Woodland Conservation

21st January 2025

Shepherdleas Wood

Fourteen volunteers completed 41 hours creating a glade.

Light is vital for germinating the seeds and bulbs lying dormant. We cut down trees to open up the canopy, removed trees/shrubs like holly that cast shadow, coppiced hazel and cleared brambles/ivy covering the floor.

Green Chain Walk - 3 fallen trees blocking this path were also cleared.

To join us contact: Oxleas.volunteers@gmail.com

Now we have removed some trees there is now a gap to let the light reach the woodland floor.

The area below the open canopy is now clear of shrubbery and brambles, leaving the floor open to the warmth and light of the sun.

Removing one of the trees which were growing too closely together. This will help the remaining tree grow better and there will be more light beneath it.

Our busy volunteers clearing the woodland floor. This is a very sociable activity as we can work more closely together.

Nothing is wasted. The poles from the young Hazel shrubs are used for fencing posts. The posts are cut to size and the bottom is made into a point using an axe.

The brash (holly stems etc. which are cut off the poles) is kept in the woodlands and used to create protective dead hedges.

Two trees blew down some weeks ago and blocked two paths on the Green Chain Walk. Three volunteers cleared them today. The wood is left near where it falls as it will be the home of many invertebrates.

Removing the branches in sections.

Both paths are now clear and the volunteers returned to work on the glade.