February 2026 - Work Party

 

Snowdrops in the woodland.

There wasn't a work party in January as the weather was particularly cold on the Sunday that we were due to meet and there was no urgent work that needed doing. We are all volunteers and there is no need to work in uncomfortable conditions. 

The woodland is still very wet but we managed to have a dry morning and enough volunteers to start on building a shelter, a project that we have been discussing for a very long time. First, the site meeting for Glenn to explain the plan and to allow everyone to have an input.

The timber was reclaimed from a barn that was taken down nearby. The building stood for about 60 years so it is pretty old and the planks are huge so goodness knows how old the tree was that they came from. The planks, which are still in good condition, were bolted to existing ash trees so the shape is somewhat rustic, in keeping with the woodland environment.

The following photos show the progress of construction, and that we did use a level just in case there is any doubt! One more tree was removed as it was in the way and the others were left to grow. They are all ash trees and have a short lifespan due to ash dieback so it was not thought to be detrimental.

The window going in

Refreshments on the new bench

Makeshift coffee table

The end result of the mornings work. There are some ends to be trimmed and next month we hope to get the roof on and maybe another bench made. 

There isn't much that can be done with this boggy bit of the path at the lower end of the woodland without digging it right out but it's a woodland in the countryside in the winter so we will have to live with it. I did dig the ditch out to help the water flow away much as possible.

The snowdrops are looking good and I am particularly pleased with the ones that we moved last spring to extend the display further into the woodland. The grasses and brambles were cleared so that they can be seen at their very best.

Before...

After clearing.

Update- on Wednesday, Richard and Neil returned to tidy up the ends of the timber and now it is ready for the roof to go on, on 1st March (weather permitting!)

Photo credits this month to Flossie, Richard, Charlotte

December 2025

 Sunday 7th December-work party

The new pear tree was planted in the space left by removing infected sycamores. It is a locally grown tree supplied by Jeannie the village tree warden. 

Work started on a projected new shelter area. We have had ideas like this before so hopefully this one will see fruition. The first tree was cut down by hand and it is planned to leave some of other trees at a height to use the trunks as supports for a shelter. So a kind of relaxed, organic method of shelter building!

We have had a store of previously used tree guards at the top of the woodland next to the composr heap. Some have gone to a new home to be-reused and the rest were bundled up to either be re-used or recycled at Hill Farm, the new collection point for tubes tree tubes. 

There was also the usual path tidying and the glade was raked again. Christmas biscuits were supplied by Flossie as part of the refreshments. 

Winter Solstice Sunday 21st December 

This was the first time that we had celebrated the Solstice in the woodland and as it happened the weather was a bit cold and wet so we started in the woodland and then sat in the village hall for the readings, meditation and music. 

We took time out to pause in the busy run up to Christmas, with time to be still and reflect and gave thanks for the light returning as the days lengthen again after the shortest day. Neil played his guitar and sang which was amazing and we had hot mulled cider to finish. 

The hall was decorated with lights and greenery but I couldn't really take photos. 

Sunday 2nd November 2025 - Work party

we delayed the start to miss a downpour and it proved to be a wise choice. as you can see, the leaves are really coming down now. 
We left them on the main path as they are better to walk on than the mud underneath but gave the glade a rake to try and encourage the grass to grow. 

Raking up the leaves.

It's a bit difficult to see, but the honeysuckle and a few branches were cut back to make a path to the Baldwin apple tree. 

The compost area has become a bit of a mess. Dumped as much as we could into one bay and left the partly rotted compost to get a bit more moisture to complete the process. The carpet, for removal and the tree guards for re-use were noted.

There will be an AGM next week.

Sunday 5th October 2025 - Work Party

It was a nice dry morning although some of us were caught out by how chilly it was after an unseasonably warm week. The woodland is beginning to take on it's autumn colours now. 

A lot of small ash saplings were dug out along the path to keep some open areas important for butterflies. 

 

We concentrated on the verge this month cutting and raking the long grass. Brambles were removed around the hedge plants and some taller hawthorn and ash saplings cut back to try and bulk up the hedge. It is a difficult area to try and grow but some plants are surviving. It's the most visible bit of the woodland as it is along a public road and opposite the church so we don't want it to look unsightly. 

The verge looking tidier and more open.

Mer de menage apples

It has been a bumper year for apples countrywide. The weather was perfect, in the spring, for the blossom and setting of fruit. We picked 5 different varieties to take to the village apple day in a couple of weeks.

It's been a good year for Quince too.

Sat 18th October Apple event in the village hall. 

Here are the woodland apples

And the full display looking lovely. Apples and plenty of cakes were enjoyed by all.

Feeling autumnal

Sunday 7th September 2025 - Work Party

It was a lovely morning to be in the woodland. This first picture shows the grass being carted away having been cut and raked off the grassy area by the main path.

 We picked lots of the yellow plums, as you can see, to share out in the village. They are very sweet and juicy.

We are hoping to plant a new pear tree near the entrance to the wood so and area was cleared ready.

The honeysuckle in the glade had completely taken over the little oak tree in the glade so it had a severe cut back. This is after, with a lot more light. Scroll for during amd before photos. It will soon grow back!

Refreshments afterwards and apple cake by Flossie, very popular as you can see. 

Sunday 6th July 2025 - work party

We managed to get finished before the rain, and more people turned up than expected so a lot of cutting, raking and barrowing of cuttings was done and the woodland paths are all passable again.

It has been the complete opposite of last year, weatherwise, very dry and the main path hasn't grown much at all.

The plum bed was cut and raked and is all ready for the spring flowers to regrow in a few months. It is important to cut and remove the vegetation to reduce the nutrients which is better for wild flowers.

Plum bed finished

Plum bed being raked

The verge was also cut and raked to allow more light to the struggling hedge

Mowing the paths

The vegetation around the fruit bushes, gooseberries and redcurrants, was cleared to allow the fruit to be picked.

Redcurrants

Now is the time to be thinning the fruit so you get bigger apples.

The picnic bench, and the seat at the top of the woodland, were giving a good clean.