Work Party - Sunday 3rd April 2022

 

Firstly, yes there is a month missing, I had a sudden personal upheaval and was unable to attend the March work party. They did some coppicing in the glade area and general tidying. March has come and gone now but I did manage one visit to the woodland to catch the primroses and wild daffodils. We had some amazing warm sunny weather and everything started to grow, followed by freezing temperatures and snow showers.

The longer dead grass and leaves were removed from the main path edges.

Always an exciting moment when the trees start greening up again.

The picnic table has been moved to a spot  nearer the glade, this area where it washes been seeded with woodland grasses and wildflowers. 

It's all growing again.

Work Party - Sunday 13th February 2022

 

The usual beginning to my blog, a look down the main path, still looking very bare. A grey day although we managed to miss the rain which was the reason that we postponed from last Sunday. 

The newly refurbished noticeboard has had a makeover, thank-you Erin, with updated photos and information.

The main task this month was to finish off the preparation of the space, I really enjoyed swinging the mattock to dig out the brambles it has to be said, and move the picnic table.

It is very far from perfect, but it's there. It will look a lot better once the vegetation greens up but I suspect it will always be slightly on the huh! 

In the space where the picnic table used to be, the area was levelled with topsoil from the many mole hills in the churchyard. There is a really big patch of snowdrops here which had the vegetation cleared a bit so that we can really enjoy them. 

The bird feeders got their usual top up, with a bit of help.

We even found time to finally, after talking about it for 3 years, start thinning the ash trees along the track. All by hand, with bow saws of course.

A good number of volunteers this month and a lot of productive work done. Bring on spring!

Sunday 9th January 2022 - Work Party

 

Happy New Year from the Woodland Group! A chilly but bright morning after a very wet day yesterday. 

It looked like our drainage pipe had sprung a leak over Christmas so we dug down where the hole in the soil was, and followed a tunnel all along the pipe to the join, no leak just a continuing tunnel. So it looks like it was an animal tunnel, a mole?, and the water had just followed an easy route and popped up in the path. Soil all put back and compacted and we will see what happens.

The beginning of the tunnel

The joint is ok

Glenn brought another load of mulch so we were able to finish giving the new(ish) hedge a nice thick layer. 

Richard topped up the bird feeders and we made a start with clearing an area next to the glade so that we can move the picnic table.

Hazel catkins 

So we got a lot done even though there weren't that many of us, although it did pick up as the morning wore on. 

It's not all work though, part of the joy of the woodland group is getting to meet up with other people and there is usually time for lots of chat, if you want it.

Sunday December 5th 2021 - Work Party

 

We didn't have a work party in November as we met on 31st October but this means that we have come to leaf raking after all the leaves have fallen and we won't have to do it again until next year.  It also means lots of leaves!

Piles

With a good number of volunteers, raking the leaves into piles all around the woodland didn't take too long but going round picking them up and barrowing  to make a leaf pile at the top of the wood took bit longer, even with a quad bike helping.

More piles!

Meanwhile, Richard was busy removing the top of the noticeboard to take home and repair.

More leaves in The Glade

Had a chat with Mr Robin

Glenn arrived with some mulch for the hedge so that got done too. To be finished next time.

Action shot!

All that effort kept us warm and worked up a thirst so it was lovely to meet up in the glade for mulled wine and apple cake, thanks Claire and Sally-Ann, and a good chat. 

Happy Christmas from the woodland group and see you in the new year. 

Halloween - October 31st 2021

 

After cancelling last year's Halloween event it was good to light the fire pit and gather again this year. 

A few of us met in the afternoon to set up the trail and got the fire pit ready. The sun came out after a blustery, wet morning.

I was so glad to see lots of people in the evening. Hot punch was served and marshmallows toasted on the fire. Here's some pictures.

 Thank-you to everyone that helped and came. 

Work party - Sunday 3rd October 2021

 

It hasn't changed much since last month!

A small, select band of volunteers this month but the weather was kind after a lot of rain on Saturday. I didn't mow the paths as it was a bit wet and we didn't have much petrol, there is a bit of a fuel shortage at the moment.

I finished off turning the compost heap,  which I started last time.

The last bit of the new hedge along the road verge was weeded and some sycamore saplings on the corner removed to allow the growth of the fruit trees there. This is the beginning of the plan to rejuvenate the hedge along the track.

Meanwhile, in the den area the long awaited work finally took place. We put some in shorter posts to encourage the hazel to grow upwards, rather than outwards, and also added some longer poles to give a better definition of the whole den shape. 

The next work party will be on 31st October preparing for the return of the Halloween pumpkin trail.  

Work party - Sunday 5th September 2021

 

 

September already and this is the main path looking dry. A beautiful morning and a willing band of volunteers. 

The den

We are hoping to improve the den now the hazel are finally starting to grow, it has taken several years to get going. This month we managed to find some suitable poles to cut from the woodland and work will continue next time. 

Plums ripening 

You can see how dry it is here, not much vegetation growing now. In the distance, Richard cleaning the picnic table yet again. We are looking for a better solution to keeping it useable.

The vegetation was cleared from around the new hedge, planted in December.

Woodpecker damage in the Baldwin apple tree