Welcome to our second monthly newsletter – keeping you up to date on Woodland matters.
Acorns Everywhere!
Acorns Everywhere!You may have noticed that this year has been a bumper year for acorns. This is known as a “mast year”. We have been collecting acorns to use as a natural food source for Jays and Squirrels later in the year when other food sources have dried up. Both animals have a habit of burying acorns and sometimes forget where they have hidden them. This helps the spread of oak trees across our woodland.
Dark Woods
Dark WoodsThe Dark Woods regeneration project is starting on Monday 20th October. It will involve the removal of the existing mature and windblown sitka spruce. Equipment and machinery will be arriving shortly. We expect the felling work to take 3-4 weeks, with timber extraction and haulage from site completed by Christmas. We are working closely with our contractor to minimise damage to paths and other sensitive areas, and will be reinstating and replanting the site in due course. Please avoid the area if possible and observe all safety signs and advice from operatives and volunteers.
There is more detail on the project on the dedicated website here (created by TreeStory). If you require any further information then get in touch at woodland@ccdt.org.uk
Kindling question
We recently sent out an invite to our firewood subscribers to see if they would be interested in purchasing kindling (thin pieces of fire wood used to help start your fire). We have had a positive response with 87% of people definitely interested. If you would be interested in purchasing kindling (or firewood) then please access the questionnaire below or simply email logs@ccdt.org.uk.
The Yew Hedge
The Yew HedgeThe buttressed yew hedge in the walled garden is soon to be trimmed to a height of 5 feet in order to promote regrowth at a lower level. It has been neglected for nearly a century. It must have been a spectacular feature and would have needed regular pruning by the team of gardeners to look like the one pictured!