October 2023 - Work Party

Still green!

This is the central ditch being cut and raked in expectation of more rainfall. And a not very clear photo of the finished result. It does look better in real life. 
 

The previous hazel coppicing has grown back really well so we tackled some more in the glade, primarily to give the Baldwin apple tree a bit more light but we generated some marshmallow toasting sticks for Halloween and some long poles for future projects. 

Late yellow plums and one apple, we have not had any apples on the "new" trees before. 

September 2023 - Work Party

 I had every intention of holding a work party in August but the day before it poured all day and I just felt it would be better to cancel. Then I was away and it just didn't happen. The paths got mown and the plum bed cut as part of the churchyard tidy up so we are very grateful for their help, of course they are members of the woodland group too which helps!

This month we mowed the paths that need doing, including some in the churchyard as that grass hasn't stopped growing. We also cut and raked the summer grass area next to the main track and rescued the fruit bushes from the vegetation tangle.

Here's some photos,  by Flossie, of the fungi and fruit in the woodland. It's the first year that we have had lots of apples!

July 2023 - Work Party

 

Looking towards the glade.

Only a few volunteers were able to attend this month so while we would usually have cut the plum bed, we just gave the paths a well needed mow and strim to keep them accessible. The debris was raked off and added to the compost heaps. 

We also had a quick garage meeting, to shelter from the rain, about a new bench to be installed in the woodland. More about that in the future. 

Gooseberries

Redcurrants 

We were unable to have a work party in August due to a combination of poor weather and holidays but when the neighbouring churchyard maintenance was done they managed to get into the woodland too. Mostly because the same volunteers tend to belong to  different groups in the village, I was delighted to find the plum bed done!

There has also been a selection of plant sale and woodland photos attached to the noticeboard by Richard if anyone is interested. 

It's beginning to feel a lot more autumnal although still green in the woodland, probably because it hasn't stopped raining long enough for it to dry up. 

June 2023 -Work Party and plant sale

 

Sunday 4th June - Work Party

 A bit of warmth after a lot of rain earlier in the year, and the woodland was at it's peak of growth. With mechanical and non mechanical equipment, the focus was to open up the overgrown paths to make the woodland for accessible and welcoming. 

Main path 'before'

The den

Main path 'after'

Looking towards the glade

Clearing the verge the old fashioned way!

Top of the wood

Sunday 11th June - Plant Sale

Back to our pre-covid big plant sale arrangements  with refreshments and raffle. Advertised locally with the minimum amount of laminated posters because we like to use as little plastic as possible and on social media.

It was a very hot day but thanks to lots of local support with donations and customers we raised £487 which we are going to spend on a memorial bench and put towards necessary expert tree work.

The unsold plants have gone to the Otley shop to raise money for Parkinsons disease.

Coronation celebrations May 2023

The May work party was brought forward a week to prepare the woodland for toasting the King on May 6th. Warm sunshine at last!

We had a nice morning and a good turn out for a  mowing and strimming session to reclaim some of the paths and tidy up the glade.

The fire pit was lifted out for cleaning properly!

Bunting going up!

Squeezed on to the picnic table for refreshments and chat.

May 6th 2023

I've always wanted a summer evening event in the woodland, so it was lovely to host the first coronation event of the weekend, such a pity it rained! 

The event team did all the organising and put up the lights and the woodland did look really pretty.

Speech by Nigel.

The toast.

Catch up Feb-April 2023

 It was a cold spring and quite wet. 

Glade tidy!

Thinning the smaller trees, previously marked, on the boundary.

Clearing round the snowdrops

A nice pool forming in the central ditch.

Snowdrops!

In March we didn't have a work party as there really wasn't much to do.

Early April

It was a nice day bit there were only a few of us this month. We looked at the water on the path and decided to just live with it, see photo later. We took down and cleared the rest of the small trees near the den. We lifted and divided more snowdrops and planted them round the glade.  

Greening up

Wild garlic, planted in the autumn.

Main pathway

Pool still there

We decided that there wasn't much we could do about the water flowing over the path as it's only a temporary problem in the wetter months and most of it goes through the pipe anyway.

Redcurrant flowers

Wild daffodils

The woven hazel beginning to bud!