We will be concentraing on shifting the pile of chippings generated by the Council contracyors felling the diseased beech. If time or resources permit, we may make a start on cutting back the bramble in the Hedgerow Extension.
As always, all tools and equipment is supplied but you can bring your own gloves if you want.
Weather permitting, we will be grass cutting around the flower ribbons and hazel stools
We will also be making a start on coppicing the next batch of hazels
This is the last official workparty of the 2011-12 season.
We are scheduled to make the final breakthough between Down Grange Meadow and The Old Hdgerow. We have been planning for some time to establish a desirable habitat link between these two sites as it has become clear that for butterflies their lifecycle is based on moving from the hedgerow in winter through to the meadow by full Summer.
To aid this linkage we are cutting and rejuvenating the hedgerow line by the pathway and promoting elm and ash growth through to the meadow. This gives us another opportunity to practice our dead hedging skills.
We will be making a start on the hedgerow “Extension”. We will be trimming up the side braches and ivy on a Hawthorn, which is scheduled for felling later on.
As we will be cutting braches, hard hats are recommended!
On Thursday we are working on the Hedgerow, hopefully completing this season’s maintenance work on the bramble and cleaning the western edge.
We expect to complete the dead hedging of the northern half of the hedgerow with material prepared recently from hazel coppice in the Old Orchard.