Diary 2020

To see last year’s work go to Diary 2019

December 2020

brambles to be cleared on the south-facing slope

clearing brambles on the south-facing slope

Following the second Covid 19 lockdown volunteers can again work in groups of up to six. On Dial Hill marginal brambles are cut back and a smaller patch of brambles is cleared.

November 2020

Pairs of volunteers mow and rake up remaining grass patches on separate days.

A new Covid lockdown until 1st December is announced and working parties suspended.

filling in a hole dug to build an unauthorised cycle ramp

Mowing the top of the slope above the Dial Hill cricket pitch. An area needs to be levelled off following the digging of a hole to make a cycle ramp in the informal path.

October 2020

Dial Hill – autumn grass cutting of areas inaccessible for tractor mowing begins. Arisings are raked off to reduce soil fertility and promote good grassland habitat.

long grass and tree suckers mowed and raked off

Autumn mowing & raking of long grass & tree suckers in Quinney’s Wood is complete.

tall vegetation along the north side of the orchard mowed

the orchard floor mown in readiness for the apple harvest

The Millennium Community Orchard – mowing & raking the orchard floor in readiness for the apple harvest. An area of taller vegetation on the north side is also mown.

September 2020

three more osiers are planted, from cuttings

Quinney’s Wood – as the woodland matures, less sunlight reaches the woodland floor and there is less vegetation to mow. Three more osiers are planted, raised from cuttings.

August 2020

Late summer mowing at Quinney’s Wood to control tree suckers & rank vegetation

weeds on all sides of the house cleared away

Tidying a Woodcutter member’s garden in return for a welcome donation to the funds.

hedge cut and view restored at the Pier Copse seatng area

Working with Clevedon Civic Society to cut the hedge at Pier Copse and restore the view

July 2020

raking up mown vegetation on the northern slope

an area under mature trees is cleared of nettles by mowing

mowing lilac suckers resulting from the felling of a single small tree

Dial Hill – mowing rank vegetation, lilac suckers & a patch of nettles to improve access and grassland quality. Remaining ragwort and more everlasting pea plants are pulled.

mowing and raking the orchard floor to control rank grasses and other flowering species

cutiing down overgrown and leaning blackthorn

Mowing the orchard floor to control over-vigorous species including hogweed and dock, and to improve grassland quality. Cutting old and leaning blackthorn to allow in sunlight.

Pulling invasive, non-native everlasting pea

Although pretty, everlasting pea on Dial Hill is an invasive garden escape and needs to be controlled. Wild carrot and grass species thrive on a patch recently cleared of brambles.

June 2020

hogweed and other rank vegetation needs to be mowed

The Millennium Community Orchard – rank vegetation mowed and raked

All woodland trails at Clevedon School are made properly accessible again while hazel branches overhanging the mown area are trimmed and a patch of long grass scythed.

clearing back nettles and brambles from the trail

Clevedon School – clearing back encroaching vegetation from the seating area and trails

a young Whitebeam mulched with grass clippings

The grass paths in Quinney’s Wood, as well as areas around young trees, are mown for the second time this year. Young trees are mulched with grass clippings.

May 2020

vegetation under the two walnut trees mown and raked

ox-eye daisies flourish but everlasing pea is still a problem

Dial Hill – the area under two stately walnut trees and access paths leading to it are mown and raked off. Further up the hill invasive everlasting pea is pulled again.

grass paths are mown while vegetation under trees is left to grow and flower

an elm tree has died, propably due to Dutch Elm disease and prolonged hot, dry weather

Grass paths have been mown in the Millennium Community Orchard.

Trees flowering in Quinney’s Wood and younger plantings coming on well

Dial Hill is looking lovely in early May, especially thanks to all our work in the last few years. Two of us pull invasive everlasting pea while socially distancing due to Covid 19.

April 2020

wild pear (foreground left) and young spindle (centre)

Quinney’s Wood – the main paths and the areas around young trees are mown for the first time this year. Grass clippings serve as a mulch around the young trees.

March 2020

Government restrictions on socialising, due to coronavirus, came into force on 23rd March and meant an end of normal Woodcutters’ working parties till further notice.

Wain’s Hill battery site – felling 2 sycamores growing on top of the wall. Brash is cut up for a habitat pile off-site and logs are also removed to deter the building of fires on-site.

cutting up and piling the brash away from the path

lower rock face exposed, large logs remain

Strawberry Hill woods – clearing up after a contractor removed a fallen beech tree from the path. Ivy is cleared back to expose the attractive rock face. Small Holm oaks are felled to reduce competition for light with native species.

February 2020

self-set sycamore saplings to be removed

glade for the planting of more native trees

Clevedon School – a large ash that has fallen across the trail is sawn up; sycamore saplings are cut out, creating a glade with more light and space for planting more native trees.

cutting Holm oak above Poets' Walk coast path

cut Holm oak is dragged up from the path to make habitat piles

Poets’ Walk coastal path – cutting out invasive, non-native Holm oak with a pole saw and bow saws to remove competition with native limestone species for light and nutrients

cutting out invasive cherry plum suckers (Prunus cerasifera)

Salthouse Woods – cutting out suckers of naturalised, invasive cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera); reinstating missing woodland steps with new risers & tidying the whole flight

January 2020

prunings are cut up and stacked ready for burning

main entrance to the orchard cleared of fallen branches

Pruning at the Millennium Community Orchard to reduce tree height and overcrowding of branches, and to improve tree shape. A fallen elder is cleared from the entrance.

a willow coppiced (right); the other uncoppiced

A number of spindle and wayfaring trees are left uncut in the newly trimmed hedge. A few of the crack willows are coppiced to rejuvenate them and to combat willow scab.

Hazel coppicing in Quinney’s Wood. Hazels can be cut back on a 7-year rotation to provide a succession of habitat and to allow more sunlight to reach other trees and ground flora.

The New Year sees us return to Quinney’s Wood to continue cutting the top hedge.