The Friends of Thorne Community Wood write:
The last month has seen an unseasonable amount of rainfall, making it one of the wettest Julys on record for many areas. The Friends of Thorne Community Wood have been braving the weather to undertake their regular work on their planned task days. They maintained the paths and installed more posts for the Coronation Trail, which is still under construction.
The volunteers will be out in most weather, with the exception of lighting or strong winds. The canopy of the wood offers protection from the worst of the rain, but extra care needs to be taken due to the risk of slipping and difficulty of handling of tools.
The real issue in wet weather is the mud, as due to the composition of the soil and drainage on site the ground churns up very easily and can take a long time to recover. The Friends need to be careful to protect the ground in the area where they work, and it also limits where their vehicles can access. This is also why any unauthorised off-road activity on site (from bikes or quads etc) can be a big problem for the wood.
The mud can however be helpful to reveal what animals have been active on site, with their tracks preserved and visible to the careful observer. Deer are a regular visitor across the wood, and their tracks are very distinctive and easy to spot once you know what to look for. If you are interested there are many books and guides available on the subject, and plenty of free online resources from organisations such as wildlife trusts and the BBC.
For more information about the wood, or for details on how to get involved, leave a message on 07902 772695, email at info@thornecommunitywood.org or get in touch through their Facebook page.
Image: FoTCW
Advertisement
