September 2012 – August 2013
On 14th September, 2012, the Friends of Poets’ Walk completed their first year of volunteer working parties. We thought that it would be appropriate to record our second year in pictures and a few words, in order to show progress month by month and record the changing seasons …
August 2013
The viewing area above the Salthouse woodland steps and zigzag path scythed and raked at the end of August to further promote good grassland and wild flowers next year
Overhanging branches cut back and weeds and debris cleared to improve access along the formal path between Salthouse carpark and the south side of Church Hill
Hack’s Way, the old footpath between Old Church Road and Church Hill, cleared of overhanging brambles, encroaching nettles and rubbish
There is a good crop of blackberries on the Church Hill big bramble patch this year.
The rapid spread into grassland of a large and vigorous blackberry patch on Church Hill is kept in check by scything. The main patch provides valuable shelter for wildlife.
Buddleia (a non native) has been left to grow beside the newly restored Church Hill path as its flowers are much loved by butterflies .
July 2013
Ragwort pulling for the second year in succession to control the population on Wain’s Hill and Church Hill. Volunteers seen here on Wain’s Hill.
Raking and removing arisings after scything to restore good grassland and widen access from Church Hill to the Salthouse woodland steps and the zigzag path
The area near the iron cross bollard above Church Hill zigzag cleared of invasive rose-bay willowherb, creeping thistle and goosegrass by scything
The Church Hill zigzag path tidied, and colourful with plants in the sunshine
The coast path tidied between the sugar lookout and the cemetery
Wain’s Hill north-east corner – a sheltered site with a beautiful view. Rank grass and nettles are scythed and spread out to dry before raking off. Scrub was cleared last year.
1st July – the ‘June cut’ of the Wain’s Hill ramparts is finished!
June 2013
Members of the Clevedon Woodcutters for Wildlife weeding the approach path to Church Hill from Salthouse Road, on behalf of the Friends of Poets’ Walk
Clevedon Woodcutters for Wildlife reopening Hack’s Way (the path from Old Church Road to the south-east end of Church Hill) – a huge crop of nettles and litter
The ‘June cut’ scything of the Wain’s Hill ramparts nearing completion
New fencing erected by North Somerset Council along the coast path to fill gaps above the cliff. In the autumn volunteers will be able to restore views opposite the seats.
Volunteers from Clevedon Woodcutters for Wildlife reconstructing woodland steps on Church Hill to connect with a newly restored informal path across the hillside
Removing ‘arisings’ to allow sunlight to promote new growth and reduce soil fertility
Scything continues on Wain’s Hill in order to restore good grassland on the ramparts
Feral raspberries scythed and raked off from the southern edge of the Church Hill plateau
Weeding the newly restored old path across Church Hill southern slope
Wain’s Hill informal path (behind cemetery allotments) reopened by clearing nettles etc.
Wain’s Hill – a patch of nettles is left unscythed to allow caterpillars to feed undisturbed
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillars feeding on nettles on Wain’s Hill ramparts
May 2013
Bramble control on Church Hill: grubbing out roots and raking after scything regrowth
Trimming over-exhuberant cow parsley in late May to improve path access
The path above Marine Lake cleared and seats tidied
Scything Wain’s Hill ramparts to control nettles, raspberries and other invasive species
Wain’s Hill pillbox area – hand pulling wild turnip and nettles before scything
Wain’s Hill – the north east corner scythed to control nettles and restore good grassland
The Salthouse steps above the marine lake cleared of weeds – before and after
Edges cleared of mud and weeds on Church Hill coast path
An old seat on the coast path tidied. The wooden planking is long gone.
Removing young ragwort and other ‘undesirables’ in Church Hill woodland
The Church Hill woodland area extended by removing old brash
The Church Hill woodland ground flora flourishes in the increased sunlight after clearing. The contour of the old path can clearly be seen just below the hill top.
An apple tree in full blossom can now be seen thanks to restoring the old path across the southern slope of Church Hill.
