Special Volunteering Day - Barclays

Friday, 13th February, 2026

Oxleas Wood

Despite all the recent rain and the inauspicious date, Friday the 13th started out dry enough and not too cold. With everyone wrapped up well, we were all ready to welcome a team of 14 taking part in this Special Volunteering Day for Barclays.

Once introductions were over, equipment handed out and health and safety discussed, we were off to the coppicing area in Oxleas Wood to get down to work.  Activities were explained and volunteers chose which one they would like to start with.

Gear on and ready for action!

Tree Pulling and Brambling - one group started by clearing brambles from a new section in the coppicing area - a very sociable activity where people could chat freely as they worked. Soon, our marvellous tree-popper was introduced to remove holly saplings and some of the bramblers changed activity. This activity certainly was a popular choice throughout the day.

Fence Building - Another very popular activity was the fence building, which attracted the largest number of volunteers of all.  This involved axing the ends of posts to a point, banging them into the ground with the post hat, then filling the gap between posts with waste wood from the coppicing - an energetic activity - good exercise for the arms and core. The group will likely be feeling it tomorrow!  Best of all, volunteers demonstrated both the strength of the completed fence and its usefulness as a resting place, by sitting on it for a photo!

 Posts in two parallel rows are filled with waste wood. Hey Presto - it's finished! Great job!

Coppicing - Small groups of volunteers were taught the process of coppicing then supported while they worked.  They all had to keep their wits about them as they learnt how to: assess potential hazards; use a pruning saw; make the right kinds of cuts to leave a clean and healthy ‘stool’.  Great effort, great progress and a great sense of achievement from all who tried this!

Lunchtime - Before we knew it, it was time to eat, and our volunteers trooped off uphill to Oxleas Cafe for some sustenance.  Halfway through lunch, the skies darkened and, yes you’ve guessed, the heavens opened and the rain pelted down.  While most were in the warm, dry cafe, two of our regular volunteers were on site, protecting the tools and, of course, they got a soaking.  However, the rain did not deter many of the volunteers who returned to continue the activities, though a few less hardy ones decided to call it a day rather than continue in the rain.

By the end of the session, those who wanted to try out different activities had done so, while others had preferred to stick with the same one, but the end result is that the woodland floor is clearer, lighter, and ready for another coppicing session, plus some of the waste has been put to good use.  Future coppicing sessions will now have a place to stop for tea!

Organising these sessions with the Barclays team is rewarding in many ways: we meet new volunteers and welcome back others who’ve volunteered before; the extra labour helps us improve the woodlands a little quicker than we otherwise would; and importantly, the company makes a much welcomed donation to the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands which helps us buy essential tools/equipment needed to carry on protecting and conserving the woodlands.

Thank you to the team from Barclays, and thanks also to our volunteer leaders who give up their own time so willingly.