Sunday 18th June 2017 - Plant Sale and Big Lunch

In contrast to last year, this year's Woodland Group plant sale and picnic was very, very hot!

With a wonderful selection of plants, and refreshments, lots of money was raised in a convivial atmosphere.

And for lunch, a picnic in the shady bits of the woodland glade. This year our village joined in with the national Big Lunch/Great Get Together inspired by Jo Cox, the MP who was killed a year ago. So nice to sit together after a busy morning and just relax for a while.

Sunday 4th June 2017 - Work Party

Glorious sunshine for this month's work party. The foxgloves are out, looking so pretty in the dappled sunlight along the main ride. With a bit of sun and a bit of rain the woodland is full of summer greenness.

The tool washing area was completed and the tank placed on it's plinth, ready to be filled with water once the mortar has hardened.

 In preparation for the woodland picnic in a couple of weeks time,  the grass was trimmed in the glade revealing lots of tiny toadstools. This picture doesn't really show how many as they were all in the grass and up the log.

A quick search for bug hunting areas was also done. We found a speckled wood butterfly a, mouse and some suitable logs with centipedes in residence.

Sunday 7th May 2017 - Work Party

A bit chillier than expected for May but the woodland is filling up. The wild bits are full of cow parsley, and looking suitably wild, and the areas of mown grass and flower rich path edges more defined. The leaf canopy is filling up well now.

There aren't many bluebells in the wood but what few there are had coarse foliage around them removed to give a better chance of spreading.

This is the base for a tank of water to sit on ready for washing tools at the end of a session. The hole was dug out and the concrete laid this month.

The foxgloves are doing well and some even have flower spikes forming. The brambles and nettles were again weeded out and some extra plants put in to fill any gaps.

 Wildlife news - as in previous years a slow worm has been spotted basking and a woodmouse has had another litter of babies in the same place as before. Also this small white butterfly seen in the glade

Tracey Housely, from Suffolk Wildlife Trust, recently visited the woodland to advise whether any improvements could be made to increase the wildlife value of the woodland but it seems that we are doing quite well already.

Stitchwort

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!