Wonderful winter workers!

We held a wet, but very enjoyable Winter Worky Day here at Foxglove on Sunday 10th December. Despite the constant damp (and our ongoing lack of facilities!) 16 people turned up to help with one of the biggest jobs undertaken here in the winter season.

Coppicing willow (cutting low to the ground, to keep the tree in a juvenile state) is done on an area rotation, enabling varied age structure to develop within our extensive willow carr. Where willow has just been coppiced, the ground is open to the sky, allowing seeds to germinate and an understory of wildflowers to flourish. This in turn provides food for pollinators and the birds that feed on them. Older areas of coppice can provide shelter, shade and nest sites.

With one of the largest areas of willow carr in Swaledale, it's important to make good progress early in the winter - and that's exactly what Sunday's group managed to achieve. Many thanks to all who gave their time to help us out - I just hope you've dried out by now!