In February and March TMAEG volunteers enjoyed several busy mornings in our local bluebell wood completing and enhancing the new Bluebell Circuit.
Linking the paths, two images below – Here our team is laying heavy tree stems to connect the two first sections of raised pathway, prior to the spreading of wood chips between them. The result is a continuous raised path between the entrance to the Circuit off the High Street and our new 11m footbridge.
Our next task (shown below) was some carefully planned underplanting within the bluebell wood that had recently been thinned as part of the Parks Trust’s cyclical woodland management programme. This project enabled TMAEG to plant 65 new trees and shrubs to provide lower and medium height cover under the high canopies of the existing Norway Maples and other mature trees.
In this first phase we concentrated on planting alongside the new route to accentuate the winding line of this new woodland path.
The path passes between groups of newly planted hazels, wayfaring trees and other species (see below). It also aligns with the swathes of the soon to flower English Bluebells.
A necessary, associated task (shown above) for TMAEG was to remove the storm debris of the past winter, to enable the bluebells to be seen in their fully glory.
One of ten Yews (Taxus baccata), shown above. These have been scattered around the woodland to add to local variety and provide winter colour. Commonly seen in English churchyards, this is one of the world’s longest-living trees.
Most of the new trees were provided for us by the Parks Trust. They included ten Wild Service trees Sorbus torminalis. Together with the other trees planted by TMAEG, this relative of the rowan will add variety to the bluebell wood, transforming this former limited species plantation into an ecologically rich, multi-species woodland.
Another Sorbus tree in place! For most of our trees, we have been using a new type of tree shelter (in place of the former plastic tubes). These are of sturdy bio-degradable materials and should protect our trees and shrubs through their early years.
A near sunset view of the new footbridge and of the Green Ride beyond.