. Ducks, Moorhens, Coots), Amphibians, Insects and Bats as well...
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College Day 09/02/2026

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 Today at Shuttleworth we covered content that fulfilled the following Onefile criteria: Surveys Land Management (Including Conservation, Ecology and Legislation) Common Farming Practices Surveying: Today we used a probing inspection camera to investigate gaps and hollowed sections of trees as one would typically use in a VTA (Visual Tree Assessment). These assessments are generally done to gauge the safety of a Tree, its overall health, i.e. is it diseased, how old is it, how secure is it. The use of the camera (OR DRONES) also allow for one to investigate whether animals use the tree as a habitat and check if the tree homes protected species or not. Land Management: Following on from the topic of protected species - if one is looking to develop land, work on a tree or remove a tree, it is important to survey it as there are often very hefty fines involved when destroying their habitats. With any type of Bat in the UK it is a fine of £5,000 per bat when a habitat is removed, distu...
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Tree Mensuration

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Considering my current goal is to join the Maydencroft Arb team I thought it would be useful to do a little research on tree mensuration as a basic concept as in any arborist role it would be a useful skill to have. After doing a little research, the RFS Learning  page seems to be a great source of information. https://rfs.org.uk/learning/how-do-foresters-measure-trees/ First of all there are two different definitions of height: The total height of a standing tree – is the vertical distance from its base to the uppermost or highest point or tip. and The timber height – the vertical distance from the base of the tree to the point on the main stem where the diameter is a minimum of 7cm. This is because a diameter of 7cm is the minimum size for a trunk to be saleable timber. It's important to note that timber height probably would not be relevant to me as I would not be going into forestry in the role I am looking for, but it is good to know regardless. Knowing the height of a tree...
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Cold-Weather Working

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Considering my employment at Maydencroft started in October and it is now January - I have been working in cold weather for my entire time at the company. As this is the case, it's probably worth discussing the impacts of weather while working outdoors, from the individual, employer and legislative perspective. My expereience with Cold-Weather working: As previously mentioned, almost every day that I've worked since starting in October has been "Cold." For the sake of this blog I'll refer to the only day that it has snowed while on the job since I have started - with that being the 6th of January where I was Tree planting in Hatfield in -2 ° C. This Photo was taken minutes before the snow had started, as you can see, I'm in just a shirt. This is because I tend to overheat easily with multiple layers, especially with sleeves and I'm doing a physically demanding task as well. As it started snowing, we took a break, waiting for the snow to subside and obvious...
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Tree Planting Post

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For three days last week I was tasked with amenity Tree planting around Hatfield, mainly on verges in neighbourhoods. In addition to the method listed in the journal below I also had to do some map reading, which doesn't come up too often, when looking where to plant Trees. The planting itself was fairly straightforward all week with barely any complications. That being said, we dug a hole in the wrong place once and had to refill it and then we also had residents come out and complain multiple times about not being asked about the trees first or them, being planted without their knowledge. We apologised each time they would come and ask but the council of Welwyn and Hatfield was not obliged to inform these residents in any way and we are just contractors on their behalf after all. Below is a journal entry that describes the method we used and some pictures. Journal Entry -  06-01-2026 : Today I planted six trees in neighbourhoods around Hatfield. The process was slightly different...
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Jordan's Mill Visit

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  Over the Christmas Break I visited Jordan's Mill with family, originally it was just for lunch but as I walked around I realised there was lots of useful information for someone on a course such as Countryside Worker. I learned a lot from the Info Boards below: A Wholegrain is made up of 3 separate sections: Bran, Germ and Endosperm, which all contains different vitamins and minerals - often the bran and germ are removed during milling Agricultural intensification has lead to a decrease in wildlife and biodiversity as nature could more easily coexist with traditional farming methods. Try not to cut hedges in spring/ summer when they are flowering and birds are nesting Trim berrying hedges every other year to allow them to fruit in alternate years and so provide food for wildlife If you plant a new hedge, try to use a mixture of native hedge species like hawthorn holly and field maple to encourage wildlife Most Birds have a food storage organ called a 'Crop' Many farms hav...
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Maydencroft & Industry

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What is the role and purpose of Maydencroft? Maydencroft is an environmental and land management company that aims to be an industry leader in the Green Sector - focussing on sustainability and the future of not only the world but the people who inhabit it. As such the company states part of their mission is not only to take care of the envronment but provide opportunities in rural employment and educate future generations. How does Maydencroft operate? Maydencroft Ltd is separated into different divisions: Arb Contracting, Consultancy, Grounds and Estates, landscape & Environment and Leadership, Finance & Support. We offer a vast amount of services that fall under one of the following categories -  all of which being far too many to list here: Arboriculture, Ecology, Environment, Forestry, Grounds & Estates, Heritage Works and Landscape. Here are 3 services offered by Consultancy, Arborist and Landscaping respectively: At least on the operator side people are usually s...
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Scorecard Reflection 1

Today I was asked to fill in a scorecard for the criteria I am marked against for the Countryside worker apprenticeship. In certain aspects such as Hand-tool usage, Risk-assessments, boundary management etc, I gave myself a higher mark out of 10 because they are activities I partake in every day, inversely I also gathered a list of criteria I will never usually meet in my day to day at the Maydencroft Grounds and Estates team, which I have marked myself 3/10 or below in because of my lack of knowledge. These are the criteria in question: K1 - Conservation K2 - Ecology K8 - Countryside legislation K10 - Climate change K11 - Sustainability K14 - First Aid S1 - Manage habitats S2 - Construct or repair boundaries S3 - Construct or maintain access ways S8 - Identify a range of British flora and fauna S9 - Undertake surveys B3 - Work constructively The 'K' Criteria or 'Knowledge' Criteria most likely will have to be covered in independent research or college for key informati...
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Panshanger Tree Guards and Surveying 27/11 - 28/11

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For Thursday and Friday last week I was sent to Panshanger Park primarily to help out with assembling and securing Treeguards in the park, the Trees in question were planted as part of a stewardship scheme the Park was participating in so it was especially important that they were well presented. I assume I was sent there to help keep the task progressing as some of the park staff were doing a two day long spraying course. Nonetheless, it was interesting experience that made me understand the process from beginning to end. The process for the Treeguards went as such:  Assemble Tree Guard panels in a field with a frontloader and unwrap them. Place 3 panels in a circle and then use three sets of Nuts, Bolts and Washers to join each panel Go down in 3 columns from where you started, the panels will align better if you do all 3 nuts before moving down to the next three Once 12 Nuts have been placed, secure them tightly with a Wrench and Drill with a Bolt Socket attatchment Once the gu...
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Maydencroft Weekly Summary 18/11 - 21/11

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This Week (18/11 - 21/11) was set on two separate sites. One day on Terlings Estate - Which has a Veteran Cedar Tree (This one - HERE ) and is covered by all the protections/ maintenance that comes with it. This site was in Harlow and the other outside Potter's Bar by the M25. At Terlings I got practice in using a Pedestrian Mower, Leafblowing and changing Dog Litter bins. On the Potter's Bar site I learned about the sapling tree planting process, how to heel trees into the ground etc. We had a production line on the site: One man with a pointed spade going up the field left to right, opening holes One or two placing trees into holes and heeling them One or two placing in wooden post One knocking posts (who must always be wearing a hard hat) One or two placing on and attaching guards. I tended to jump between roles just so nobody catches up too close or falls too far behind of another step. Mulching the trees was also another step but it was done separately as getting the tree...
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