On Saturday March 21st a small group of us planted willow rods in two of the wetter areas of Malster’s Little Field. Osiers were planted in the very wet patch in the south east corner, and basket making willows in the wet corner near to the gateway between Malster’s and Grove Piece. These will provide some useful resources as well as demonstrating how coppicing works but on a much shorter timescale than most other coppiced trees. Also two long willow rods were planted in the new hedge, these will be managed as pollards so the tops will be cut off shortly to encourage a number of branches to develop at the top.
Alan had been making bird boxes and erected these in hedgerow trees. He also set out some reptile sheets, it will be interesting to see what we find under those.
Blyth Woods 