Westcombe Woodlands are proud to announce that our first open day of 2017 will take place on Sunday 30th April, from 2:00pm until 5:00, this being the early May Bank Holiday weekend. Come along to enjoy the woodland in the afternoon. Stout footwear is recommended. You will have the opportunity to see the work that we have been undertaking over the last few months including seeing how the pond we built in Summer 2016 is developing.
The first volunteer day this year took place last Saturday. Despite the rather damp, overcast weather a dozen or so people came throughout the day, some to volunteer, others just to take a look around.
At the end of last year, using volunteers from Barclays Bank, a small area was cleared, ready to allow for the beehives to be sited, just south of The Glade area. The photo below shows our new installed and very well camouflaged shed, next to the area where the beehives will be sited.
Equipment shed for our bees
Tim Barnes clearing leaves from the flower area
The newly built pond, looking very healthy
Yesterday’s volunteer session had another busy day of activities. As well as the normal tidying up of The Glade area, it was also necessary to check up on our pond. It’s looking more and more as though it’s been established for quite some time. Two frogs were seen in the nearby grass, while the ponds plants look healthy.
View of the pond in The Glade
Purple Loosestrife adjacent to the pond
Meadowsweet plant growing near the pond
Today’s latest session made the most of warm sunshine, something that has definitely been in short supply recently!
Today was in The Glade area, concentrating on weeding, pond maintenance and tidying up our dead wood pile.
Our apple and pear tree trees are producing a healthy amount of fruits, although as can be seen they’re quite small. Weeds have made the most of the warm weather with Rosebay Willowherb taking over around 20 sq yards of soil just to the side of the grassed area in the glade.
Smaller both in size and numbers than pears in general.
One of the many pears now growing
More pear fruits rapidly growing.
Our second open day took place in the afternoon of Saturday 7th May 2016. Our afternoon session allowed more than 100 people to see for themselves the work that has taken place since the last open day 6 months earlier. The warmth of Spring was definitely felt in the woodland, allowing early flowering plants to take advantage of the open woodland canopy.
The photos below 2 areas of woodland plants in The Glade area; the first shows a patch of recently planted common bluebells that are already well developed and with regular maintenance will continue to spread; the 2nd shows a patch of woodland plants we planted as small plugs 2 years ago. All are growing well in the conditions offered.
Newly planted bluebells in full bloom
Woodland plants in The Glade
