Category Archives: Volunteer Days

Volunteer Day – Saturday 2nd September 2017

Last Sunday saw another very well attended volunteer session with over a dozen committee members and volunteers tackling this month’s tasks.

It was disappointing to see that all the pears and apples had been taken by, we assume, local squirrels. Last month we saw around a dozen potential fruits which were looking good, but others got there first!

Pear tree, but without the pears!

Pear tree, but without the pears!

One of the main tasks was the weeding of The Mound area, which had become very overgrown with bindweed, plants working their ways around the small tree saplings. You can see in the photos the impact of 2 hours’ work on the area. Continue reading

Volunteer Day – Sunday 6th August 2017

Last Sunday morning saw another weekend volunteer morning session. Although volunteer numbers were low because of the Summer holidays, we welcomed new faces and undertook many tasks.

The pond was becoming a little overgrown with the grasses at the edges making most of the Summer warmth. As can be seen in the photos committee member Donald Albrecht and 2 other volunteers get to grips by removing grasses to create a more open water area.

Pond clearing by Donald Albrecht

Pond clearing by Donald Albrecht

Pond clearing in progress

Pond clearing in progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading

Volunteer Day – Sunday 1st July 2017

The first volunteer session of Summer took place the 1st July. Numbers of volunteers were a little below normal, but this didn’t reduce the enthusiasm of the people who were present. We also welcomed 2 new people who had never been to the Woodland before.

Apple tree with small fruit

Apple tree with small fruit

Apple tree with small fruit

Apple tree with small fruit

Pear tree with small fruit

Pear tree with small fruit

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading

Volunteer Day – Sunday 7th May 2017

Only a week after our 4th Open Day event saw us back to our usual routine of the monthly volunteer events. Over a dozen people helped out with today’s tasks. The weather is really starting to warm up now, so extra watering of our new plants is required. Of course, this means that the weeds we try and keep at bay are also rapidly growing. The “Mound” area was also weeded to.

Westcombe Woodlands Chairman Tim Barnes at work weeding

Westcombe Woodlands Chairman Tim Barnes at work weeding

Volunteer weeding

Volunteer weeding

Removed Spanish Bluebells

Removed Spanish Bluebells

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading

Volunteer Day – Sunday 2nd April 2017

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

Freshly purchased native plants

Newly planted primroses among bluebells

Newly planted primroses among bluebells

Primroses with three cornered leeks in the background

Primroses with three cornered leeks in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteer planting newly divided plants

Volunteer planting newly divided plants

Volunteer removing weeds

Volunteer removing weeds

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading