Thurlby Wood – a 100-acre area of ancient woodland near Gainsborough, with
trees including silver birch, ash, and hazel, and lots of birds. When we
visited this privately owned wood in December, it was after a very wet and
windy night, but we were lucky and the weather cleared by early morning to
give us a bright, clear day.
This time, we had another beautiful day. After a frosty start, it was warm
and sunny, and completely still. Birdsong filled the air. It was a perfect
day for a conservation workday and 16 of us gathered to help, with some new
people joining us for the first time.
Our task was to plant over 200 hazels, and about 50 plants each of goat
willow and Wych elm. All are native plants and provide excellent food
sources and habitats for insects, which in turn will attract more birds.
We coppiced some existing hazels; this provided stakes for the new trees but
it also benefits the plants as they will produce more stems and young growth
beneficial to wildlife.
And then we planted the young trees in several areas of the wood. In future
years, the hazels will be coppiced, ensuring plenty of low storey plants
throughout the wood.
Given that woodland management often means removing trees, it was an
enjoyable change for us to be planting instead, in this lovely, peaceful
wood.
Jude
More pictures available on the LCG Picasa website