Woodland project
Robin Hall
Following the request for volunteers for the woodland regeneration project, there was an excellent response. The removal of the invasive rhododendron, laurel and bamboo is a huge task and I am encouraged by the offers of help with this. To get things moving there were two introductory sessions in November. We had a look around the woods and Philip Glyn, who has been working to restore native woodland for many years, gave a presentation on this topic. This gave us an insight of the history of woodland management in this area and a glimpse of what will occur when woodland is allowed to flourish in the absence of non-native invasive species and large herbivores.
Following these events, volunteers were invited to an inaugural workday to make a start on the tasks. This took place on the 11th of December and a good number of folks arrived to help clear in the woods. I have now felled a part of the main stand of laurel and there is a large amount of material on the ground. These branches will be removed to a fire site at the edge of the woods and folk were able to make a start on this. A project like this is inevitably a long-term vision for regeneration and it is hoped that a group will form who share a fascination with natural processes and plant life. Once the woods are protected from browsing, this will allow the growth of many species of seedlings, and we will soon start to see the true diversity of plants and trees that lie dormant under the dense canopy of invasive species. I would like to thank all those who have expressed support and an active interest in this project, and I look forward to more progress in the new year!
