Woodland Conservation Group (Fridays)

Oxleas Wood

19th June 2026

Beating the Heat with a Fantastic Team Effort

The weather forecast certainly got it right! We were promised a very hot, sunny, and humid day, and that's exactly what we got. So, it was completely understandable that some volunteers decided it was simply too hot to join the session. Looking after ourselves in extreme weather is always important. What was amazing was that an incredible 17 volunteers turned up ready to help and make a difference.

A new volunteer - learning to use a tree-popper.

Volunteers worked in two main groups:

The first group used the tree-pullers and mattocks to remove invasive saplings from the woods. As usual, the main activities were aimed at providing light to the woodland floor, as well as creating space for other vegetation to grow, hopefully, in time, improving biodiversity.

Using a mattock to dig out the rhododendron roots.

Rhododendron is an invasive species which, although attractive when in flower, casts shade over the woodland floor beneath it, preventing native woodland floor vegetation from growing.

The second group got to work quickly on partially clearing an area where dead wood had been moved into a huge pile. It is always disheartening to see any large branches of dead wood removed from the area in which they fell (unless they are a danger to walkers) as they provide a home to the many living creatures which help the woodland ecology. However, so many branches had been moved and, in one area, a large number had been very tightly bound together with tape, wire and string. It was quite a task disassembling them, even with a very sharp knife!

When spending time in the woods, the aim should always be to avoid any damage to the environment and to leave the area the same as you found it so flora, fauna and fungi can flourish. So, the group spent a fair amount of time dismantling the branches and dispersing them across the woodland floor before moving on to clearing bracken, which is spreading throughout the woodlands.

Bracken is spreading, preventing other floor vegetation from growing.

Regular hydration breaks, a longer mid-way break and a slower approach to activities was the order of the day and the efforts of the volunteers are greatly appreciated.

A weary group had a good long break in the shade.

A huge thank you to all 17 volunteers who joined us. That was another 50 volunteer hours dedicated to the woodlands.

Here's hoping for slightly cooler temperatures next time!