The Friends of Keeds Wood and The Brake
On a rainy Saturday in mid December we had our final Keeds Wood and Avon Wildlife Trust joint session. A group of hardy souls joined Julie and I as we made a plan for the future management for Keeds Wood.
A soggy morning
We started int he woods taking in the newly erected bat boxes before moving on to look at a patch of invasive winter heliotrope. The bright green heart shaped leaves were just starting to show so it was easy to see the extent and how the patch needs to be managed to ensure it does not keep spreading throughout the woodland.
Next we found our coppice patch started earlier in the year by the Keeds Wood Workers and scouts, and then later worked a little more by the local beavers and cubs. Here we had a chance to practice and/or share coppicing skills to get the area looking really smart.
Brian then explained to the group how we have been monitoring dormice in 2016 and the plans for 2017 monthly monitoring from April until October. Then Megan showed the group where we had sited our bird boxes and reminded us all of the plight of the Marsh Tit. Fingers crossed the new boxes make a difference to them.
Warming up and drying off
Feeling a little damp, and very hungry it was time to head down to the community centre for a well earned cuppa, lunch and mince pie
Making a plan
In the afternoon we were joined by the woodland owners and together the group with help from us at Avon Wildlife Trust made a plan for what next. There was loads of brilliant discussion around future coppicing and practical management, as well as ideas for events such as a dawn chorus walk and a bat evening. There are also plans afoot for a beautiful new sign at the entrance to help people find their way around and find out more about how they can join in with events and activities up at Keeds Wood and The Brake.
So much more was discussed and planned in such a short amount of time, there were so many brilliant ideas flying around. Julie and I left feeling a little nostalgic but really happy that we were handing over to such an enthusiastic and skilled group. All the best for 2017 gang!
We wish you all a very happy Christmas.
