To Explore, Enjoy and Enhance

Friends of Studham Common

Friends of Studham Common (FOSC) is a friendly informal voluntary group. Our aim is to conserve, maintain, improve and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place to be enjoyed and appreciated by all.

We warmly welcome new members of all ages and support of all kinds.  Join us any time to help keep the Common beautiful for everyone.

As part of its remit, FOSC encourages interest in the local environment, and helps to engage youngsters in local rural crafts of bygone years. Here a young member of Studham lower school’s Nature Club gets to grips with the fine art of Straw Plaiting.  For more details, click here

2008 ‘Winter Special’ Work Party

The Friends of Studham Common took advantage of some delightful late summer sunshine to do battle with the encroaching bracken and scrub on the Middle and West Common on Saturday 16th October. Our work party attracted 14 keen and energetic volunteers, and by the end of the day a significant area of the common had been given its much needed trim and tidy up.

If you fancy a little exercise in the fresh air, while helping to maintain a beautiful environment on Studham Common, why not come and join our next work party? We meet at the war memorial at 9.00am on the third Saturday in the month. More info from Don (Tel: 872937).

September Work Party

For more piccies, click here

What a tremendous day! Well done to the 47 people, from Studham and beyond, who turned out on a lovely bright day on Saturday 26th Jan for our major work party of the year. The result?  500 new hedgerow plants on Middle Common, 30 gorse plants along Byslips Rd and a lot of scrub cleared, including some scalloping of the Eastern boundary to make a better environment for wildlife. If you haven't seen the results, do go along to have a look. You will be impressed.   

Our sincere thanks to all who contributed, including, of course, those who kept us so well sustained with a hearty breakfast, a splendid lunch and a great tea to wrap up the day.

To see more photographs of the September 2008 work party, click here

A well-earned breather!

How tidy do you want the Common?

Some local residents have recently expressed concern that Studham Common is “over-managed” by FOSC.  To enable all views to be openly expressed, the Parish Council organised a public meeting in November 2009.

To read a summary of that meeting, please click here>

2010 ‘Winter Special’ Work Party

Studham Common was the scene of huge endeavour on 23rd January when over 40 volunteers, from Studham and beyond, joined together for our Winter Special Work Party. Steve Halton, P3 Officer for Central Bedfordshire Council, who helped with funding, advice and volunteer recruitment, said  afterwards:

“May I thank everyone who came along, worked, supported and carried out work behind the scenes to make the day such a great success? It seems to get better each year and you are now inspiring other groups to do something similar!  I'm proud to be supporting you!”

For more, click here >