Progress Report Season 2020/21
AUTUMN/WINTER ACTIVITIES:
A short stop/start season in which we were only able to work during October and December due to national covid-19 restrictions. We managed to hold our Christmas work party but restrictions imposed shortly after curtailed our ability to work for the rest of the winter.
Even so, 11 of the 17 jobs identified for the season were completed.
We worked in small teams of a maximum of six volunteers in order to comply with government restrictions imposed at the time.
WORK PARTY STATISTICS:
Work party statistics were largely irrelevant this year due to the very short season, but average attendances were pretty much in line with last year’s figures.
The number of active members was also very similar with 36 recorded over the season (down from 38 last year), including four youngsters doing their D of E volunteering.
There were 4 Saturday work parties equating to 67 ‘person mornings’ and an average turnout of 17.9 members (average slightly down on last year)
There were 4 midweek work parties this season equating to 41 ‘person mornings’ and an average turnout of 10.2 members (average slightly up on last year).
PROGRESS MADE:
The rustic bench was installed in its new location in Joel Park.
Yellow archangel bashing was begun in compartment 3.
A new drainage ditch was constructed at the lower end of Connaught Avenue over two sessions.
Maintenance was carried out in compartments 3, 6 and 1a (last year’s coppice) removing bramble and holly re-growth. Dead hedges were also repaired around compartment 1a to deter footfall and trampling of bluebells in the spring.
The log piles in compartment 7b (behind the play area) were tidied up after being dismantled and scattered over the summer. Some more laurel and holly was cut back.
Hazel coppicing was started in compartment 7a with some holly and laurel removed. Fallen timber and brushwood left by tree surgeons over the summer was stacked and incorporated into a dead hedge.
One session was spent clearing the regrowth of willow scrub and brambles on Connaught Avenue in Joel Park. Clearance of a large patch of brambles around an old stump at the top of the Avenue was begun.
Three red oaks were planted in Connaught Avenue and four English oaks in The Copse.
The young oak trees on Holt Lane were pruned.
Both hedges alongside Jubilee Avenue were trimmed down to head height and repaired where tree surgeons had felled a large birch tree causing damage.
The recently planted hedge alongside the “Bermuda Triangle” was partially weeded.
The annual nest box survey was once again carried out over several sessions outside of regular work parties (see separate report).
A short stop/start season in which we were only able to work during October and December due to national covid-19 restrictions. We managed to hold our Christmas work party but restrictions imposed shortly after curtailed our ability to work for the rest of the winter.
Even so, 11 of the 17 jobs identified for the season were completed.
We worked in small teams of a maximum of six volunteers in order to comply with government restrictions imposed at the time.
WORK PARTY STATISTICS:
Work party statistics were largely irrelevant this year due to the very short season, but average attendances were pretty much in line with last year’s figures.
The number of active members was also very similar with 36 recorded over the season (down from 38 last year), including four youngsters doing their D of E volunteering.
There were 4 Saturday work parties equating to 67 ‘person mornings’ and an average turnout of 17.9 members (average slightly down on last year)
There were 4 midweek work parties this season equating to 41 ‘person mornings’ and an average turnout of 10.2 members (average slightly up on last year).
PROGRESS MADE:
The rustic bench was installed in its new location in Joel Park.
Yellow archangel bashing was begun in compartment 3.
A new drainage ditch was constructed at the lower end of Connaught Avenue over two sessions.
Maintenance was carried out in compartments 3, 6 and 1a (last year’s coppice) removing bramble and holly re-growth. Dead hedges were also repaired around compartment 1a to deter footfall and trampling of bluebells in the spring.
The log piles in compartment 7b (behind the play area) were tidied up after being dismantled and scattered over the summer. Some more laurel and holly was cut back.
Hazel coppicing was started in compartment 7a with some holly and laurel removed. Fallen timber and brushwood left by tree surgeons over the summer was stacked and incorporated into a dead hedge.
One session was spent clearing the regrowth of willow scrub and brambles on Connaught Avenue in Joel Park. Clearance of a large patch of brambles around an old stump at the top of the Avenue was begun.
Three red oaks were planted in Connaught Avenue and four English oaks in The Copse.
The young oak trees on Holt Lane were pruned.
Both hedges alongside Jubilee Avenue were trimmed down to head height and repaired where tree surgeons had felled a large birch tree causing damage.
The recently planted hedge alongside the “Bermuda Triangle” was partially weeded.
The annual nest box survey was once again carried out over several sessions outside of regular work parties (see separate report).