Bridge Progress 2 A dramatic change has happened in the last two weeks. The old decking has been removed along with the wooden superstructure and side railings.
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New Developments in the Wood It's been a few months since the last post and the rhythm of work in the Wood has settled down to general maintenance of paths, fences and dead hedges, along with routine surveys of the wildlife that makes its home here. However, there are two major developments which, it is expected, will bring huge benefits to the Wood and its users in the near future. Firstly, the Wildlife Trust has been successful in its bid for funding to put together a plan to reunite both Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods. Although, in effect, the same fragment of the Great North Wood, they have very different characteristics and management. The majority of Sydenham Hill Wood lies to the east of the old railway track alignment of the High Level line that used to bring visitors to Crystal Palace. Closed in 1954, the route has, in parts returned to nature and the longest section of this runs through the Wood to the tunnel which took it through t...
Hurdles A different type of path edging is being tried in the Wood. New hazel hurdles on the path down to the tunnel. Making hurdles is an old woodland craft. Volunteers in the Wood have been coppicing hazel and using the cut material to make hurdles. These are being used as edging for the main path coming down from Crescent Wood Road to the old railway path. They are a pleasing alternative to dead-hedging and given the restricted space available, they fit the purpose well. The process involves driving hazel stakes in the ground at around 50cm intervals. Long lengths of hazel are split lengthways to provide the material to fill in the gaps. Splitting the hazel makes it more flexible and easier to weave in and out of the stakes. Hurdles can also be made as panels by using a wooden base into which the stakes are fixed. The split hazel is woven in and out of the stakes and when the planet is complete, the vertical st...
New Year Update The New Year has seen plenty of activity in the Wood. Volunteers have been hard at work replacing fencing in various locations. Some people ask why some parts of the Wood are fenced off. It is necessary to restrict access to selected areas in order to protect ground layer plants from trampling and compaction. It is useful to have a look at the adjacent Dulwich Wood where there is no such protection of vulnerable areas. In much of that wood, there is little or no ground cover, with the trees emerging from bare earth. Woodland shouldn't be like that, and a healthy ecosystem should have vertical layers in it, which support different species of birds and insects. Some butterflies, for example, forage in the upper branches of trees, whilst many more need healthy ground vegetation. Without that ground cover, they will not colonise the wood. The same goes for other insects and small mammals like wood mic...
Autumn comes to the Wood Wrinkled Peach fungus . (Photo by Chris Cannelle) As the evenings draw in and the weather has become cooler and wetter, autumn has certainly arrived in the Wood. With it has come an explosion of fungi, but especially exciting has been the discovery that the very rare Wrinkled Peach fungus is growing in the Wood. This fungus is on the global red list of endangered fungi, so it is especially important that it has been discovered in the Wood. These amazing photos of the fungi were taken by Wood volunteer and fungi expert, Chris Cannelle. (Photo by Chris Cannelle) Elsewhere, path improvements have continued. Contractors have done an excellent job in extending the improved path network, linking the Cedar of Lebanon boardwalk with the folly and on from there, through the "trampled triangle" to the previously improved section. Improved path leading up from the Folly to the Cedar of Lebanon. I mprovements in the "trampled triangle", the new path t...
Pathway Progress Volunteers have worked hard over the last few weeks on rebuilding the path from the Folly to the old railway alignment which carries the main path through the Wood. The path reconstruction was necessary as parts of it became waterlogged and muddy, especially in winter. It has been surfaced with limestone chippings, which it is hoped will help water to drain through keeping the path from being swamped. At last, on Wednesday 7th September, the task was completed. Celebrating completion of the path. ( Photo: Pennie Hedge ) The completed path ( Photo: David Ward ) The day's work didn't stop at the path, as during the morning, a group of volunteers worked hard to cut back vegetation in the Glade to ensure that smaller plants like the bluebells have a chance next year. After lunch, this group joined the others working on the path reconstruction so helping to complete that job. Clearing the Glade ( Photos: Pennie Hedge )