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.

Sunday 5th May 2019 - Work Party

The day had dawned sunny so it was surprising how chilly it was in the woodland this morning. Nevertheless, everything had grown and the main priority was path mowing. This is before!

We have a lovely blackbird nest in the top of the hedgehog hotel, no eggs seen yet.

The heitage Baldwin apple tree is covered with blossom. The ox-eye daisies that were planted last month were watered, although we have had a bit of rain, it all helps. The encroaching brambles were cut back a bit more although some we do want to leave some as they are a great habitat.

Cowslips out at the top of the wood. The picnic table was cleaned again and will be stained when the weather is dry enough. 

We had a look at some sails with a view to creating temporary shade/shelter when required. We didn't reach a conclusion as to how to fix them. Could do with another tree really.

Our one small patch of bluebells. 

Bumble bee on the red campion.

Also noted, the remains of a grass snake.

Next event Plant Sale and refreshments, Sunday June 9th.

Sunday 7th April 2019 - Work Party

Lots of primroses in the woodland at the moment.

I just looked at this time last year, what a difference it had hardly grown at all then. I suppose we have had a lot more warm weather although it is feeling a bit chilly at the moment. Today started damp and gradually got worse!

Much to my surprise, the lawnmower started first pull but after stopping to talk, it proved trickier to re-start. Nevertheless, the paths and glade areas got a first high cut, defining the edges for a neater appearance.

The grass at the side of the main path was also mown and some donated ox-eye daisies  planted carefully with enough space to grow. 

Ox-eye daisy plants.

Richard brought some hot water and gave the picnic table a good clean. Sadly we can't do anything about the overhanging branch, where the pigeons hang out, as it is too high up, so it will probably be ongoing.

The rejuvenated water course through the middle of the wood, currently dry, had a bit of work done on it too. Firstly a bend was added at the end of the pipe so that less water is diverted that way when it rains heavily. The accumulated debris in a naturally formed depression was removed and little barriers made to slow the water flow.

This is where a pool forms when it rains.

Woven barriers to slow water flow.

The fruit bushes were weeded, they are really growing well with our constant maintenance.

And then the heavens opened and it really poured down. We had a good soaking rushing to clear up and then warmed up with refreshments in the church porch.

The wild cherry blossom was out.

Sunday 3rd March 2019 - Work Party

The entrance to the woodland had become a bit of a mess, falling foul of the poor reversing skills of the driver of the bin lorry and being their lunch spot, mid round on a Tuesday. It became our priority for this month's work party to improve this entrance and therefore access to the wood.

Unfortunately the wet weather forecast was entirely accurate and it drizzled all morning but we had, had materials delivered to the site and I wanted to get the job done.

Before!

Once on site we realised that digging out the mud by hand would be a massive job and we needed mechanical assistance. Fortunately one of the team is the local farmer so off he went.

Better equipped, the loose soil was scraped out and a membrane put down.

A layer of hard-core went on top of the membrane followed by type one hoggin and stones to finish.

After!

Meanwhile, at the top, we attempted to improve the rather sticky path left by last month's pipe installation. The surface was prepared and compost from the woodland heap added to the soil.

Excavating the compost heap.

 Grass and clover seed was scattered on the path and trodden in. It then got a good watering!

Sowing the seed.

Treading it in.

 This time last year, the woodland was knee deep in snow. This year, there are sweet violets, primroses and wild daffodils in flower.

A small team today but we got the job done. Thanks to Richard and Glenn for the planning, organising of materials and on site assistance.

Looking back

Looking back 5 years to a visit from Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group, STOG, and the planting of the new fruit trees. 

Sunday 3rd February 2019 - Work Party

A cold but sunny morning and a bit of a project in the woodland this month. We have been planning for sometime to increase the habitat diversity by having some water in the woodland. It would have been ideal to have a pond but this wasn't possible because of health and safety, and therefore, insurance issues with creating  a new pond.
Fortunately, there is an existing boundary ditch, which flows in the winter, and the
remains of a channel down the centre. The plan was to divert some of the water from the ditch into this channel, and here is how we got on.

 

First a trench was dug to connect the 2 ditches. We found lots of sticky Suffolk clay and the water started running straight away!

The pipes were laid alongside the trench and joined together, with a bit of a wiggle and a bit of brute force, and placed on struts over the trench. 

Once it was all joined together, the pipe was put in the bottom of the trench. After coffee it was filled back in and here we have it water flowing through the woodland.

The next day it rained and the you can just make out the pool it formed downhill. Not dug out by us! Unfortunately this has now overflowed and made rather a boggy area at the bottom of the woodland so some refinement will be necessary! The path at the top will also be redefined and seeded.

Many thanks to Holmes plant hire for lending the mini digger and Glenn for driving it so expertly.

While all this was going on, other team members were putting the tree guards on the den sallows and generally getting on with proper woodland maintenance.