Woodland Conservation Group - SHWWP

Oxleas Wood

Saturday, 8th November, 2025

This weekend’s session marked an amazing milestone in the history of the Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party.   It is exactly 30 years this week since the very first woodland conservation session took place in the woodlands!  

Even more impressive is that Laurie Baker, one of its members from day one, continues to run sessions, as well as sitting on the committee of The Friends of Oxleas Woodlands.  His valuable contribution helps us to maintain our focus of protecting and restoring these valuable ancient woodlands.

An impressive 30 Years of Volunteering by Laurie!

Saturday was one of those beautiful autumn days - mild temperatures, a bright sky and best of all dry - the perfect day for woodland conservation work.  And, for Laurie, it ran like any other session - getting volunteers signed in, a friendly introduction, health and safety matters dealt with, then onto the work in hand.

At this time of the year, it’s always necessary to ensure the water courses are clear, to prevent pathways flooding.  The day was perfect for our 19 volunteers to clear the piles of dried leaves from the bottom of the ditch, dig a channel in the mulch, rake leaves from the edges of the stream bank and disperse them discretely in a place where they are unlikely to blow straight back in! 

This important work prevents the accumulation of soil and silt at the bottom of the stream-beds (caused by the natural decomposition processes) which then gets washed downstream, creating blockages in the narrow culverts beneath bridges.  Many leaves remain on the trees so we will be back for another session soon, clearing debris, unblocking drains and continuing the good work generally. 

Keeping the channels clear.

Many thanks to Laurie for everything he has done throughout the years to protect the woodlands.

Thanks everyone!