Easter Bunny Hunt - Sunday 16th April 2017

 The rain held off long enough this afternoon for an Easter bunny hunt in the woodland organised by Framsden Fundraisers. The children, and adults, enjoyed looking for the bunnies and collecting the stamps on their paper. A full house resulted in a chocolate prize.

While here, I was able to check on the progress of the little currants now forming and appreciate the apple and cherry blossom. It looks like we will get some raspberry flowers, and hopefully fruit, this year too. The woodland is really looking lovely, and very green now.

Blossom on the old apple tree

A more unusual visitor was also spotted!

Sunday 2nd April 2017 - Work Party

A much brighter day and a much greener woodland than last month. It was a lovely spring morning with birds singing, a woodpecker drumming and bees humming.
The fruit bushes, left over from when the site was an orchard and gradually increasing in number, were weeded gently so as not to become smothered by nettles. There is only one raspberry but several currant bushes which are now in flower so we might find out what colour this year.

Raspberry stem by Flossie

Currant flowers 

The oaks at the glade entrance were lightly pruned and various other small branches around the woodland  removed as necessary. A large multi-stemned sallow, also near the glade entrance, was coppiced.  It needs to be cut right down to control it's size and will soon shoot up again.

Pruning the oaks

Coppicing

As usual, coarse weeds were targeted in the path edges and some local primroses added around the plum trees. The top was taken off a large ash tree to allow more light to the den. Hopefully the hazel trees will get tall enough to create the den structure soon.

Plum blossom 

Red campion 

A productive morning was followed by very civilised refreshments in Neil's garden.

Sunday 4th March 2017 - Work Party

It was a wet, and therefore rather shorter, work party this month but a good few hardy souls braved the rain to carry out regular maintenance tasks.

There was a bit of debris, from storm Doris last week, to clear from the paths and a fallen tree to make safe. The wood will left to add to the natural habitat.

Snowdrops which have finished flowering but are still in the green were planted to add to the growing display.

 Native wild daffodils and common primroses enjoying the rain.

Refreshments in the church porch!

February 5th 2017 Work Party

The sun burnt away the mist to leave a bright morning with sunny intervals,  perfect for a bit of woodland work.

 A large oak branch was safely brought down to let in more light, this is the halfway stage as it fell down.

The nest boxes, made by adults and children at a woodland group event in February 2013, were checked for use (only one used) and signs of damage. Just this one requiring repair. They will be left for another year and then their type and position reviewed.

A new tree creeper box was put up. It is visible from the main ride in the top right hand corner of the wood. The wire on the outside is to protect it from woodpecker damage while still allowing the tree creepers to hang on.This too will be monitored.

New rustic fence to encourage people to stick to the path!

While I was up the ladder checking bird boxes, I took the opportunity to take a few photos from a different angle.

Jew's ear fungus on hotel beetlejuice (logpile)

Also known as Auricularia auricula-judae, wood ear and jelly ear and other names.

The snowdrops are up and flowering, including the ones planted last year. Lots more to come!

January work party 8/1/2017

Welcome to the second year in the life of the Framsden Woodland Group blog. First of all we send condolences to Pat, and the rest of John's family,  on the loss of John Last since over new year and it was great that she felt able to come today. We have a lasting memory in the large number of foxglove plants which John helped to prick out.

Looking back to last January there were snowdrops out already where as this year not even a sign of them coming up.
We have had some cold weather this winter but today was mild and damp and lots of different jobs were completed. Leaves still featured on the programme with ditches being cleared, paths raked and foxgloves having the leaf mulch removed to allow for growth.

Before 

After!

Clearing leaves from the foxgloves.

 The stump displaying the award was put on a slab base and treated on the cut surfaces to prevent rotting.

All done!

Pruning a straggly hawthorn to control growth and let in a bit more light.

 Not much new growth to see at this time of year but a good selection of fungi.

Purple jellydisc fungus, Ascocoryne sarcoides. 

Sausages and beans courtesy of Glenn and Jeannie for refreshments, that will be a hard act to follow! Happy New Year!

Sunday 4th December 2016 - work party

A clear, crisp day with plenty of sunshine, perfect for a spot of leaf raking. Or a lot of leaf raking as it turned out!

A heavy fall of leaves meant that the grass on the paths would suffer if the leaves were not removed. So, with a selection of rakes, wheelbarrows and other containers, the whole team worked to clear the grassy paths and produce a sizeable heap to rot down into lovely leaf mold.

Result!

And by the time that was done we were ready for refreshments. The rest of the list will have to wait until next year! 

Just look how much the foxgloves have grown already.

Halloween 2016

The second annual pumpkin trail and marshmallow toasting around the fire pit took place on halloween, 31st October 2016. Even though it was a school night this year lots of people still turned out to enjoy a pumpkin lantern trail and refreshments round the fire. Many thanks to everyone that contributed to a lovely evening.