Sunday 7 July 2024

7th July 2024 - Work party

 

This is going to sound a bit repetitive for this year but we have had a lot of rain recently! To be fair we have had a couple of weeks of summery weather but it has also subsequently been unseasonably cold. Growth has slowed down in the woodland now and this gives us a chance to catch up. Today, I was hoping to tidy up the cut wood but we have been alerted to the dangers of the sycamore sooty bark disease. The spores are hyper-allergenic and so a couple of people wearing masks moved as much as possible out of the stream bed and off the verge but we had to leave some. 


There is now a big gap where the sycamores have been felled.

Obligatory picture of main pathway. 

The main pathway and glade had been mown previously so I just went over the edges to widen the area of short vegetation a bit and mowed all the smaller paths where necessary.

The plum bed was cut using a scythe and raked and the vegetation piled at the top of the wood. Pushing the wheelbarrow uphill is a very good workout!

The fruit bushes were cleared and the fruit, redcurrants and gooseberries, picked in anticipation of making some jam to sell at the next plant sale. 

Fruit bushes cleared and scything taking place.

 
The Sturmer apple tree had got completely overshadowed by the elder and dogwood surrounding it. It is on a tall rootstock and designed to be left alone but, because it is the shade, it has got too leggy and will need some winter pruning to reshape it.
It has got a lot more light now.


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