We had a big problem to deal with – an ugly corrugated fence at the bottom end of the Western Wood, put up by the adjoining landowner.

The morning of Sunday, 14 March saw an enthusiastic work party gather at Wapley Bushes for a coordinated planting operation on a bright, sunny day. Our task was to plant 60 shrubs and climbers. This is a particularly difficult area to plant in so the plants were specially selected to be both shade tolerant and good for wildlife.

Fortunately, we had a very good volunteer turnout and the task was completed well before midday ; congratulations to all involved in this very successful workday. Here are just a few parts of the stretch that was planted – we’ll keep an eye on its progress and report back in due course:

The next work morning will be on Saturday 8 May, specially for people who can’t make Sundays. We’ll meet at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate as usual – please check back here for more details in due course.

Come and join us for a morning of hedgerow and boundary planting. Tools will be provided, but please wear suitable footwear. We will be meeting at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate.

For more details please ring Paul Hulbert on 07771 562505 – or you can just turn up on the day!

24/1/2010
Photo: Some of the Conservation Group regulars building up the dead hedge
Originally uploaded by paulhulbert

We had a very successful workday today. A dozen of us coppiced a lot of the excess trees in the Centenary Wood, and dragged the material down to the lower end of the main wood.

There we constructed some fifty metres of dead hedging to protect vulnerable areas of the wood. Not bad for a morning’s work!

Our next work morning will be on Sunday, 25 January. We will be doing some traditional woodland management – coppicing, in other words removing excess growth of self-seeded ash – in the Centenary plantation.

Then we’ll will bring the brash – the cut material – down to places where we need to reinforce and rebuild dead hedging. Dead hedges are barriers made entirely from natural material, that we use to protect sensitive areas. Stakes are driven into the ground at intervals, and longer cut branches are woven between the stakes.

Please come and help, no experience necessary. We’re meeting at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am. You’ll need to wear suitable footwear and warm clothing, but tools will be provided.

You can ring Paul for details on 01454 315851, or just turn up on the day.

Another note for your diary – the following work morning will be on March 14, when we shall be doing some hedgerow/boundary planting near Chris’s Bridge.

BBC Breathing Places Christmas song video 🙂

Click here to see larger versions of these photos

Click here to see larger versions of these photos

Come and join our exploration of local fungi with expert Justin Smith – meet at the Shire Way gate. There are many kinds of fungi about at the moment – these photos were taken only yesterday.

Unfortunately today’s Wapley work morning had to be cancelled. It wasn’t so much the rain, more the wind – we had planned to do work in the woodland, and that’s not safe when there are high speed gusts.

Lots of things are happening on the Nature Reserve over the next few days:

Saturday 31 Oct 9.30 am – have your say about the Management Plan for the next five years – walk around the Reserve with our consultant. Everyone welcome.

Sunday 1 November 10.00 am – work morning with members of the Conservation Group. Please come and help us!

Tuesday 3 November 2.00 pm – a Fungus Foray with expert Justin Smith. There are lots of fungi on the reserve at the moment, some the size of small plates. Come and find out all about them.

All events are free – meet at the Shire Way gate.