Conservation Volunteers of St.Mellons & Trowbridge
Hendre Lake
Woodland Management
Why is woodland management important ?
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Woodland thinning and coppicing is performed on many of our green sites and can be easily spotted in Cath Cobb Woods. The work is carried out under the supervision of the Park rangers team as part of their management plan.
What is coppicing?
Trees are cut close to the ground on a regular cycle & regrow from dormant buds at the base of the stump to produce thick strands of multi-stemmed trees which grow back quickly​​​​​​​​
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What is thinning?
Thinning is the removal of some trees or parts of trees within woodland. As the trees reach 10-15 years old, they begin to compete for space, light and nutrients and growth starts to slow. Thinning out of trees allows light to penetrate on to the woodland floor to stimulate the ground floor species such as blue bell, wood anemone and to encourage natural regeneration of tree species.
What do we do with the cut branches , logs & foliage ?
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Much of the foliage, branches and logs can be left on site by creating dead hedges or habitat piles to encourage nesting birds and small mammals. Dead and decaying wood is also excellent habitat for fungi and insects, which in turn become food for birds and mammals. Some trees will be made safe and left as standing dead wood to become habitat for insects and a foraging ground for woodpeckers and homes for bats.
What is Dead Hedging ?
A dead hedge is an upright structure of woody cuttings woven between vertical stakes. The stakes are usually made from the stronger cut branches . Dead hedging is an ongoing activity as it will rot and recycle back into the ground hence it can be added to every time you prune a tree . A a dead hedge is far from dead as it provides a wonderful habitat for all sorts of creatures such as Robins as well as food for insects.
Woodlands Cut Back Cath Cobb Woods
Sun 2nd June 2024 10.00am-12.00pm​
We returned to our Ancient Woodlands this morning, Cath Cobb Woods, in the glorious sunshine to cut back along the pathways so they are more accessible and safer for all.
8 of us, including the park ranger, cut back bramble and nettle encroaching on the paths throughout the woods, and cut down some low over hanging hazel branches. The branches were added to our dead hedge, which helps stop people from stepping on flowers like bluebells and wood anemone and also creates a habitat for our little insect friends.
Some volunteers litter picked the area , which sadly, is always needed. They filled a few bags with food and drink litter. We also checked on the woodland glade area that we cleared of bramble earlier in the year and then planted native wildflowers from Celtic Wildflowers in early April. The Red Campions, Primroses and Foxgloves are doing well. It will become more established in the next year or two. We spotted a Jay, ladybirds, speckled wood butterflies, spittle bugs/frog hoppers (one accidentally caught a ride on a volunteers arm but was carefully placed back), and a Red Cardinal Beetle.
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