April 2013
Woodland behind Salthouse Court, Church Hill – previously introduced daffodils and forget-me-nots flourish again once scrub has been cleared away.
Grubbing out bramble roots in woodland on Church Hill to prevent recolonisation
Removing mud, ‘weeds’ and detritus from the edge of the coastal path markedly improves access and reduces dog fouling.
Wain’s Hill ramparts – reducing stumps, grubbing out bramble roots and raking debris
The cemetery rock face along the coast path is being cleared of non-native and invasive plant species. The round leaved plant here is Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris), a native.
March 2013
An Easter Sunday stroll. This newly reopened path across the southern slope of Church Hill was originally made in 1923 and now offers easy access through woodland to the hill top.
Tidying Wain’s Hill rampart slope: removing bramble roots, trimming off new shoots from old tree stumps, raking and litter picking
The coastal path as seen from the badger bridge on Church Hill after clearing away accumulated mud, weeds and overhanging brambles
The natural rock face along the coast path below the cemetery cleared of invasive species to allow desirable native plants to flourish (compare with photo below)
Invasive bramble and ivy need to be removed from the natural rock face along the coast path below the cemetery (photo before clearing)
Cutting back bramble encroaching on the grassland of Church Hill. Much of it will be left as habitat and shelter, while rabbits seem to enjoy what we cleared last year.
February 2013
The coastal path on Wain’s Hill is cleared of mud and weeds and the hedge trimmed to improve access and to enhance views over the Bristol Channel
Cut material is used to make habitat piles – here with Holm oak and wild damson
Removing non-native Holm oak on Church Hill
Uncovering seat remnants while restoring an old trail on Church Hill. In the 1950s this seat was still surrounded by grass on all sides and provided a wonderful view over the whole of lower Clevedon.
The restored view of the Pier from Church Hill
See us also on Clevedon News video
The old track from the top of the zigzag, now cleared, leads up onto Church Hill
Work progresses – clearing the zigzag area to further improve the view of the Pier
Restoring the view to the Pier from the top of Church Hill zigzag path
Uncovering the upper end of the zigzag path on Church Hill.The old iron cross bollard (centre of photograph) marks the top end of the zigzag.
Path clearing continues up to Wain’s Hill and hedges are trimmed to restore views.
January 2013
Uncovering an old trail on Church Hill
Path clearing continues towards Wain’s Hill. The Glebe field on the left.
There must be more steps under here! Or perhaps a viewing platform?
left – Uncovering more old steps on Church Hill
right – The same steps in October 2012
The tidying of the coastal path behind Church Hill and the cemetery is complete – for now!
Just a little more scrub to be cleared. The secondary woodland will remain as habitat.
Clearing bramble and elder on Wain’s Hill rampart slope (spot the volunteer!)
December 2012
Church Hill Community Tree Planting area: clearing scrub to reveal an old path
Church Hill Community Tree Planting area: cutting out sycamore; leaving ash
Church Hill Community Tree Planting area: top of the hill opened up
Church Hill Community Tree Planting Area: lower slope scythed and weeded
November 2012
Scrub clearance continues on Wain’s Hill – towards the north
Wain’s Hilll ramparts – all re-growth brushcut and raked
Brushcutting re-growth on Wain’s Hill ramparts
Poets’ Walk benches and paths cleaned up
Scrub clearance on Wain’s Hill ramparts
Footpath clearing – Week One
- Before – looking towards Marine Lake
Week two, good progress – three people for 2 hours with lots of positive comments from people enjoying their afternoon walk
October 2012
Church Hill zigzag path tidied up
Clearing above the Church Hill zigzag path
Raking off scythed grass on Church Hill
Raking and removing cut grass and weeds on Wain’s Hill after scything
The ‘Pillbox’ on Wain’s Hill cleared of nettles
September 2012
Clearing the footpath by St Andrew’s Church looking towards the Glebe
The Green Gate to St Andrew’s Church – before clearing
The Green Gate – after clearing
Footpath looking towards Salt House Field
Footpath
Hard at work clearing
The natural archway – improved access