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Another Eventful Morning for TMAEG.

Just six weeks ago the TMAEG Team dug over an area next to the new footbridge for later sowing with wildflower seeds. We removed a mass of ivy roots, brambles and other weeds – a painstaking task!

This latest Saturday, we returned to the site, gave it a final raking over and then sowed those seeds at a density of 3 grams per square metre – again much patience needed!
We don’t expect instant results, nature takes its time. But hopefully, some of those varieties will be in flower by this summer and the rest by their second season.

Last week we experienced a mini heat wave. Very nice for us human beings but less good for those seeds and also for the young trees we planted a little earlier. So we made sure that everything was well watered, the two sources being a very kind TMAEG member from his own tap and then the stream M169 that borders the Bluebell Wood. With this ‘Chain Gang,’ we soon got that job finished!

 

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.

Whenever TMAEG volunteers do an environmental project we remove and dispose of any litter. We reckon that a cleaner environment reduces the dumping of litter. But litterbugs are still around as we’ve seen at the start of 2022.

Our Ash Brook, the stream which runs through the Local Park was hit by thoughtless individuals who dumped the remains of their ready meals into this pretty, green corridor.
Here (above) is the mess as seen from the High Street.

TMAEG volunteers descended to the stream bed (shown above), helped by that blue rope and retrieved the rubbish.

Here (below) is some of it displayed on the Redway prior to despatch to the Recycling Park.

TMAEG volunteers also do litter pick-only sessions. Here, our team has just completed a morning’s work at the Clay Hill end of the Local Park.

Six Bags of Rubbish to be passed on to Milton Keynes Council. Two years back the yield would have been twice this. Progress by the two Councils and TMAEG – but still some way to go!

Want to help TMAEG?  You can help in many ways,  not just by volunteering.  Become a member for just £5 a year.  Find out more here.

 

The image below shows the scene on Wednesday 23rd of April after Storm Franklin toppled two mature poplars within the Milesmere/Thorncliffe Wood end of the Bluebell Circuit. One crashed onto the largest of TMAEG’s spring flower glades containing recently planted English bluebells and wood anemones.

But, just when you need them…the TMAEG volunteers are on hand!

First things first,  sizing up the problem?  Then a risk assessment – it’s quite a job and we don’t want any volunteers hurt.  Looking possible and so the mangled branches are removed first but can the team also tackle the removal of that section of the trunk which lies across the glade?

Brian saws up the trunk. A new blade for the bow saw made it a much easier task.

Simon and Brian sawing the trunk into smaller and of course, liftable sections.

The glade is now cleared and the picture shows the cut end of the poplar trunk. The woven fence can now be restored. There is a good chance that many of the bluebells will have survived.

Well done TMAEG volunteers and all done within three days of the fallen trees being found.