Today, our volunteers made a return visit to the National Trust's Osterley Park and to the M4 Wood. According to the BBC's Reel History of Britain, the Home Guard was created at Osterley Park in 1940, and was featured in a programme aired on February 26th 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014r143.
Our task was to continue removing cherry laurel trees, which if left to their own devices will negatively impact the wood as they grow vigorously in the absence of anything that feeds on them, and also they shade out native plants. The other task was to continue removing redundant tree guards, most of which have now been collected, and many reused here and elsewhere. Twenty hazel whips were also planted amongst the existing trees to improve the species and age diversity of this small patch of woodland.
The M4 Wood is coming back to life as the effects of the mild winter are felt.
Previously cut laurel is starting to rot, although it's a slow process with this species.
We'll need to check next year to ensure no cuttings have re-rooted.
Phil tackles a particularly large plant, with the noisy M4 in the background.
Unfortunately, where laurel trees have been removed, we're now finding laurel seedlings starting to germinate. At least these are easier to remove by hand weeding. Field maple seedlings were also observed, not to be confused with sycamore.
An un-germinated laurel seed.
A hawthorn tree which has swallowed up a tree guard. Tree guards left on trees too long, tend to encourage wood-loving insects such as woodlice and beetles, which in turn can result in the death of a young tree. This one seems ok, if a little deformed.
Early-flowering cow parsley.
Red dead-nettle.
Volunteers were treated to Taiwanese Sunmerry crispy butter cakes brought all the way from the famous Yongkang Street (永康街) in Taipei. Sorry about the excessive packaging!
We find some funny things during our projects, but this has to be one of the creepiest finds - 'If you go down in the woods today your sure of a big surprise ...'
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