There was more coppicing at the start of February 2024, this time in the east woods behind the picnic area.
First up was laurel. We searched the area for any remaining bushes that had been missed during the previous year's clearance. With Amy using the handsaw, we cut and lopped about five large bushes in various locations before dragging them to a spot near the entrance of the woods. These were arranged into piles ready for chipping.
Next came hazel trees (plus a dead ash). A chainsaw and ropes were needed to fell these, which were then cut into logs and transported to the compound behind the lodge. The upper branches were lopped and left in piles where they lay.
We also managed to cut back another planted bed, overgrown with bramble and grasses.
This was a shaded and chilly spot on the edge of the east woods.The canes marked where the young shrubs were planted. It would have been impossible to spot them without this.
This was quite tricky to clear with the tall grasses covering the tightly- spaced shrubs. Armed with shears, we had to be careful not to clip the wrong plant!
We completed the day with a litter pick.
The following week, it was quite a damp day with continuous light rain, thankfully not as bad as forecast. We started with clearing back the tree line along St Faiths Road (crown raising). Not surprisingly, we also noticed a fresh accumulation of litter! This was removed during our second task, which was removing sections of ivy around trees at the southern end of the woods.
Whilst I find every task rewarding in different ways, I have to say that planting gives me that extra buzz. So, adding a couple of apple trees in the picnic area was a satisfying end to the day.
It's great seeing all the new growth developing, especially when you've had a hand in it. The spring bulbs are already sprouting and providing us with lots of colour.
In quite a contrast, my next visit was on a bright and balmy day with an unseasonal high of 16C.
The floating reed beds in Victoria pond had spread a lot and were covering a large area of the pond, so our next task involved clearing what we could. The idea was to encircle one of the 'masses' using ropes and an old 'tennis court net' weighted down, that way we could drag it to the edge of the pond and dispose of it in the woods nearby.
Unfortunately, the bed was firmly rooted and very much immovable. Unperturbed, Matt had brought along a Tirfor (twin interchangeable ratchet for obstacle removal), which he anchored to a nearby tree. This would give us far more pulling power.
Gradually, and with the aid of further ropes, we were able to break it from its own mooring.
Amy, Matt and I took turns in applying the tension on the cable. Very slowly, we were able to move the mass to the edge of the pond.
The tangled mass had bits of broken branches and litter encrusted in it.
This was a mammoth task, which took most of the day to complete....
....But we got there in the end, phew!
Hope to see you in a few weeks with more news of the latest goings on!
