Spring has sprung

March 2025. Spring is definitely upon us. Daffodils, snow drops, crocuses have all returned with striking colour. The growing season has started.

So, in preparation for future grass cutting, we cleared away a swathe of snowberry behind one of the park benches.

This will give us enough space to run the ride-on mower around the back.

Would you believe, by clearing this, we also discovered quite a bit of litter! 😞

More clearing was required in the afternoon.

A large willow tree near the Hall School had split its trunk. Tabby and the city college volunteers had chopped the tree into logs and sections of branches. Our task was to remove the cuttings by trailer, ready for feeding through the chipper.

 

There was a hell of a lot of wood from that one tree. We just managed to clear the area after several loads.

As this is also the time of year for planting, I found myself back by the new woodland project, mentioned in my last post.

This time, more whips had arrived from the Woodland Trust. There were rowan, hawthorn, wild cherry, silver birch and dogwood.

I planted these along the fence-line (about 75 in total), and Matt helped with the mulching.

Whilst I was there, I thought I spotted some puffs of smoke coming from behind the lodge. I then noticed something similar behind me.

I pondered this, and mentioned it to Matt, as the incinerator hadn't been lit. Would you believe that it was clouds of pollen released from yew trees! 

So, if you think you've seen smoke in the park, it could just be pollen being released in the breeze.

The woodchip bay is filling up fast, which will serve us well for all the mulching jobs across several managed locations. The chipper has been busy of late, chomping up the willow and ivy. Plus we get truck loads from tree surgeons.

Another day of planting and clearing followed. Using Woodland Trust whips, we added more hazels to the 'nuttery' (along the Oak Lane section between the car park and ring-road) and more willow to the ever developing 'willow tunnel', including some larger cuttings which had developed roots in our water tub.

Two planted beds either side of a 'layered' cherry tree (edge of the west woods) were then cleared. Once again, the main obstacle was bramble. 

The cherry tree in full blossom....

The small pond in the picnic area has had a recent makeover. Much of the overgrown reed bed has been removed, and we continued by repairing some of the fence slats and cutting back some overhanging branches.

This little chap kept a close eye on us....

I finish this month's post with the latest photo of the expanding woodland project (hundreds more whips have now been added).

I think you'll agree that this is another amazing development for the future of Catton Park.

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