Seven woodland wonderheroes made it out today. Ian, Reece, Steve, Andrew, Matt, Martin, and Paul. The mission was to start at The Bear Bridge and push southwards by about 150 metres.

What we are trying to do is thin out the trees so that we have a good mix of mature upright specimens with nothing competing around them. We also want to get rid of the overhang so that sunlight can hit the ground and encourage wildflowers to grow.

This is what we started with.

It’s all way too dense, and this is why the trees are thin and growing at funny angles as they all fight for the light.

We need the trees to be about 3 metres apart so that they can grow slowly and upright, and put on a decent load of girth.

And don’t get me started on the stumps. They should be in a hedge.

We set about trying to chop and thin with our Zubat saws.

It really feels no different until you go back a day or so later, and you then notice how much more airy it seems.

At half-time, we broke for hot coffee and bacon batches.

It was just what we needed, after having to warm up the butane gas canister for ten minutes before it would work. I had the thing under my armpit, between my legs and any other warm place until it finally burst into life to cook the bacon.

The high stumps had to go. I know that they are left like that so as not to be a trip hazard, but aesthetically, they just don’t work. Especially when they start sprouting new shoots.

Next week, we can drill a load of holes into the fresh cuts, and hopefully, rainwater and insects burrowing inwards will help the things to rot down.

As we worked away today, I was wondering if this was the first week of Winter? Or is it the Winter Solstice (21st December) that signifies the start of the Winter season?

Personally, I prefer going for the later date. Saying that Spring starts on the 1st March is obviously the construct of man, not nature, and nothing really starts growing until April, anyway.

One last thing to mention. We are now pretty much at capacity as a group. The last “slot” has been taken, although that person has not yet started with us quite yet. The reason that we kinda have to have a limit is that there will not be enough tools to go around, which means people will be fighting over what we have, or standing around with nothing to do.

Dunchurch Bridleway

It was just Dave and me this week, and we got to the end. Bang on target.

We’ve had to be super-sensitive on this 80-metre section. There’s a house adjacent to the path, although quite away from it, and we don’t want to upset anyone by spoiling the view at the bottom of their garden. We will just maintain the path width and not worry too much about the height of the scrub to the sides.

We broke for coffee and biscuits.

My most favourite biscuits in the world, so a real treat for me!

Next time we are back at the start, trying to release more of the veteran trees as we push through for a second time.

Remember that these two paths are connected and become part of a lovely circular walk that takes in Cawston Spinney.

Fungi Feature

Today we are looking at scarlet elfcup. As its name suggests it is a bright red, cup-shaped fungus. It can be seen in late winter and early spring in damp shady areas on fallen twigs or branches – often hazel, elm or willow.

It isn’t a very common fungus – so an exciting one if you spot it (hint – just south of The Bear Bridge).

Scientific name: Sarcoscypha austriaca

How to identify: Rounded, regular-shaped fruiting bodies that look like cups; they have a bright scarlet and smooth inner surface. The outer surface is pale pink and covered in tiny hairs. The cup has a very short stem.

Where to spot: Woodland

When to spot: January to April

Did you know? The ruby elfcup is very similar in appearance to the scarlet elfcup. There’s no physical difference. You can only tell them apart by microscopy (tiny fine hairs are the difference).

Well, that’s about it for this week. Thanks for reading if you got this far. Next week is pretty much the same as we try to tame this really gnarly and unloved 300 metres of the path; however, we do have our Christmas lunch at The Bear Pub afterwards, so we are all looking forward to that.

Until next time!

Paul