Following on from a recent committee meeting, it has been decided that we will be looking at re-open and re-introduceing our very popular Volunteer Sessions, starting from April 2021.
Groups will be small to allow for full “social distancing” measures to operate.
Yesterday, Saturday 2nd May 2020, should have been our 1st of our 2 open days of the woodland, but with the Coronavirus situation, there were no celebrations of the day.
However, light maintenance still needs to take place, including checking on the bees, the pond, the recently planted saplings and to make sure all is well. Just 2 people were in the woodland to make sure physical distancing was observed.
As usual, weeding and watering were undertaken, including the removal of dozens of invasive, garden escape Three Cornered Leek plants, bramble removal, green alkanet removal and topping up the pond with rainwater.
Although the woodland’s volunteer and open days have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, some members have been visiting to check on the plants and bees. Here are 2 recent photos taken by a former committee member of bluebells and wild garlic. Please note that these visits are limited to making sure all is well in the woodland, and unfortunately, no full access will be possible for some while.
Our 3rd event of the year saw another 20 or so volunteers and committee members turn up, as well as new, local residents who had never been to the woodland before!
The main focus was in the mini-glade area, as you walk up the steps towards the main glade. Three sycamore trees were felled to allow for more light to enter the area, in order to benefit the oak trees and hedge plants. The felled trees were cut in to smaller pieces, which will either be used as path edging or for small seats in the glade. Very useful for children to sit and listen to Richard Sylvester’s story telling!
Other activity in this included the preparation of a trench next to the footpath so that school children can plant the hedge saplings in the next few days.
Plant-wise, the snowdrops have finished flowering, but the primroses are going strong, and the bluebells are also growing well. The Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum) are also growing well and spreading nicely. This native British plant is common in woodlands and other shady areas.
Finally, the bees were rather quite early in the morning, but as the morning advanced, a little activity was seen, although later in the morning, around midday when the temperature had risen, you could see them flying around the hives.
Our pear trees (see photo) are starting to come in to bud, see photo below. Let’s hope this year’s fruit crop is as good as last year’s.
This morning’s event was another exciting and very productive session, with around 2 dozen existing and new members turning up.
As always, the removal of invasive bramble and ivy took place, with lots of help working in the “mini-glade”, on your left-hand side as you walk up the steps towards the main area. A large 8 foot high and wide buddleia was removed. While good for butterflies, it’s an invasive plant which was swamping the planted bluebells.
Also removed was ivy around the bases of trees and putting up of new bird boxes.
The bees in hive 1 were “a hive of activity” (every pun intended!!).
Bluebells were looking good, and snowdrops were nicely in flower. Primroses were discovered under ivy and were expanding their range; plants for free! And a foxglove was also found which hadn’t been planted, exciting stuff!
In the area near the entrance, hazel coppicing took place.
