Our first volunteer session in Spring was a wonderful day. Blue skies, warm temperatures and no wind made the outside conditions seem almost balmy for this time of year. This meant we could really get stuck in to the tasks of planting and weeding. Using funds from previous open days, we purchased more native plants to further enhance the existing woodland flora.

With the warmer temperatures, now is the ideal moment to new plants in before the soil starts to dry out, making it less likely plants will survive. Having purchased new plants, we also took existing plants such as established clumps of primroses and red campions and divided these in to smaller plants. An economical way to increase the woodland flora. However, there’s always a requirement to keep on weeding. The Glade area has a lot of bindweed, and this plant needs to be kept under control.

Freshly purchased native plants

Newly planted primroses among bluebells

Primroses with three cornered leeks in the background

Volunteer planting newly divided plants

Volunteer removing weeds

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The 3rd Volunteer Morning of the year had a definite feeling that Spring isn’t far away. The event was very well attended with both committee members and volunteers, with around 18 people onsite. Tasks this morning were the removal of a non-native horse-chestnut tree to make way for native woodland saplings including English Oaks. The photos below show committee member Andrew Slade with a mattock taking aim at the horse-chestnut, to remove it from the newly created woodland clearing on the way to The Glade area.

Mattock in hand

Taking aim

Roots and all removed!

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The first volunteer day this year took place last Saturday. Despite the rather damp, overcast weather a dozen or so people came throughout the day, some to volunteer, others just to take a look around.

At the end of last year, using volunteers from Barclays Bank, a small area was cleared, ready to allow for the beehives to be sited, just south of The Glade area. The photo below shows our new installed and very well camouflaged shed, next to the area where the beehives will be sited.

Equipment shed for our bees

Tim Barnes clearing leaves from the flower area

The newly built pond, looking very healthy

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Yesterday’s volunteer session had another busy day of activities. As well as the normal tidying up of The Glade area, it was also necessary to check up on our pond. It’s looking more and more as though it’s been established for quite some time. Two frogs were seen in the nearby grass, while the ponds plants look healthy.

View of the pond in The Glade

Purple Loosestrife adjacent to the pond

Meadowsweet plant growing near the pond

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Today’s latest session made the most of warm sunshine, something that has definitely been in short supply recently!

Today was in The Glade area, concentrating on weeding, pond maintenance and tidying up our dead wood pile.

Our apple and pear tree trees are producing a healthy amount of fruits, although as can be seen they’re quite small. Weeds have made the most of the warm weather with Rosebay Willowherb taking over around 20 sq yards of soil just to the side of the grassed area in the glade.

Smaller both in size and numbers than pears in general.

One of the many pears now growing

More pear fruits rapidly growing.

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