Planting trees thanks to the Woodland Trust

This year, we have been very fortunate to receive free trees from the Woodland Trust for Countryside Skills students to plant in Little Wittenham Wood.

We have been planting along the woodland ride, in the areas that were coppiced over the winter.

The purpose of the coppicing is to open up the ride to allow more light in, making it a more pleasant place to walk, but also allowing more woodland plants to grow in the open spaces.  This 'edge habitat' is preferred by many plant, animal and invertebrate species due to the increased light and warmth, close cover and higher quantity of feeding material.

We really enjoyed our sunny days out in the woods.  It was great to think that one day, some of the trees we planted will have grown as big as this mighty oak in the background!

If you are from a school or community interested in planting trees, check out the Woodland Trust's free trees scheme and apply!

Giving HMS Neptune a hair cut!

Down at Neptune Wood, the Earth Trust has a number of willow sculptures representing HMS Neptune, three cannon balls, a scope and an anchor. Every autumn, the sculptures get a haircut and loose ends woven in, so that they remain neat and tidy.

The Countryside Skills students have done all the work! We’ve learned how to use loppers and secateurs safely, ready for coppicing in Little Wittenham Wood later in the year.

We have bundled up all the willow wands (after tickling each other with them from afar!) ready to use for building hurdles later in the year.

Here are some pictures of Bishopswood School tackling HMS Neptune: