Thorne Community Wood was affected by a leak from the Stainforth & Keadby canal last month, with canal water flooding right across the site.
The Friends of Thorne Community Wood write:
Thorne Community Wood suffered bad flooding at the end of August due to a leak from the canal. The leak occurred at the most westerly point of the site, past the motorway bridge towards Stainforth. The leak was flowing into the west compartment of the wood and into the nearby drainage ditch.
Unfortunately the ditch was not able to cope with the volume of water and overtopped near the railway line, flooding the wood from the southern end along the boundary with the Ashfield bank. All areas of the wood apart from the section next to the car park were affected, to varying degrees of severity.
The decision was made to close off most of the wood. This was for safety reasons and also to help protect the wood itself, as well as any displaced wildlife. These closures remained in place after the leak was repaired, to allow time for the site to drain and the ground to dry out. All areas are now reopened for public access, and the Friends would like to thank all visitors for respecting the closures.
The impact of the flooding on the health of the site will not be immediately obvious. Some areas naturally flood during the autumn and winter months, so although the water was unseasonal they are likely to not be too severely affected as the species preset are more tolerant of wet conditions. Of more concern are the compartments that are usually drier throughout the year. Many of the trees in these areas are already stressed from factors such as ash dieback. This is also the second time the site has been badly flooded from the canal in recent memory, with the canal overtopping near the car park area in 2019.
The Friends are always on the lookout for more volunteers. There are many ways to help out, such as helping to run events, undertaking practical conservation work, or assisting with admin or fundraising activities. For more information about the wood, or for details on how to get involved, you can contact the Friends by leaving a message on 07902 772695, email at info@thornecommunitywood.org or by getting in touch on their Facebook page.
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