The wood in June

Matthew Garnham took these two photos of  orchids.

Bee Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

This is the time of year when nature  really starts to wake up and there is usually something new to spot--even if you walk the paths every day!

The path that cuts across the middle of wood always looks glorious with this stretch of  Birdsfoot- Trefoil -often called" bacon and eggs"- lining one edge.

There are loads of Cinnibar Moths flying  about in the sunshine. Their yellow and black caterpillars will feed on the Ragwort during the summer months. 

 

Pond life

The Blue Chaser dragonfly was flying around the pond yesterday with a shy female yellow one.
I also spotted two newts, but didn't manage to take a photo!

Matt Garnham took this photo of a Hornet having a drink at the edge of the pond.

Natural stress reduction

It's well known that spending time, even only a short time, in green spaces is good for our mental health. Now, when Coronavirus induced stress levels are high, anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety must find things especially challenging. So turn off the news and sit or walk outside, taking advantage of our rural surroundings and gardens, even when it's dull and grey outside. You're likely to feel better for it. The wood is still there, the birds are still there, and the clouds are still there.

Spring News

You'll be aware of the limitations on group activities, but no working parties are planned in the wood for the time being. You'll be fine walking through the wood if you maintain a safe distance from anyone else. Be aware that the coronavirus can survive for varying lengths of time on different surfaces, including metal and plastics. If you touch the metal rail by the bus stop or a dog poo bin, for example, you should be especially careful to wash your hands when you get home.

The talk about bees by Hawk Honey (yes, it's his real name!) from Suffolk Wildlife Trust that was planned by Jane Jones for 23rd March at the Rose & Crown has been cancelled. Please pass this on to anyone you know who might have been planning to go.

We planned to arrange another day in the wood for the school with the lovely people from the Green Light Trust. We'd been trying to raise the money, which has to come out of our limited funds, but the Coronavirus has put a stop to that. Maybe the children who enjoyed the last one so much might spend their time at home bug-hunting in the garden, building a bug hotel, or otherwise discovering the wonders of the natural world? Now that spring is here there's a lot to see. They could make their own nature table. Search 'Young Naturalists' online for books and resources.

We hoped to have an AGM soon, but that's got to be postponed too. Among other things, we need to update our constitution, which was written over 13 years ago, and add to the committee. If you are interested, get in touch anyway. See the 'Get in Touch' tab at the top of the page. We'd also like to start a 'Friends of Buckle's Wood' group. It would be open to anyone who's able to help us promote and care for our wood. Young people would be especially welcome, as the wood will outlive us all and it's good to ensure there are people to look after it for years to come. If that interests you, see the 'Get in Touch' tab.

James Buckle, who allowed us to grow the wood on his land so we named it after him, has offered to replace the bridge over the ditch from the Meadow with something more substantial, which will be good. Some of his staff were responsible for digging the pond, which has filled up over the wet winter.

We were very grateful to all those who contributed towards the cost of the new bench. The donations were more than enough to cover it, but only because one donor was exceptionally generous. Our costs include the contractors who do routine maintenance and activities like the children's days, so we're always looking for funds. The organisation is all voluntary and most of it's done by Sue Mackie. If you have any ideas, please let us know, and if you can make an occasional or regular donation, see the 'How to Donate' tab above.

Thank you to everyone who helped us last year. Stay safe, and enjoy the calming influence of Nature to take your mind off the health crisis.

The new bench

A new bench has been installed to replace one that was provided to mark the retirement of former school headteacher, Paul Marshall. It rotted after a good few years of use. This one has been treated with several coats of preservative, so we're hoping it'll last at least as long.

Tom Hitchcock collected the components.
They were delivered with an essential spanner.

Chris Reilly offered a steadying hand.

Mac dug two rather big holes.

It was hard work and took some time,
but it looks good!

Two happy dog walkers were first to try it out.

We'd like to thank all the villagers who contributed towards the project through the website and through Marion in the Post Office, where donations were handed in. We were also grateful to receive the profits from one of the community coffee mornings at the Methodist Church. Altogether we received more than enough to pay for the new bench. The rest will be used to maintain the wood and to provide activities for the children from the school, among other things.

We're always grateful for financial help, as although most of the work is done by volunteers (more are always welcome), there are ongoing costs involved with ensuring that the wood continues to thrive. If you would like to make a donation through this blog, the instructions are under the 'How to Donate' tab above.

Small woodlands are just as important as forests

"Small woodlands in farmland have more benefits for humans per area, compared to large forests, according to a new study. The small woodlands, sometimes even smaller than a football field, can easily go unnoticed in agricultural landscapes. Yet, these small forest remnants can store more carbon in the topsoil layer, are more suitable for hunting activities and host fewer ticks than large forests."

