The Willow Tunnel

2023. The beginning of September saw us in the grip of another heatwave, although thankfully with some slightly misty starts to help quench the earth. 

There was quite a mixture of jobs for the day. Amy and I started by wire brushing and washing down the bottom of the main gates by the car park. The gates were recently pressure washed to remove the algae, unfortunately some parts had started to corrode and there was an area damaged by 'dog marking'.

 

Next, we loaded up the jeep and set off around the park. First stop was a bit of watering, followed by cleaning and oiling some of the wooden sculptures. The sculptures were brushed and washed down, and left to dry. We also cut back some of the surrounding branches to open out the area.

The Green Man prior to washing down...

Then it was back again for oiling before moving on. As we were heading towards the Tawny Owl, I spotted more of the Caper Spurge that we had removed earlier in the year. After pulling up a few, it was decided to let the rather tall surrounding nettles die back before returning.

Back at the main gates, it was time to apply a new coat of paint to the affected areas.

Last task of the day was away from the hot sun. The laurel that had previously been cut down was starting to grow back in several parts of the woods. It was amazing how much it had grown in just 7 months. Armed with loppers, we set about clipping them back to ground level, including a couple of maturing bushes that had been missed last time.

My next visit started by filling some buckets with soil. We know how dogs love to dig, unfortunately any holes big or small can be hazardous, especially if they become hidden by grass. Park benches are often the scene of the crime. If you spot any holes, it would certainly help to report this so hazards can be kept to a minimum.  

The new apple orchard is coming along nicely. However, quite a few young poplar trees had started to sprout up and needed cutting back.

The woodland track running by the Hall School was our next port of call. The route was becoming overgrown along it's edges, so we opened this out by removing some holly and laurel.

Our main task for this day was at the willow tunnel in the picnic area. It is an ideal time of the year to shape the new growth around the evolving tunnel. If the stems are too thick, they are not pliable enough to shape, especially if they are pointing skyward. We carefully selected which shoots could be used and then 'fashioned' them as necessary. They were then held in place with cable ties. The rest of the new growth is removed.

Fortunately, there was a tremendous amount growth this year, so plenty to choose from.

Result of the latest styling. Not quite Mr Teasy-Weasy! (for those of a certain age 😉).

This illustrates the excess growth not used!

It was a cooler start for yesterday's visit, but we soon warmed up with our first activity. Following the recent bad weather, the rain-water 'run off' channel near Church Street had become clogged with mud. This needed to be redefined and opened out a bit where it pools.

Back near the apple orchard (on the corner of the Victorian pond), some larger poplar trees needed cutting down and lopping. These will be woodchipped later. 

This area is to revert to just grass.

The biggest job of the day was clearing a much overgrown planted bed of mainly young Beech trees.

Amy began by strimming around the edges and I used shears to start to uncover the different plants. Then it was a case of more intensive cutting back and delicately removing the many large brambles that were entwined in the larger bushes.

A very satisfying transformation!

What will we be getting up to next? Find out in a few weeks time.

After the harvest

August 2023. The farmer has now finished harvesting the meadow grass, and all of the meandering trails that were once etched across the park have since disappeared (although you can still make them out). It's strange to see the landscape looking bare by comparison. Personally, I loved the 'metamorphosis' that attracted and sustained wildlife and insects alike, plus the sound of long grass gently rustling in the breeze. Anyway, back to business. 

It was another busy day of litter picking, strimming, mowing and cutting back. The Church Street  entrance to the park was due for a bit of a haircut.

The left hand side had previously been attended to last November,  https://johnclaxtonjournal.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-day-at-beech.html  today we were just cutting back on the other side. 

This picture portrays me in action with the hedge trimmer, however the merit should go to Amy. I was busy by the gate with loppers and shears.

All sorted! We managed to fill 2 'ton bags' of branches and cuttings, mainly holly and beech.

Strimming that day was around the climbing tree. It's a bit tricky getting in and out the fallen boughs to reach the overgrown nettles and grass.

I'm becoming an expert on the ride-on mower, so I finished the day once more trimming the verges of the main/hoggin paths.

Earlier during the following week, Amy & Matt had been busy working at Lavare Park and the Recreation Ground, so there was a lot more mowing to catch up on when I arrived on Thursday. Fun times, especially as it was a very warm & muggy day. 

We were, however, also tasked with cutting and clearing an area surrounding a young planted/caged tree that had become overgrown (dedicated to the NHS). You may ask why it was left to become overgrown. In truth, the tree has benefitted from this as it has been protected from unwanted visitors both animal and human, plus it helps to keep moisture in. Other young trees and smaller planted beds have been similarly allowed to become overgrown for the same reason, it is a critical stage of development.

I know it's around here somewhere...

                                   ....ah, there it is!

It was a similar situation yesterday at the park. This time, Amy & Matt had been working at Repton pond* relaying the path. So it was back on the mower for me, plus a little bit of strimming.

There was still more work to do at Repton pond, so Amy and I joined Matt in the afternoon to help with clearing some of the borders. Matt had just finished using the 'wacker plate' on the new path, albeit not quite complete (there had been six 'ton bags' of concrete and soil taken up from the old path).

New path in progress....

Clearing the old borders....

*Repton pond is situated on Parkside Drive, which is opposite St Margaret's Church. It's very peaceful there, with a lovely fountain and a variety of fish.

Hope you enjoyed, I'll be back in a few weeks time.