Wind in the Willows

Frozen ground provided an ideal opportunity to work in one of the boggiest areas of the reserve. The Willow Carr is always wet and soon becomes a muddy work site. Fifteen volunteers worked in pairs all morning to cut the stems of the willow down to ground level.

This patch of Willow was cleared of scrub last winter which made the coppicing task a lot easier.

Using bow saws and loppers, the stools were cut at a slight angle to shed the rain away from the tree trunk.

Some of the trees were pollarded rather than coppiced to help create a variety of height. Ken and Eddy enjoyed demonstrating the different techniques!

Students from the Dales School joined in with the volunteers and cut the brash into smaller pieces for the fire.

By the end of the day a huge amount of work had been completed. It will be interesting to return in the Spring to see the new growth on the coppiced stools and to watch the wildflowers flourish in the warm Spring sunshine.