Saturday 22 April 2017

Buckle’s Wood’s 
Report for the Parish Council’s AGM. 2017

The trees are growing well and it is beginning to feel like a “real” wood. Dutch Elm disease has attacked a few trees, but they seem to have survived and have started to make new growth lower.
We have two dog waste bins.  A few dog owners still do not clear up after their pets. This is unpleasant and a health risk, especially for children.
The bird nesting box has been used by Kestrels and Jackdaws, but not Barn Owls.
The school children have planted wild flower plugs, helped by Catherine from Shrublands Nursery.  Last summer, each class spent part of a day in the wood with Becs, from the Green Light Trust. Under her guidance, they did lots of exciting eco- activities.
The children who helped to design our woodland, wanted a pond. James Buckle’s men used a digger to create our pond. As with all other “natural ponds”, it will take a while to seal itself and become established.
We have held working parties, to manage the wood in a way to increase its bio-diversity: raking the grass off the rides, trimming the hedges, making wood piles.
Sadly, there has been some damage. Beastly Towers was set alight. The logs in the school’s seating area were trashed. Large sticks and other items thrown in the pond.
We have paid Alan Smythe to cut the paths and Colin Goodchild to cut the length of hedge that we couldn’t manage. We need to raise funds, so that we can develop and manage the wood for the community.
Our thanks to James Buckle and everyone who has supported and helped our community woodland to thrive and develop over the years.
Sue Mackie