Woodland Conservation Group - Fridays

Jack Wood - Wildflower Rescue

Friday, 31st October 2025

On Friday, our hardy Woodland Conservation Volunteers gathered in the morning drizzle ready for our session, not wanting to miss an opportunity to get into the woodlands and make a difference.  This time we were moving on from the large wildflower area near Jackwood Garden to a smaller area at the opening to Lower Path in Jack Wood from Oxleas Meadow ,which we began restoring over a year ago.  

Getting to work clearing the holly!

We selected this area for some work in Spring 2024 following the discovery of several small clumps of wildflowers, including native bluebells and wood anemones, both ancient woodland indicator species.  When a closer look did not reveal many specimens, and huge areas of the woodland floor with no vegetation at all, we looked around and noticed two main causes. 

The tree canopy, high above us, was closed, and the surrounding area was dominated by towering holly trees, numerous holly saplings, a great deal of scrub holly, and a couple of sprawling cherry laurel shrubs.  Sufficient light wasn’t reaching the woodland floor and we knew exactly what was needed! 

So, last winter, our volunteers carried out the stage one; clearing the small shrubby holly, and brambles, from the woodland floor and building a small, protective dead hedge on the edge of the path to prevent trampling.  Then we crossed our fingers and waited for spring to see what happened.   And…we were rewarded!  Not only was there an improved show of bluebells, but there was a much larger array of ground vegetation generally, in places around the edges - perfect for attracting pollinating insects; that could only be a good thing.  

On Friday, we returned to this lovely area to continue our work to improve light levels and extend the area in which the vegetation could spread - all by carrying out one activity – clearing a huge stand of holly which was right in the middle of the restoration area.  We were just in time as well, as many of the lower holly branches were reaching down and had already rooted into the soil beneath.  Although a pretty damp session overall, one benefit of the rain was it helped with the clearance of this young holly which could be pulled up - roots and all!

The first picture shows the holly stand in the centre before we started, whilst the second photo shows it at the end of the session. The area is now so much lighter but, as you will see, there is still another huge stand of holly on the right.

We will be back in this area next session, finishing off the work that we have started and we will be topping up our dead hedges with the brash, as usual.   Again, we will watch and wait, with fingers and toes crossed and, hopefully, come spring 2026, we will see the area transformed from a dark, shrubby area, with little-to-no vegetation, to a lighter, open area with plenty of grasses, garlic mustard and many other woodland floor plants as well as an increased show of bluebells and wood anemone.