Feeling Chipper!

With continuing Ash Dieback works, the amount of brash to deal with is ever increasing. Instead of burning all of the branches on bonfires, where possible, some of it is being made into woodchips.

With this in mind, on Saturday, some of the staff and volunteers attended a LANTRA course in how to use a woodchipper. The training course was organised by KNW and the morning was spent in the classroom to learn about the health and safety legislation and appropriate PPE (pink boots included). Next, the team looked at how the machines work by looking inside a Forst TR6 (on hire from Mason Woodchippers.)

A tracked machine is necessary to move around the narrow pathways on the reserve.

It takes a bit of getting used to!

As the driver cannot see the tracks they have to rely on a 'spotter' to help them navigate the bends and turns. It is a good job that the Foxglove volunteers trust each other!

Once in place and after a demonstration on how to use the woodchipper safely, it was time to have a go.

Well done to everyone who took part (all of the candidates passed). Thank you too for all of your hard work and time spent since the course turning this…

...into this!

As always, your help is extremely valued.