July volunteer day – we’re back in the woods!

A massive thank you to everyone that came to volunteer with us today! It was great to have you back in the arboretum. The sun shone, and we had perhaps one of the most productive days we can remember – perhaps you all returned with extra enthusiasm for being outside and bashing brambles?

We started the day with some housekeeping by running through our ‘Covid practices’. After selecting our tools for the day and splitting in to two groups we set out into the woods – one group tackling a huge and over-head-height patch of knotweed, and the other clearing vegetation from under the redwoods (yet to be done this year). 

The knotweed was defeated in no time at all, and the area that we had prioritised under the redwoods was done by lunchtime. So after reconvening for a lunch break back at the roundhouse, we set out to push even further into the vegetation below the redwoods, and to tackle the area to the sides of the Donkey Steps.  Here we undercut the rhododendron and cleared bracken.

Work was also done pushing back the bramble in the centre of the site. We also managed to clear a new spot for a small tree/shrub and used scythes to work around the trees in the areas, notably an American ash (Fraxinus americana) and veteran oaks (Quercus robur).

Finally, a couple of volunteers took some time out to do the Big Butterfly Count and spotted large whites, red admirals and peacocks.

All in all a lovely day with a great buzz – everyone clearly pleased to be back in the woods.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please read our volunteering protocol and email volunteer@tortwortharboretum.org to sign up.