dynamic

Summer is here, and we had perfect weather for our work party today. We were very pleased to have help from 6 members of the 4th West Bridgford scout troop, together with leaders. Now that the paths are dry, it was an ideal opportunity to spread more of our newly-acquired high quality wood chip, and the scouts set to work doing this with great enthusiasm. A substantial part of the central section of the main path was treated. In addition, regular  Friends inspected many of the whips planted during recent winters, cutting back some of the competing vegetation and retrieving canes and guards from some of the more established specimens. Finally, measurements were made in preparation for ordering fencing materials for two of the gaps in the boundary.

After poor conditions at some of the winter work parties, with the need to cancel a couple, we at last had a nice day, even though fairly cool and breezy on the west side. The 9 volunteers focused on path maintenance work. Phil led a team doing path edging on the remaining stretch of the main path, a little north of the wood chip pile. A total of about 58 metres was completed, although some of the poles and stakes were already in place and just required wiring down.

This is the start of a regular check of our resident and visiting bird population to see how they are being supported by the wood in 2013.

Each survey shows areas of the wood where particular bird species were seen and/or heard. There is no attempt to count individuals, so some of the coloured dots might represent more than one bird (e.g., there might be a female in the vicinity of a singing male). Also some dots could represent the same bird, because the bird has moved or because it is unclear where a call comes from.

Plans for the work party were changed at the last minute because of the arrival of about 150 hazel and 50 hawthorn whips from BTC, ready for planting. With the help of a handful of 3rd West Bridgford scouts accompanied by a leader and a parent, we succeeded in planting all the whips in some open spaces with reasonable light, mainly in the north-west, north end and west central areas. This left some time for the scouts to help spreading wood chip on the very muddy incline between the kissing gate and the wood chip pile.

Sharphill Wood nest box usage 2012

(based on survey January 2013 by John Elwell, Rod Jones, Joyce Malmo, Phil Miller, Richard Steer)

The third annual nest box survey took place over week commencing 27/01/13, a big thank you goes to all those who took part.

Please see the attatched  nest box survey 2012.

Today was damp but the rain mostly held off whilst we were working. Seven of us focused on clearing the sycamore and Norway Maple saplings that compete aggressively for space light and food, to the detriment of other species (see Autumn newsletter on the website). That is very satisfying work as it is not too heavy and you can see instant results. And as Notts Wildlife point out regeneration of the understorey is very quick to follow. We put in a total of 32 hours doing that, coppicing rangy shrubs, removing litter and replacing a leaflet holder that had been burnt. Saplings will be used for completing path edging.