Well, on a rather frosty morning 9 intrepid volunteers de-iced their cars and made their way towards Gainsborough to Thurlby Wood to meet up with Colin, the custodian (as he likes to be known) of the wood. We welcomed a new volunteer, Jake, who came out with us for the first time.

​Colin had already been busy with his chainsaw clearing down one side of the ride.  We set to cutting up what he'd felled while waiting for Jonathan to turn a few sticks of kindling into a raging fire.  He didn't disappoint us and before long, all the small stuff was burning while we made nature piles of the larger poles.

​Opening up the rides letting in more light allows more flora to grow which would otherwise be shaded out.  This in turn increases the number and type of invertebrates, which adds more in the food chain making a more biodiverse wood.  With some coppiced stumps in the UK that around 2,000 years old, it is clear the practice isn't new!

​We worked through the rain, which fortunately wasn't too heavy, and decided on a later break then an early finish. My home made mince pies didn't last long. Colin did get a little carried away with his chain saw at the end but that was soon added to the fire and we all got in our cars once a couple had filled their cars with some logs for home.
A very satisfying day for a very worthwhile cause.

​Jeff