It’s always hard to predict numbers for this traditional ‘between Christmas and New Year’ task, but although we were few in number this year – just 7 of us – we were very effective! Two of our group were on holiday here from Portugal, visiting family, and although they found our winter temperatures a bit challenging, their work made a big difference to what we achieved – so our thanks to them.

​We have been working at this wood for many years, helping Colin, the owner (he prefers custodian) with its ongoing management. He had used a chainsaw to coppice hazels that are growing along the main ride leading into the wood and our job was to clear the cut timber. 

​Coppicing these trees (the ancient art of cutting them right down to the ground) opens up the ride. It also lets in more light to encourage wildflowers and other woodland edge plants and generates an understorey of taller young plants as new stems grow from the tree stumps.

​We created a number of habitat piles with the cut timber, stacking it up and weaving in the small stems of brash to create sheltered environments for birds and other wildlife. Woodpiles also become valuable habitats for mosses, lichens and fungi, so they are an important part of the life of the wood.

​We worked hard and managed to clear everything that Colin had cut by late lunchtime, so we were very pleased with ourselves. Apart from the satisfaction of a job well done, our reward was sharing goodies such as mince pies, stollen and chocolate Florentines, and then, after lunch, a walk around the wood. Many ash trees have had to be removed because of ash die back but Colin has, over the years, been planting oaks and they are making good growth. The pond was dug out and reshaped a number of years ago and the changes have made a big difference to the wildlife that it now supports. 

During our walk we heard lots of birds and saw three hares and a roe deer, and Richard was delighted to find some Creeping Thistle galls, created by the Thistle Gall fly – another insect that is spreading north as the climate changes! We really must go back for a walk in May when the rides and woodland edges will be carpeted in wildflowers and there will be even more birds to see and hear.
 
Jude