Landscape Volunteers 7th December 2011

It was 5 degrees and windy, but the sun was shining (quite normal for a Wednesday).

Winter Sun

Our task today was to coppice the silver birch trees around the edge of The Octagon Pond and strimming grass on the hill side up towards the Banquetting Hall.

Receiving instructions

After having today's task explained the team quickly went to work. Those charged with the coppicing started by thinning out some of the silver birch trees around the edge of the pond, whilst the others set off with their strimmers to tackle the grass on the hill side.
The idea behind the coppicing was to improve the vista and to create "basking areas" for the elusive grass snakes.

Dave sawing.

Steve and Tracy sawing.

Johnny and Bruce Strimming.

Whilst on the hillside Phil Younger pointer out a small hollow where a roe deer had been lying down chewing the cud.

The Hollow

Phil also spotted a fine example of The Goblet mushroom. These appear in late autumn and consist of a brown/grey funnel on a scaly stem. They are found on decaying wood.

The Goblet - Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis

After finishing the coppicing the team began raking up the grass cuttings on the hillside.

Some of The Team at Work

We had our lunch in the Bird Hide and were entertained by a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers which were taking seed from a bird feeder and then drilling it into a hole on a tree stump where they could access it at a later date.

Drilling the hole

Taking the Seed.

Filling the hole.