Old Spring Wood: 11-06-2024

 

 

 

Welcome on board

the holly removal

 merry-go-round!! 

This week was one of yet more prickly holly removal - this time in Old Spring Wood in Summerbridge. Regular readers will know that this has been an ongoing process over the last few years in order to try to prevent the bluebell lake from disappearing. This week they were clearing over by the boundary wall. 

Once again the holly removal rules, mentioned in last week's blog, were followed. So, visualising  baked bean tins, the volunteers sallied forth with their loppers, bow saws and bill hooks to clear more of the offending vegetation, and here they are in action.

 

This holly monstrosity was

completely overshading the

 lovely veteran oak behind it.

After a good deal of pruning...

 

...and the use of ring barking,

the oak now has a fighting chance.

This area was completely dark

 underneath the holly canopy.

Let there be light!!

 

And there was light.

 And everyone could see

 who they were working with.

 

 

Well built holly brash piles began

to replace the smaller holly trees...

...and the boundary wall started to come into view.

 

Paul spent a good deal of

time stake making...

 

...until he was deployed 

as a brash pile squasher. 

 

Although Ros E's midge net 

kept the blighters at bay 

it didn't do anything for her

 appearance. 

 

Everyone enjoyed their

 breaks for refreshments,

sitting amongst the ferns. 

Right gang - time's up.

Back to work.

 

As usual - teamwork 

helped the job along. 

If you could just stop this branch from

wiggling around I may be able to cut it.

After lunch they started on this area.

 

It looked daunting.

But by 2pm you could actually

 see the wood for the trees!

Well done NCVs.

Low Laithe: 04-06-2024

With this ring, 

(I thee wed.)

you'll be dead!

The NCVs are used to planting trees, laying trees and cutting trees down when they are growing where they shouldn't. However - this week they were ringing them. No - not attempting to sound out a tune, but trying to hasten their demise by removing a ring of nutrient carrying tissue around the trunk. They used this process on the large, invading holly trees in the ancient woodland at Low Laithe. Doing this will create standing deadwood - in effect constructing a number of high rise flats for invertebrates (a great source of sustenance for woodpeckers and other woodland birds). Of course, there was a good deal of holly removal and the creation of dead hedges going on too. 

 

The rules were as follows:

• If the stems are less than the size of a baked beans can, then cut them down.
• If larger than this, then ring bark them.
• Only remove 50% of the holly in the area you are working on to avoid 'shocking' the woodland. (Ring barking will avoid sudden loss of leaf cover.)
  

 So - let's see this process in action shall we? My glamorous assistant, Osian will demonstrate it most ably.

 

 

Step 1: Saw two rings around the trunk,

6" apart - but not too deeply.

Step 2: Now peel off the outer layer.

It is really smooth and moist inside.

Step 3: Finally - hack away at the ring

to damage the wood.

Thank you Osian.

While some were ring barking

others were dealing with areas 

of regenerating holly such as this.

You really can't see the wood 

for the trees in places!

 

That's it Brenda and Alistair-

 

 

- get down in there with your loppers. 

It was surprising what was discovered.

An old bedstead,

lots of plumbing pipes

and this rock art!!

Mick was seriously worried he was 

habitat piling himself into a corner.

Would he ever escape?

Amy played safe and created a 

dead hedge along the footpath. 

She was definitely going to

 get home for tea!

Andrew kept her and Anita 

supplied with hedging uprights.

 

Energy levels were boosted

by the arrival of three gooey 

chocolate cakes at coffee time.

Many thanks to landowner Alexa.

 

Dave had to be forced to take 

a second piece of cake. 

Well - it would have been rude

 to leave it, wouldn't it?! 

 

Oh dear - the consequent 

sugar rush led Dave to 

be in rather high spirits.

Last time you are having

extra cake Dave. 

Get on with the task!!

 

At lunch time the rain became 

rather insistent.

It didn't bother Liz. 

Paul cut a dash in his yellow jacket,

which kept him nicely dry.

Ros E. had left her coat up 

in the woods. However, this beautiful

designer pashmina came in

 handy to keep the rain off.

Oh goodness - more cake!!

This time it's from Tony's wife Alwin,

baker extraordinaire, to celebrate

his birthday. 

Thanks Alwin - and Happy Birthday Tony!!

🎂

 (Don't give any to Dave L!!)

 

By close of play a number 

of habitat piles had been created.

These will gradually decay to nothing.  

 

A good area of woodland floor 

was cleared,although there is 

still oodles of holly left.