Flaxton Environment Group – Update
Hello from the Flaxton Environment Group. News of an offer from Quickline but you need to hurry – only available till the 15th February! And a couple of seasonal activities that the nature lovers among you may be interested in.
Quickline are offering gift cards to the value of £100 to anybody taking up the offer of a contract with them until 15 February. See link to offer – https://referrals.quickline.co.uk/uYaHsPI4
Help the Woodland Trust understand the effects of climate change on our wildlife . By documenting your finds through Nature’s Calendar you can help track the first signs and sightings of native species throughout the year. You can pick one or more from the list provided
https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/what-we-record-and-why/how-to-record-a-quick-guide/
Frogs, toads and newts will be breeding soon and if you have access to a pond you can take part in the annual spawn survey with the Freshwater Habitats Trust- see link below
https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/advice-resources/survey-methods-hub/pondnet-spawn-survey/
Finally, don’t forget the talk on ‘The Trees of Flaxton Common – their History, Status and Management’ at 7 pm on Tuesday 10 March in the village hall. The talk will be preceded by a short AGM for the group.
Flaxton Environment Group – Big Garden Birdwatch Report 2026
The Flaxton Environment Group is pleased to announce publication of the Flaxton Big Garden Birdwatch Report for 2026.
Many thanks to all who took part.
Nigel Boatman
Flaxton Environment Group Talk – The Trees of Flaxton Common
Flyer for 2026 AGM
Information about Tree Works and Tree Preservation Orders and work required to trees on Flaxton Green
Tree Works and Tree Preservation Orders
All mature trees in the Flaxton Conservation Area are protected by planning legislation and so a notice is required to be served on North Yorkshire Council before carrying out any work. The visual amenity value of trees is a particular consideration regarding works on trees in the Conservation Area.
A briefing note has been prepared explaining the notice application process which is free of charge and takes no more than six weeks for a decision to be given.
The briefing note is in the Village Information Sheet section of the website and contains various links to application forms and guidance notes:
Flaxton Green Gait Owners Tree Survey
Flaxton Green Gait Owners recently commissioned an independent, comprehensive report on the condition of all trees sited on the common land in Flaxton.
The tree survey findings and recommendations can be found here:
Flaxton Green Tree Safety Report
Flaxton Green Tree Works Required
You will see from the report that various works affecting trees on the Green in Flaxton are required. Tree work in any area must also be carried out with due regard to the presence of bats and breeding birds using those trees.
Certain trees already have special protection if they are covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Planning legislation now requires that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons.
Work on trees is necessary in some cases to help preserve biodiversity, nature recovery and public safety.
Three trees on the Green (two black poplars and a copper beech) have been seriously damaged by fungal heart rot and the whole trunk and branches could fall into the road in the village, endangering the public and losing the entire veteran tree. Work is required to reduce the top growth of all these trees and in the case of the copper beech it may mean entire removal to just leave the main trunk.
Work is also required to remove trees around ponds on the Green near Willow Dene and at the top of York Lane as these are causing excessive shading, poor water quality and water loss from these ponds.
These works will generate a lot of timber that is owned by the Flaxton Green Gait Owners.
There is a requirement to manage the common land in the public interest, which is defined as including nature conservation, therefore the Flaxton Green Gait Owners would welcome suggestions on how this might be achieved with this timber and how and who might maintain this use for the benefit of the public.
Suggestions will be considered by Flaxton Environment Group and actions decided by Flaxton Green Gait Owners. Please contact Steve Axford, .
Planting trees or allowing regrowth of trees on the common land is also managed by the Flaxton Green Gait Owners in the public interest. There is no duty to replace trees that have been lost, but suggestions are welcomed for tree species to replace the weeping willow and rowan that stood in front of Gorteen Cottage, the rowan that stood on the Green near Willow Dene and the copper beech that will need to be replaced at the junction of York Lane. Contact as above.
Environment Group – Sponsor a Barn Owl Nesting Box
At the talk on barn owls last night the opportunity to sponsor a barn owl nest box was mentioned. The sponsorship costs £10 and the sponsor receives updates on what species is using the box (if any) and the outcome of the nesting attempt. For anyone interested in this idea, either for themselves or as a present for someone else, the leaflet gives full details.
The Tees based group and their associates manage some nesting boxes in and around the Ryedale Area including the Howardian Hills.
The link to the website is https://www.teeswildlife.org/what-we-do/current-projects/barn-owl-nest-box-network/.
** Environment Group Barn Owl Talk – Last Chance for Half Price Entry Tickets **
Reminder from the Environment Group
Last chance to get half-price entry to the Barn Owl Talk on 28th October 2025 – the deadline for half price entry is this Sunday 19th October.
Pond Dipping – 26th May 2025
The goose has finished nesting on the pond so the pond dipping event which was postponed from April will now be held at 11 am on Monday 26 May (Bank Holiday Monday). See flyer for details.
Environment Group Pond Dipping – Postponed until Monday 26th May 2025
Pond dipping postponed
To avoid disturbance to a nesting goose and other birds on the pond, the pond dipping is being postponed from this Sunday 27 April to Monday 26 May. Meet at the pond at the A64 end of the village at 11 am.
Flaxton Environment Group
Flaxton Environment Group – Pond Dipping Sunday 27th April 2025 @ 11:00 am
We’re going pond dipping!
The Flaxton Environment Group is organising a pond dipping demonstration at 11 am on Sunday 27 April 2025.
All welcome including children if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Meet at the pond on the green at the A64 end of the village.
Bring a net and clean jam jar if you have them but not essential.
See you there!