Sunday 9th July - Expedition to Coddenham

A select few woodland group members took a trip to another local churchyard with adjacent woodland, a bit like the set up at Framsden but also a lot different.

We started off in the churchyard, admiring the blue scabious, both field and small, in flower at the moment and the pyramidal orchids just going over but what a lot of them!

Most of the site is long grass with mown paths for access. It takes careful management to create such an abundance of wild flowers and grasses helped in part by the thin chalky soil. It was notable how many bees, butterflies and other insects there were too.

Small copper

Taking a path at the rear, we followed the footpath to Broomhill Wood, managed by the community. The wood is on a steep bank, which we climbed, with a bit of scrub and some mature trees.

Walking along the top.

 Big trees have to be measured!

Eventually the vegetation thinned and opened out to steeply sloping grassy meadow full of more wild flowers and a perfect spot for a group photo. 

Photo credit Glenn

Also a good spot for a coffee break and admiring the view.

We continued along the top, stopping for a bit of plant id, and then followed the path on a steep scramble to the bottom again with the scent of Lady's bedstraw wafting on the breeze

The centaury flower, Centaurium erythraea, which, according to Bach flower remedies, is for people who find it difficult to say no to others. 

Lady's bedstraw Gallium verum

The bottom path follows the lower site boundary and took us back to where we started, then back through the churchyard to find the car. Many thanks to Ian for organising.

Gargoyle on St Marys Church, Coddenham 

Sunday 2nd July 2017 - Work Party

A lovely summer morning with bees humming in the sunshine and work to be done. The brambles continue to kept under control along the path edges with targeted hand weeding. This month,  the first ripe fruit appeared on the gooseberry and red currant bushes. The grass was cleared around them so they can carry on growing vigorously. There was also fruit on the wild raspberry bush but it didn't look very appetising.

Some small branches over the entrance were removed to let light to the floor and hopefully the sparse grass may grow a little more.  The owl box was covered with metal mesh to prevent woodpecker damage.

Cherries and hazelnuts were developing on the trees but I have a feeling that the birds and squirrels may get to them first.

Hoverflies on the blackberry flowers.

Magazine feature

This month, there is a feature on the woodland in issue 14 of about fram magazine, a local publication centred on Framlingham in Suffolk. Fame at last!

A really lovely article also available at www.aboutfram.com 

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!