'Keeds Wood Workers' is born
On Saturday it was time to get physical in the woods at last. After a summer of fun and exploration we were ready to sink our teeth into something, something that involved tools, coppicing!
Coppicing is an ancient form of woodland management, that involves repetitive felling on the same stump, near to ground level, and allowing the shoots to regrow from that main stump. Wood grows rapidly as there is a fully developed root system already under the ground to support new growth. As the way we use woodlands and harvest timber has changed coppicing in woodlands has drastically declined.
Many broad-leaved woodland trees react well to being coppiced, for example oak, ash, willow, field maple and sweet chestnut. But here is Keeds Wood we are focusing on hazel. so we started our day by making sure we could all identify the different trees in Keeds Wood and most importantly hazel trees. At this time of year finding leaves to study was easy as all the different shapes and colors were under our feet, and the downy, round hazel leaves were easy to spot amongst the beech, alder, sycamore, field maple and ash to name just a few.
Everyone worked really hard to make perfect disco ball coppice stools. And it wasn't long before we could see sky where previously it was dark right down to the woodland floor.
When a new coppice panel is cut more light reaches the woodland floor. This results in a change in plant life. At first there is a surge of growth from plants which have been lying patently, waiting for this moment in the sun. In two to three years time we hope to see in this spot spring flowers such as bluebells and wood anemones coming into their own. These plants and sunny glades attract invertebrates such as butterflies, spiders and beetles. These in tern attract more birds to the area. Small mammals also love these areas of coppiced woodland and we hope any dormice in the area will be pleased. Fingers crossed for some evidence of them living in the woods next spring.
Over lunch there was a lot of excited talk about the possibility of woodland management in Keeds Wood next year and the group came up with the perfect name - The Keeds Wood Workers.
The afternoon continued to be productive as more shouts of 'timber' could be heard thick and fast. All the cut material was made into very smart dead hedges and wood piles, perfect for invertebrates and fungi to colonize.
Next month will see the final input from Avon Wildlife Trust as we make a plan together for what next. We very much hope the Keeds wood Workers will become the custodians of the wood, managing it where and when needed, but also providing a link between the community and the owners. If you would like to join us in the 10th December to find out more about the woodland and the future plans please do, and let anyone else who might be interested know too. The details can be found here
Thanks to everyone; members of the community, scouts and volunteers who braved the midges and made saturday such a success.
