Our Woodland Diary
We recently became the proud, if slightly anxious, owners of 12.5 acres of mixed deciduous woodland. It is typical for the area, a combination of chestnut coppice understory and oak canopy. Unfortuately it has been badly neglected and we hope to bring it back to its former glory.
I expect our antics in these woods will end up covering many years and all seasons, so I'm keeping an informal diary of sorts here.
Woodland Flora and Fauna
Each and every time we visit we spot something new, whether a new fungus, a different flower
or simply the way the trees change through the seasons. Today the fungi took charge - everywhere you
looked a different, alien looking, mushroom was sprouting. All colours from pale lime green to deep purple.
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Woodland Management
We intend to manage the woods in a way that promotes diversity and vigor, not just in the trees but the whole ecosystem. Currently the woods are very dark, having not been felled in over 30 years. The traditional cycle of coppice management should give a patchwork, rich in variety, as sections of coppice are felled sequentially each year.
Letting in light promotes a burst of growth at the forest floor, encouraging wildflowers, insects and other species. By carefully reinstating the coppice cycle, and thinning some of the densest oaks we hope to restore the woods to their full glory, and hopefully have some interesting experiences along the way.
Felling is currently on hold while we produce a management plan and apply to the Forestry
Commission for a felling licence. This should come in time for the winter, which is the ideal time
to coppice. The leaves are down and the stumps burst back to life in the spring.
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Woodland Activities
Unspoilt woodland is great for just hanging out in, but there are loads of interesting activities
you can do. Some suit all ages, while others it helps to have a few tools. This morning I carved a
simple wooden spoon from a nice piece of silver birch.
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Have you done something great and enjoyable in the woods recently?
If you love the outdoors you probably have some great stories of times spent in woodland, or great woodland activities for children and adults alike.
If you have something to share, or a suggestion for something we might try in Elfric Wood, please share them!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Heavy Horse Work
A few years back we visited a local wood which needed thinning out. Instead of getting in the tractors and getting the job done at speed, whilst damaging ...
February In The Woods - 2011 - Part 1 - Pitching The Parachute
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Half term came around and we finally got out to the woods for a decent chunk of time. We spent three nights camping, cooking, walking the woods, sitting ...
An interesting site...
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I just stumbled on an interesting site. Ran Prieur has bought a piece of damaged and neglected land and is using his knowledge of permaculture principals ...
