Tree Planting, Richmond Park, Saturday January 17th, 2015

Over the last four years, the Environment Trust has worked with Richmond Park to clear Sidmouth Wood of invasive rhododendron plants. Several hundred volunteers have participated, including corporate volunteers from Cisco, and groups of children and teachers from the Challenge Network and Marymount International School. 

Most of the woodland is closed to the public to minimise disturbance to the wildlife, but the so-called ‘Driftway’ through the middle of the wood is open to the public. In late 2014, contractors cleared some of the largest rhododendron plants from this area. The results are dramatic and quite surprising to anyone who was familiar with the woodland prior to the work being carried out.

To aid the recovery of the woodland, and to increase the species richness, the Environment Trust’s volunteers spent the morning planting a range of species: oak, ash, rowan, field maple, elder, dog rose, crab apple, hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel.

While the trees will take some time to grow, and no doubt many will not survive to maturity, the Driftway is certain to green up when spring arrives and dormant seed material germinates. There will no doubt be plenty of rhododendron seedlings to remove, a task that will keep volunteers busy for years to come.

This area used to be filled with large rhododendron plants. 

Volunteers, including a group of sea scouts, helped plant the area with native trees and shrubs. 

Several hundred new whips were planted. 

Despite a flurry of snow, the weather cooperated.

This is what the path used to look like. Although slightly magical, it is not much good for native wildlife.

 

 

Hazel Coppicing and Hedge Management at Tolworth Brook Berrylands, January 3rd, 2015

Our first outing of 2015 was to a favourite small woodland alongside the Tolworth Brook in Berrylands.

Since 2012, we have returned to the woodland to carry out the traditional practice of coppicing, in order to improve the woodland for wildlife, and to make use of the woodland products for fencing.

The team of volunteers ignored the persistent rain, and got stuck into the task of coppicing the hazel trees, and creating a dead hedge with the materials, and then planting hawthorn whips to create a living hedge.

Now the woodland is starting to look like a real coppice, with trees of different ages, and is full of wildlife. Bluebells were just staring to emerge, a sure sign that spring isn't that far away, even though Christmas has only just finished. 

Elliot gets to work creating a usable pole from a hazel tree. 

Chris and Jed make use of the poles to create the dead hedge. 

The two Johns create their own pile of poles.

Finally, we have a real coppice coupe. 

And, an excellent-looking dead hedge providing wildlife habitat and an extra layer of security for homeowners.