Woodland Conservation Group (Tuesdays)

Tuesday, 20th January

Shepherdleas Wood

It was perfect weather for our first session of 2026 in Shepherdleas Wood - dry, sunny, with mild temperatures for January. Our ten eager volunteers included one new addition, who was warmly welcomed to this small, friendly group. Again, we focused on restoring and improving the woodland floor adjacent to the Red Path, and our volunteers beavered away to improve light and provide space for dormant bluebells and wood anemone to spread and flourish again.

Holly Removal

Side branches were removed, enabling us to reach the trunk and fell the tree.  Then cut material was lopped into smaller lengths and all the ends put together, making it easier for hedging volunteers to pick it up and insert it into the dead-hedging protecting the area. 

Tree Laying

Some hawthorn trees were ‘laid’.  Trunks were almost cut right through, leaving a very small section attached, before being carefully laid down on their side.  Small cuttings were taken and inserted into the ground beneath the laid trunk where they will root in and grow into shrubs.  In time, the combination of the laid tree and the cuttings will grow into a lovely, natural, flowering hawthorn hedge.

Demonstrating how to lay a tree

Ground Ivy

The woodland floor here is covered in a mass of ivy, rooted firmly into the ground despite the recent rain.  Volunteers set to, pulling some out and, hopefully, providing space for more diverse woodland vegetation to emerge.  The huge amount remaining will need to be thinned out further if we are to achieve our aims.

Thinning the deep-rooted ivy will make space for Wood Anemone and Bluebells.

Bluebells

Beneath the mass of fallen leaves that are breaking down on the woodland floor, some bluebells are already beginning to emerge!  Here’s hoping that the extra levels of light, plus the extra protection will lead to a wonderful show in spring.

Bluebells germinating in January!

Thinking Skills!

The session was over; the barrow was piled with tools but…our enthusiasm for protecting the area meant we hadn’t left enough space to wheel our barrow out!  The barrow was emptied, carefully lifted over the fallen tree, repacked and...

wheeled back through the woodland, across the Rochester Way, uphill past Oxleas Café to the Park’s Yard – a strenuous activity for our leader after a 3-hour session!   

Well don all. Until next month…