Last Winter Worky Day of the Season

When we need the extra push to get to the end of our winter habitat works we can always rely on our dedicated volunteers and a Winter Worky Day to provide that effort. It has been a really big winter workload with the Willow Coppice Block, Hazel Avenue and Risedale Beck Bank, in addition to the usual maintenance, etc. and thankfully the volunteers have enabled us to keep up. Today's workload was based around tidying up and finishing off for the coming season, so that meant we broke the volunteers into various groups. The first of the groups was at the bottom of Risedale Beck Bank hauling logs to the path edge so we could cart them away for storage, or making habitat log piles.

Not all volunteers were human (although they may think they are…)

With the trailer full the 20 minute round trip enabled the team to top up the path chippings on the Green Route.

At the same time, along Hazel Avenue a tidy up of cut timber was going on….

.... although the coppicing of the hazel is not finished in this area we will carry on after the nesting season, in late Autumn - possibly on the next Winter Worky Day! 

Mike and David were processing some timber down at the workshop

With folk of different skill sets were are able to tap into this and make the most of our volunteers abilities; Colin was mapping bird ringing recoveries for our website.

At another location along Risedale Beck we had a team moving logs to an area where we could get the ATV and trailer in to remove them.

This was a physical job, clearing up after tree works, which will hopefully allow more light for the ground flora to flourish.

At the workshop Siver Birch saplings were being removed and debris was being tidied up.

Near the Wetland Orchard Tony Cooper's team continued with the last area of this year's coppice block to be cleared ....

.... some of the undergrowth was still fairly dense as the last of the coppicing was carried out….

.... but with the use of these tree poppers the pioneering growth was reduced.

A hard-working morning was followed by a hearty lunch of curry and wonderful homemade cakes - thanks to the chefs!

The Worky Day was officially finished after lunch to allow the volunteers and Management Group to look at ideas for our 5 year plan. John Walker lead this session which enabled everyone to express their ideas.

Thank you to all the volunteers of all ages that attended today, we got an amazing amount of work completed, both outside and in!