2018
To see last year’s work go to Diary 2017
December 2018
Quinney’s Wood – re-erecting a 50m stretch of roadside fence damaged several years ago by traffic, using existing stock fencing and barbed wire but new fence poles
November 2018
Quinney’s Wood – bramble has encroached into the top hedge and is cut back at ground level. Branches blocking light from younger trees are removed, and brash is burnt.
October 2018
Dial Hill – clearing back some more bramble to restore lost grassland on the top of the hill
Dial Hill – tidying and opening up the area nearest the cricket pitch. The remains of a stone boundary wall here are obscured and protected by ivy and other vegetation.
The grass is mowed & raked off prior to the apple harvest at the Millennium Community Orchard. A generally poor harvest this year due to weather conditions – but a good crop of the late ripening variety Black Dabinett!
Dial Hill – mowing & raking to improve grassland areas inaccessible to the tractor mower
Mowing and raking the steep and stony slope above Dial Hill cricket ground
September 2018
Quinney’s Wood – raking up. Invasive brambles in the hedge are cut out at ground level.
Late summer grass cutting starts in Quinney’s Wood. Two wasp nests disturbed!
A second session of garden work brings welcome funds to the Woodcutters’ account
August 2018
Tidying a Woodcutter’s garden in return for a most generous donation to our funds.
Clevedon School – tidying the woodland edge & trail, and grubbing out bramble roots
Dial Hill – moving hay (newly tractor mown) into woodland; pulling regrowth of non-native everlasting pea and grubbing out brambles in reclaimed grassland
July 2018
Grassland management on Dial Hill during a heatwave – controlling toxic ragwort and two non-native & invasive species (garden escapes) – everlasting pea and purple toadflax
June 2018
Quinney’s Wood arboretum starts to take shape with tree labels in place
Quinney’s Wood – fixing tree name labels to posts and cutting hogweed & cow parsley
Closely mown paths in Quinney’s Wood add contrast to lush vegetation & provide access
The Community Orchard – cutting areas of rank grass & other vegetation and raking off the arisings to improve the orchard floor. The grass paths are mown to enhance access.
Dial Hill – rank vegetation is brush cut and raked off to promote species rich grassland while thistles are forked out and non-native honesty and purple toadflax is pulled out.
May 2018
Dial Hill – a patch of grassland is mown to control the spread of non-native everlasting pea while thistles are forked out to reduce competition with other native species.
Dial Hill – grubbing out of invasive everlasting pea on a recently scrub-cleared patch, follow-up control of sumac & ragwort, and thinning out of thistles & purple toadflax
April 2018
Norton’s Wood bridleway – cutting encroaching brambles and overhanging branches
After weeks of wet Wednesdays the Orchard is finally dry enough to prune more overgrown apple trees to reduce their height and encourage more compact growth. Elm saplings near the ditch are thinned out and all brash burnt.
Dial Hill – forking out spear thistle in grassland and thinning a grove of ash saplings
March 2018
Clevedon School – extending informal woodland trails to increase accessibility
The Millennium Community Orchard – pruning to reduce height & spread serves to lighten the load on the crown of apple trees that are leaning due to wind and wet ground.
Late winter work at Clevedon School – extending the area of accesible woodland and creating new habitat by cutting back brambles and thinning sycamore saplings
February 2018
More hedge trimming at Quinney’s Wood and grubbing out of brambles beneath
Remedial pruning in the Millennium Community Orchard
Quinney’s Wood – trimming the top hedge and burning brash
January 2018
Felling a field maple in Quinney’s Wood to reduce competition for light and water
Coppicing hazel in Quinney’s Wood while brash is burnt on a welcome bonfire
