An impressive turnout of 11 volunteers gathered in the springtime sunshine for this work party. It’s bird nesting season so we can’t undertake any maintenance work that causes a disturbance in the wood proper. The main aim of this session was therefore to remove the plastic guards and canes from any accessible trees we have planted on the eastern edge over the last 5 years or so, from the NE corner southwards, as far south as the N edge of the MUGA. The saplings were either well enough established, or had long since perished, so either way the plastic guards were no longer needed.
To the sound of woodpeckers hammering in the background, the party split into 3 smaller groups and made their way round the inside and outside of the eastern perimeter. One group of three also toured the western and southern boundary fence and turned over any sections which had fallen onto whips planted in recent years, while collecting a full bag of rubbish, before rejoining the main work party.
This was lighter work generally and the group co-operated really well to accomplish the task fairly swiftly, and with good cheer. We regrouped for a coffee break and, when the job was done, we headed back down the hill with barrows full.
27.5 volunteer hours, including 2.5 DoE hours for young Leo!
