Goslings Corner is one of a group of woods making up the Lincolnshire oak/lime woods, close to the larger Chambers Farm Wood. We worked there last Sunday with Sophie from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Sophie explained that part of the wood is ancient woodland, with other areas being newer planting.
A series of coppice plots have been created off the main rides, favouring spring flowers while the regrowth is small, and producing a varied age structure of trees and shrubs along the edge of the rides. More details can be found on the Trust's website: www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/goslings-corner-wood

Our main task today was raking up previously cut grass from the rides, which was tough going in places owing to the recent rain and frosts. Fortunately the weather was fine on this occasion, although the car park had to be red-carded after the first vehicle to arrive got temporarily stuck (and liberally spattered in mud). 

Some of us also had a go at lime layering - a technique that imitates a natural process whereby lime branches (or coppice stems) bend over and re-root where they meet the ground, eventually producing a new tree. Finally some coppicing of smaller regrowth was carried out to contribute to the ongoing rotation.

It was a lovely day to be out - and we made a timely retreat just as temperatures began to drop rapidly as dusk approached.

​Nicola