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Work Update, 5th March 2022

Work has carried on in the Wood during January and February. Much of it has been to consolidate management of paths using techniques such as dead-hedging. These use material harvested sustainably from the Wood, such as cut material from coppicing holly and the invasive cherry laurel.  As always, the aim of the dead-hedge is to protect from trampling, the more vulnerable parts of the Wood.
 
New dead-hedging on the path between the cedar and the tennis- court glade.

 
Making hurdles as an alternative to dead-hedging has been tried on the path above the tunnel. Coppiced hazel is used for this as the wood is supple enough to be woven. 
Experimental hurdles next to the path above the tunnel mouth.

 
Other housekeeping tasks have helped to maintain the Wood, such as sweeping accumulated mud from the surface of the boardwalk next to the Ceder of Lebanon.
Removing the thick layer of mud not only reduces the risk of slipping but allows the boardwalk surface to dry out more quickly so extending its life.

 On Upper Cox's Walk, the muddiest sections have been raked and cleared and path edging installed to help reduce the amount of mud being washed across the surface of the path.
 
New path-edging on Upper Cox's Walk.

 
It's a relief that the recent windy weather and Storm Eunice caused surprisingly little damage to the wood. Some large branches were brought down and the wood was littered with twigs and other debris but very few trees were lost. However, a large yew did fall,  next to the path from the Crescent Wood Rd entrance to the tennis-court glade.
The fallen yew tree, brought down in the storm by the weight of the ivy growing on it.

 
Not so far away, Sydenham Hill Wood volunteers have been helping the Great North Wood Project team clear invasive species from the southern end of Low Cross wood, adjacent to Great Brownings. Large areas of cherry laurel have been cut and holly coppiced, with the intention that opening up the ground to light will allow the revival of native woodland species, such as bluebell and wood anemone. 
 

 

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