Work Party - Sunday 1st September 2019

It was tricky to find much to do this month, I didn't really want to start cutting back just for the sake of it. The woodland is still dry and just bathing in late summer sunshine.

There were a few plums ready to pick and a more still to ripen. They vary from small, black, wild damson type fruit to bigger Yellow Pershore so keep an eye out when visiting the wood and help be sure to have a taste.

In the glade area the honeysuckle had grown again so instead of cutting it all off, a couple of ropes were strung between the trees and the long bits wound round. Maybe eventually forming a canopy.

The long grass was cut around the buckthorn, planted a few years ago, to reduce the competition.

The first blackberries are ready.

The big fungus is back in the ash tree - see the post from September 2018!

Work Party - Sunday 4th August 2019

A perfect morning in the woodland, weather wise, luckily we have lost the scorching heat.

I managed to get the long grass strimmed during the week so we got straight on with raking up and putting the grass on the compost heaps.

All raked up and cleared.

 There were some long brambles that needed clearing from the path edges and some of the paths and glade were mown.

The broken hasp on the fire pit was replaced. I know this was a difficult job so it's good to have practical expertise in the group.

Yellow stagshorn fungus on the main path.

Hazelnuts in the glade.

Refreshments at the end.

A poplar hawk moth found by group members working in the woodland on a previous occasion. Should have been added last month!

Big Lunch -July 14th 2019

Not many attendees this year despite being a nice day for a picnic and the offer of activities to do. Hey ho, I set out my Stickman bits and pieces, including kindly donated fabric scraps, anyway.

Well the few of us who were there enjoyed making an assortment of stick people, reading the story and getting them home to the family tree.
The creations included, a stick bride, a lady with a magnificent hat for a day at the races, and Usain Stick.

Many thanks to Karen Chattell for some of the photos.

Mr Toad put in a brief appearance as well.

Sunday 7th July 2019 - Work Party

It was a fine morning after an evening of rain. The woodland is still looking green although the wild flowers are going over now. Lots of people today and we got lots done, very much helped by the mowing done in the week

The vegetation was cleared round the hazel trees in the den area. They are growing but it is a slow process.

 The honeysuckle was trimmed in the glade and the post replaced and the notice re-attached in front of the hedgehog hotel.

All done!

Ringlet butterfly.

The picnic table was given a green stain to help to preserve the wood and the fruit bushes were given their monthly tidy.

 The long vegetation in the plum bed was cut down and removed. It will probably be done again later on in the year so the primroses can be seen in the spring.

After!

Hoverflies enjoying the nipplewort.

 The first aid kit was checked and notes made of what needs renewing.

The grass is growing really well at the top of the wood where we re-seeded the path. It got a quick mow ready for the picnic next Sunday.

Sunday 2nd June 2019 - Work Party

A beautiful sunny, if a bit hot and sticky, morning. Masses of birdsong and buzzing insects. As expected for this time of year, the vegetation had grown a lot.

The leaves are all out, the ash was very slow this year, and we are back in the green phase. The priority was mowing and cutting back the paths.

And that was quite enough really. With the paths, two glades, fruit bushes (again) and overhanging long vegetation cut back, we were all ready for refreshments after and hour and a half. Job done!

The honeysuckle in the glade was in full bloom.

Daisies in the glade. Photo credit Flossie

We had blackbirds nesting in the top part of the hedgehog hotel. They have now fledged as have the blue tits in 2 birdboxes in the woodland.

Currant scale insects on a gooseberry bush, well it's all wildlife!

The red campion flowering in the meadow area is good for hoverflies and bees.

Butterflies enjoying the the sunny path edges, which is why we create them.

The canopy meeting overhead creating deep shady areas.

And don't forget..

The glade looking and sounding lush in late May.