Posted in Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on December 3, 2023|
As has been the case in the last few years, our final activity for 2023 was to continue with the removal of invasive rhododendron from Spud Wood, a Woodland Trust site looked after by the Friends group. The few of us braving the cold enjoyed a lovely wintry woodland, complete with holly berries and frequently visiting robins, and made good progress in expanding the rhododendron-free areas.
Looking forward to 2024’s activities – first up, hedgelaying on the Middlewood Way on the 21 January…!
Posted in Heathland, Invasive species, Woodland management, tagged Cheshire East Rangers, Friends of Spud Wood, Tegg's Nose Country Park, Woodland Trust on January 6, 2023|
Well, 2022 passed without much of an update from us. A hedgelaying activity early in the year had to be cancelled due to the weather conditions and then for one reason and another (mainly a shortage of everyone’s availability) we were not out again until November! However, we finished the year with two great Sundays: 13 November at Tegg’s Nose Country Park and 4 December at Spud Wood.
At Tegg’s Nose, we were working in a heathland habitat that is at risk of being overtaken by willow scrub. The rangers are trying to connect up heathland areas at the top of the park and the willow scrub shades out the heather and bilberry causing it to die back. We were blessed with a lovely bright day – perfect for enjoying the great views from this lovely site.
Invasive rhododendron was the problem we were tackling at Spud Wood. As last December, we worked on helping remove this well-established intruder and were able to make a good impact on a decent area. This should go some way to allowing the woodland to become a more diverse woodland habitat in the years ahead.
Naturally, the year ended that evening with a get-together around an outdoor fire (big thanks to Elaine and Dave for arranging), with food and drink aplenty!
We already have our dates arranged for January to March, so we’ll have more going on in 2023!
Posted in Invasive species, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on December 13, 2021| 1 Comment »
SMCV’s final activity for 2021 yesterday was a day of clearing rhododendron at Spud Wood, on behalf of the Friends group. There was only a small band of volunteers (a few human and one canine) – presumably everyone else was shopping for Christmas, or similar – but we made a good impact on a tract of woodland over-run by rhododendron, and had the pleasure of winter sun filtering through the trees!
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on March 15, 2020|
Today we were helping in a woodland a stone’s throw away from Lymm, called Spud Wood. As in the past, we were working with The Woodland Trust and the Friends of Spud Wood.
This is a relatively new mixed broadleaf woodland, planted in the late 1990s. It was planted on a former potato field – hence the name, which was suggested by local school children in a naming competition, and is a reminder of its historic use for growing Golden Wonder crisps!
We were coppicing hazel trees and, with the branches, creating a picturesque barrier along the edge of the wood, which cut off the ditch behind but should also prove a perfect habit for wildlife!
A great day out. The weather remained nice and dry apart from a short five-minute burst of rain.
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on March 17, 2019|
Today a few of us were out at Spud Wood, a Woodland Trust site. We were continuing the coppicing of hazel we’ve been doing over the winter, in the better than expected weather! Buds are starting to burst for spring so this is possibly the last of the coppicing for this year.
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged New Moss Wood, Woodland Trust on February 17, 2019|
Today we were at New Moss Wood, a Woodland Trust site. This is a native woodland, planted about twenty years ago. Alongside our woodland management tasks, we were pleased to find and learn a bit about the scarlet elf cup fungus (Sarcoscypha cocinea) – the red of which stood out beautifully against the green of the moss.
Posted in Coppicing, Hedgelaying, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on January 13, 2019|
We have started 2019 with a day with the Friends of Spud Wood. At this Woodland Trust site, we today helped the Friends with the preparation of a hedge for a forthcoming hedgelaying course, and then some coppicing within the wood. We were sustained, as always here, by plenty of tea and parkin – a great start to the year!
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on March 21, 2018|
This past Sunday saw our final visit for this season to the Woodland Trust’s Spud Wood. Wintry conditions had returned and although snow wasn’t exactly thick on the ground it was very chilly – good reason to keep moving! The Friends’ usual excellent home-made parkin pulled us through and we finished the planned area of hazel coppicing. And of course a local robin gave some encouragement too.
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on February 11, 2018| 1 Comment »
Today we were back at the Woodland Trust’s Spud Wood. The weather wasn’t as kind as during our visit in January, shifting from hail to bright sunshine and back again, but nonetheless we made some good progress with the coppicing of hazel and some other woodland thinning. We put the possible hedgelaying on hold for today, although we might yet make a start on it when back on 18th March. Thanks again to the Friends of Spud Wood for the welcome and for fortifying us with home-made cake!
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management, tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust on January 7, 2018| 1 Comment »
Thanks to all who came out today to help with coppicing work at Spud Wood, a Woodland Trust site. A great start to 2018 – a good turn-out from SACV, a warm welcome from Friends of Spud Wood, lovely sunshine, an excellent site – and homemade cake! Here’s to more days like this for the rest of the year.
SMCV 