Down at Pondhead enclosure, the Bluebells are coming on thick and fast.
Chainsaw Coppice April19
F2
Coppiced stool with a couple of whips left for layering. These bendy branches will be bent down and pegged to the ground to form new hazel stools (still not done yet!)
A very big blackthorn
Oak tree. Pondhead Trust lease the understory. The big beach and oaks are the responsibility of the Forestry Commission (even the dead ones)
This is the hazel stool my coat was hanging on in the January scene. The stool has been cut to the ground, but one rod has been left to support the tennex fencing that keep the deer out.
No bluebells have been seen here for at least 20 years, but let some light in and ta-daa!
Extra stakes added to hold the fencing up
This is the blackthorn, we left this as it is good for biodiversity (birds). It's looking healthy
Chainsaw Coppice Jan19
F2
Timber for Charcoal
Still to be coppiced
A lesser spotted coppice worker
More wood for charcoal
Coppiced stool with a couple of whips left for layering. These bendy branches will be bent down and pegged to the ground to form new hazel stools
Flat fans of brush with weighty logs on top for pea sticks.
Can't see clearly, but this is blackthorn, we leave this as it is good for biodiversity (birds)
This is a Blackthorn, I think. It's the biggest one I've ever seen
Teleport over to the Hand coppice
Coppiced stool with single rod left at edge of coppice for tenex fencing
Brash for burning
Anyone want a prog? a long stick with a forked end, to hold up their washing line.
£2.50
Binders. straight(ish) whippy rods 12 foot long. Bought by hedge-layers to bind the top of the hedge
Coppiced stool with single rod left at edge of coppice for tenex fencing. (Also convenient coat hook)
Oak tree. Pondhead Trust lease the understory. The big beach and oaks are the responsibility of the Forestry Commission (even the dead ones)
Click on the box on the right to go full screen, then use the arrows on the left to see what it looked like when we cut it in January.
More can be found about Pondhead and the work of the volunteers here: http://www.pondheadconservation.org.uk/