February Worky Day

Seventeen volunteers turned out for today's Worky Day.  Picking up work on the net rides that was started during Thursday's volunteer day, one of the first jobs was to move the large amount of brash that had already been created in cutting back the trees alongside the net rides.

The Thursday volunteers had made a significant impression on the cutting back, with three of the net rides full of cuttings.  Once the fire had been started, these were all collected to feed the fire.

After the work on those rides had been completed it became more obvious that this area of Willow Carr had been heavily colonised by Birch so many of these trees in the immediate area around the rides were also cut down.  Leaving them to grow through would eventually completely change the character of the woodland, losing one of the most important woodland types in the area.

At the end of the day, the net rides were clear of cut material and the fire had died down sufficiently to have the unburnt wood around the edge turned in to the middle and left to die down.

Although the weather hadn't been as bad as was forecast, many thanks are due to all the volunteers who turned out on a wet and grey day.  We achieved a lot and those net rides and the Willow Carr are looking much better for their efforts.  Work on other net rides will be continuing in the next weeks.