Old Spring Wood: 31-07-2018

As July made ready to hand over the baton to August and the prolonged heatwave finally came to an end, a small band of NCVs took up their sticks again to give the bracken of Old Spring Wood a final beating for the summer. This week they were working over by the conifer plantation and on the swathes by the boundary wall.

The plantation is never a favourite spot as old brash remaining from some previous felling can be hidden by the new bracken growth. However - the slightly more problematic bashing terrain was more than made up for by a lovely lunch of Chilli Con Carne and salad, followed by apple crumble and custard, laid on by wood owner Rosemary. Thanks Rosemary!!

Here are some shots of the NCVs v. Bracken action (and the more leisurely lunchtime lack of activity)......

Plenty of bracken growing up around this fallen tree.

 And so to work.

It was everywhere. Far worse than at the other end 
of the wood, dealt with on our previous visit.

No need to bash this monster!!
Apparently this is a 'Chicken in the Woods' fungus.

Other non-bracken sightings included a young kestrel 
and 3 dragon flies enjoying the sun. 

Coffee time was spent in a bracken free oasis.

And then it was back to the bracken.

Civilised dining in the sun-room.

 A good lunch meant that the post lunch pose 
was either regal for Lord Tom of Summerbridge... 

....or quite relaxed for those on the cane furniture.

Osian, despite claims of being unable to eat any more
after the chilli, had manfully tackled the apple pie and custard. 

He also managed to find a pair of socks without a hole in this week.

And after lunch? 
Well, there was plenty of the green stuff left to bash!