Two adjacent parts of Hendall Wood are open, courtesy of Duncan & Bridget Ferns and Penny and Rich Hare.

Duncan & Bridget Ferns family bought their 52 acres in two-halves, the first in 2004 and the second in 2006.   It is Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) with a seasonal stream, carpets of anemones and bluebells, areas of orchids and many archaeological features surveyed by Wealden Iron Research Group (8 pits, 15 or so charcoal platforms and a couple of likely sawpits). The east end of the wood is coppiced sweet chestnut, split into 8 cants.

“We are now in the fourth year of coppicing cants of 0.5-1 acre.  Extraction has been by the low-impact ‘Iron Horse’ machine with caterpillar tracks, and mowing we use a BSC power-scythe, both of which we hope will be demonstrated.   Deer browsing is a serious issue, despite fencing, and deer management has started during 2011-12.   The majority of the woodland is being left as ‘wildwood’ of mature ash, hornbeam with beech and oak standards”.

Richard and Penny’s adjacent wood is the northern spur of Hendall wood and about 11 acres in size. The woodland shares a lot of the features and history of the main part of the wood (charcoal platforms and a sawpit) and is slowly being restored to a working wood.

“We have found mention of the wood as far back as the 1500’s, Hendall was one of the gateways to the Ashdown Forest, and derived from the word for a ‘hind’ presumably a hind deer.

We have been actively managing the wood for about 4 years now, coppicing and opening up a ride.  The main problem as with anywhere close to the Ashdown Forest is the pressure of deer numbers.  These have proved almost impossible to keep out of the newly coppiced cants, however they definitely have an order of preference for certain species.  Oak, hornbeam and hazel tends to get browsed the hardest, whilst chestnut and alder is left relatively unscathed”.

If you would like to attend the meeting, please email: tracy@woodlands.co.uk , full details will be sent out nearer the time.

2nd Phase of coppicing at Clan Wood - Nov 2011.

Many thanks Howard and Shirley Symonds of  Clan Wood, who have kindly offered to host a meeting at their wood in April.  They first mooted the  idea whilst attending a meeting last year at Julian Evans’ wood in Hampshire.  Howard has sent us a nice  introducton to the wood and some great photos. Don’t the bluebells seem a long way off, but actually it’s been such a strange mild winter, some of ours are already poking their tips through the leaf litter!

Please contact tracy@woodlands.co.uk if you would like to attend, detailed instructions will be sent out nearer the time.

Clan Wood is part of the East Hyden Wood and is part of a range of woodlands which is now in the South Downs National Park. It slopes gently to the south and is on clay with flint over chalk.  The wood contains hazel, ash and some mixed broadleaves.  The west side consists of a grass valley which has in the past been used as a shooting ride. The remainder of the wood is oak plantation and unthinned mixed broadleaves.  The area we are currently coppicing and forms part of our Management Plan is part of an area totalling 1.5ha. It is seriously overstood hazel and ash coppice with too many hazel, ash and birch standards and is being restored and managed on traditional lines.   The objective is to maintain the valley as grassland, bring the coppice into rotation and thin the plantation to improve the mix of trees. Some mature beech trees will be retained to become veterans.

Clan Wood - October 2011

View of the valley - Dec 2011

Bluebells at the top of the wood - May 2009

Many thanks to Howard and Shirley who will be hosting a SWOG event at Clan Wood on April 14th 2012.  Keep this date free in your diary, more details to follow.

If there is anyone else who would like to host a meeting in the new year, please contact tracy@woodlands.co.uk  It’s a great way to meet like minded people and get advice on how to manage your woodland.

Alvecote Wood comprises 11 acres of ancient oak woodland, together with 9 acres of newly-planted woodland, wildflower meadow and ponds.  Gina Rowe, Director of Living Landscapes at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust will be coming along to discuss landscape-scale conservation and how small woodland owners can work together with each other, with farmers and other organisations to provide the best environment for wildlife across a whole landscape. This can be demonstrated at Alvecote Wood by looking at the newly-planted Betty’s Wood and the way in which the site is being managed for wildlife in itself, and in conjunction with neighbouring wildlife areas.  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust can also talk about other landscape-scale conservation initiatives in the area.  Camping will be available on site, and Stephen and Sarah will also happily provide a walk and talk through the woods, discussing the management issues that have arisen since they took ownership in 2007.

More details to follow, but keep as space free in your diary for this.

Please note that this event has been postponed until 2012. Let Tracy know if you are interested to know more nearer the time.

There’s an exciting ‘Hands on’ coppicing  event  taking place at  Coppicewood College in 2012.

Bruce Lark tells us more…

Cwm Plygog Woods consist of about 11 acres of deciduous trees mostly, willow, sycamore, ash, hazel and hawthorne, with a perimeter of Doulas Fir consisting of a further 6 acres which we do not work.The Douglas fir borders the river Teifi a renown Welsh salmon river.The woodland was neglected previous to our tenure some 6 years ago since when we have been restoring about one acre per year. The work is done by volunteers and students.The woodland is fairly flat and has clear pathways that are easy to walk but they can get muddy in wet weather.We do have a compost toilet and a workshop with a log burner, there is also a covered area nearbye housing the pole lathes.

We plan a to devote the day to coppicing which will involve hands on experience for those keen to have a go.The day will be led by our Senior Instructor and naturalist Nick Barnes (Nick is also a volunteer and member of the management committee).Nick will explain the basics of coppicing, illustrate the hand tools their use and maintenance and about all the importance of this low impact approach to woodland Management.

We can accommodate up to 20 people and 10 cars parked along the track out side the woodland entrance and parking is possible in the village of Cilgerran just a 10 min walk away.
Refreshments – We can supply hot water and mugs for teas etc .Please bring lunch and snacks. Regret no facilities for cooking.

Dogs can come but must be on a lead at all times, remember we will be using sharp edge tools at times during the day. Most people who bring their dogs leave them in the car and take them for a walk up to the river on another track during lunchtime and this is preferable.

10:00 for 10:30 start finish around 3:00pm tea and coffee offered
The woodland address is:
Cwn Plysgog Woods
Cilgerran
Pembrokeshire.
SA44
For directions on how to find us go to: http://coppicewoodcollege.co.uk/how-to-find-us/ and download the PDF

Telephone number for the day will be 01239881394 before 9:30am and 07831 158346 after that time.
We are a charity and we would appreciate a donation on the day if people have enjoyed their visit.

Offered so far:

Hampshire, 22nd October, Julian Evans

Pembrokeshire TBC (Bruce)

Andy’s Alpaca Farm! ( with newly planted woodland)

Falkirk, Scotland TBC

Alvecote Wood (Sarah’s wood, Central) TBC

Mike’s wood ( I can’t remember where he is!) TBC

Keep an eye on this part of the website and I will keep updating it with dates and locations. More woodland walks needed, can you host a day? Email me if you can. tracy@woodlands.co.uk

Please have a browse in the swog meeting section of the website to see what is coming up in your area. If you are looking for dates to host a day, you might like to check that you are not going to clash with another day near you.

Please let me know if you are interested in any of the events or can suggest local speakers or people who could contribute to the day!

thanks

Tracy

tracy@woodlands.co.uk

Nick and his local FC officer are leading a walk around his wood in October.  The woodland is half semi ancient and half coniferous, and abundant in natural regeneration! There are deer, hare, squirrel (red and grey) and birds of prey.

Sounds like a great day out and I wish I did not live on the opposite end of the country, I would love to go along, how can you miss this one?

Please let me know soon if you are interested.

tracy@woodlands.co.uk

More details to follow, please keep the date free in your diary!