Diary 2016

To see last year’s work go to Diary 2015

December 2016

the-view-to-the-south-west-is-improved-by-removing-sumach

Non-native Stag’s horn sumach has invaded Dial Hill grassland and needs to be removed

clevedon-bay-and-poets-walk-in-the-background

Self-set sycamore on Dial Hill is thinned to enhance views over Clevedon Bay

Planting new trees, funded by a Quinney family donation, to add to the total number of different native trees in Quinney’s Wood, and burning hedge cuttings on a bonfire

Clevedon School: Sycamore saplings, felled to enlarge the glade, are popular with students as construction material. Hazel is coppiced at a height to protect it from browsing deer.

November 2016

scrub-being-cut-back-to-reveal-the-old-lime-kiln-track

cutting-more-scrub-above-the-cricket-pitch

the-line-of-the-old-lime-kiln-track-clearly-visible

Clearing a further section of scrub above the Dial Hill cricket ground to expose the line of the old lime kiln track. Species-rich grassland will gradually re-establish below the track.

Cutting an elder stump on Dial Hill; ivy, ragwort, nettles & creeping thistle are controlled.

more-of-the-top-hedge-meccanically-trimmed

autumn-colour-and-apples-at-quinneys-wood

Sunshine and autumn colour at Quinney’s Wood while hedge trimming continues

October 2016

hedge-cutting-by-hand-with-bow-saw-and-loppers

mechanical-trimming-from-the-neighbours-side

Quinney’s Wood – a section of the top hedge that was cut by hand last winter is mechanically trimmed while a further section must be cut with loppers and bow saws

Scrub clearing continues on Dial Hill

Clevedon School – an early autumn tidy-up of the outdoor learning areas

the-orchard-in-october-before-the-apple-harvest-photo-by-david-clegg

The Millennium Community Orchard – preparing for the cider apple harvest by tidying the orchard floor under the trees and around the perimeter with brush cutters and scythes

September 2016

Winter scrub-control restarts on Dial Hill with a large bramble patch

raking-up-after-brush-cutting-beside-the-top-hedge

Annual grassland management at Quinney’s Wood continues …

August 2016

Quinney's Wood after mowing in late August. The hedge was trimmed last winter.

the area mown has been extended this year to improve more grassland

Oxford ragwort, more often seen along the motorway

Late summer mowing in Quinney’s Wood

the flight of woodland steps crosses the path

the path is a designated Public Right of Way between the Salthouse Pub and the lookout

Salthouse Woods – laying revetment boards along the upper side of the path between the Salthouse Pub and the lookout. The lower border was completed in August last year. The long flight of woodland steps is also maintained by the Woodcutters.

Portishead Yacht and Sailing club showing scrub to be cut

after scrub cutting, awaiting removal of arisings

A small contingent of Woodcutters assisted Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club by cutting back scrub near the clubhouse. More work is needed here.

The Millennium Community Orchard – the main entrance improved and paths mown

July 2016

area cleared of everlasting sweet-pea by scything

Dial Hill – Vegetation on the lower slope is cut again using scythes. A portion of the hilltop grassland is also scythed to remove as much invasive everlasting sweet pea as possible.

June 2016

regrowth before scything - goosegrass, bindweed, nettles, sow thistle ...

Sow thistle, goosegrass and bindweed are among the rank species that need to be scythed and raked off from the recently scrub-cleared slope on Dial Hill in order to give good grassland species a chance to establish. Brambles and nettles are already under control.

Quinney’s Wood – road traffic visibility is increased by cutting back brambles, and the main paths are mown to improve visitor access and to enhance the woodland.

Clevedon School – maintaining the woodland trail, scything and grubbing out brambles

selected areas with rank vegetation are mechanically trimmed

The Millennium Community Orchard – the paths, picnic site and areas with rank vegetation are mowed with scythes and and brushcutter, and arisings raked off.

May 2016

Quinney’s Wood paths are mown in May to improve access and enhance the woodland.

Dial Hill – follow-up scrub control using brush-cutters and scythe. Arisings are raked off. Everlasting sweet pea is an invasive garden escape and is pulled from the grassland.

Quinney’s Wood – mowing and raking the paths and cutting suckers in grassland

April 2016

after clearing bramble scrub the nettles are quick to regrow

Dial Hill – follow up scrub control by grubbing out bramble roots and forking out nettles. With reduced competition for sunlight good grassland species will slowly re-establish.

Strawberry Hill Woods (Fir Wood) – overhanging branches, small sycamore saplings and holm oak shoots are removed from either side of the path to improve access and habitat. Cut brash is used to form habitat piles.

March 2016

Norton’s Wood – after removing overhanging vegetation along the bridle path from Norton’s Wood Lane, including a flight of steep steps, the Woodcutters cut back holm oak above the M5 motorway to allow sunlight to the wild flower rich limestone rock face.

where there is no hazel to lay, gaps are blocked with cut Holm oak

Unauthorised vehicular access to Norton’s Wood is prevented by laying growing hazel as a hedge and blocking other gaps with material such as non-native Holm oak felled nearby.

north of Quinney's Wood lies pastureland and the Blind Yeo River (M5 in background)

Quinney’s Wood – the final hedge trim of the winter as the blackthorn starts to flower

Millennium Community Orchard – cider apple trees pruned, willow pollarded, hazel coppiced, marginal brambles and elder trimmed. Brash burnt on site.

February 2016

scrub clearing reveals a view to the northeast

Dial Hill – an area of bramble with self-seeded ash is cleared to reclaim lost grassland.

Quinney’s Wood – reducing the height of the top hedge to about 6ft and burning the brash

January 2016

Dial Hill – a welcome break from the rain for a January bonfire and final tidy-up after scrub clearing on the slope above the cricket ground

bramble clearing above the cricket ground

bramble clearing at the top of the slope

A frosty but sunny morning on Dial Hill clearing brambles from the slope above the cricket club. Brash is raked off and heaped up ready for a bonfire.

recycled chippings are added to the path

Work at Clevedon School starts again. We have been asked to create an informal and interesting woodland trail leading to a glade, using natural materials found on site. Recycled chippings are added to make the path less slippery.

The trail will play a part in the Outdoor Learning experience for visiting student groups.

Diary 2015