We're not planning to do any hunting in Buckle's Wood, but read more about the research from Stockholm University.

Community Coffee Morning

9 - 11am, Thursday 14th November, Methodist Church

The lovely people who run the community coffee mornings have offered to donate the proceeds of tomorrow's event to our funds, which is appreciated, so please go along and enjoy. Sue Mackie plans to be there and will be happy to tell you about the wood, how it started, and what we'll do next. We're installing a new bench to replace the broken one (see previous post) and are planning to provide more activity days for the school and some equipment for keen naturalists of all ages to use.

New seat

This is the new seat we've ordered for the wood. It'll soon be installed to replace the broken one, thanks to everyone who answered our appeal for funds. We hope you'll enjoy sitting on it.

Elmsett school activities in the wood

Two educational support workers from The Green Light Trust spent Thursday 10th October in the wood with children from the school. Each class was involved in a different imaginative activity, learnt a lot and had a great deal of fun.

The oldest class built this new animal habitat, a safe place for overwintering wildlife, from pallets covered in vegetation, so there are lots of hidey-holes. They thought it might be called the Bugingham Hotel!

There were many opportunities to discuss all sorts of environmental issues, from litter to climate change. Each child wrote a short, “I wish” sentence about this.

Sue Mackie

Friends of Buckle's Wood

If you read the post about Paul Marshall's bench that needs to be replaced, it may have occurred to you that we need to buy another that will last at least as long as the old one. Although we have a healthy reserve, we'd like to keep it that way and raise funds for a replacement. Depending on how generous people are, the Buckle's Wood committee would also like to buy some equipment for use in the wood, such as a moth trap, a bat detector, some good field glasses, magnifying glasses and a microscope. They would be available for use in the school or hired for short periods upon payment of a deposit.

Would you like to become a Friend of Buckle's Wood? No need to make a regular commitment - any and all help gratefully received. You can make a one-off or occasional donation in one of several ways, or contribute regularly via a standing order. See the Friends' page for details.

Thanks in anticipation.
Margaret, Buckle's Wood Treasurer

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

Help wanted!

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September, 2 to 4pm.

Please come along - the more the merrier! - and join the work party.

Tom Hitchcock will cut the wildflowers and grass along the edges of the rides on Thursday. To encourage more flowers next year the debris needs to be raked into heaps between the trees.
Last year a few OAPs did all the work - we could do with some younger helpers!

We'll supply the rakes! You do the work!

To find out more, please get in touch - see tab above.

___________________________________

Update: Thanks to Janette Robinson, Margaret and Robert Funnel, Oswald Simpson, Sue and Paul Edwards, Fiona Potter and Mac, all the work was done on the 7th, so no one was needed on the 8th. Some areas of grass were knocked over by the topper and need to be strimmed down, but this won't take long.

Paul Marshall's bench

The Buckle's Wood Management Group bought this bench and dedicated it to Paul Marshall, Elmsett Primary School's head teacher, on his retirement. His enthusiastic support for creating our new community woodland was a vital element of its success!

                                Paul and Christine trying it for size in December 2007

The weather has taken its toll over the years and sadly the bench had to be removed last weekend.

We hope to raise funds to replace it in the near future!

Have you seen these?

Small heath butterfly

Matt Garnham took these photos in the wood last month. A former pupil of Elmsett Primary, he has a great knowledge of the natural world.

Bee orchid

And he takes lovely pictures!

Summer flowers and butterflies

This early summer the wood has looked great. Lots of wildflowers and now the butterflies are out and about. This Large Skipper--enjoying the sunshine, spread its wings long enough for me to get my camera focused!

Improving the pond

Following a discussion with Charles Course last year about how to improve the pond to attract more wildlife, work  to make it larger and deeper in the middle will start on 

                                                       Monday 25^th June

This work will be carried out by Heathpatch Ltd.

Please be aware that large earth moving machinery will be moving about near the footpath and rides alongside the pond and it would be advisable to enter the wood elsewhere. Your cooperation will be much appreciated!

The wood is looking really good now. Have a wonder around and see if you can spot the Yellow Rattle! In the picture below--Ox-eye Daisies in the evening sunlight.

Wildflower patches

At the end of April Mac cleared  5 patches with his strimmer --one area for the five types of wildflower seeds from Grow Wild. We soaked them with water from the pond and then  went on holiday! Two weeks later, the ground looked very dry, so we have had to use the pond water again. Last week an enthusiastic group of children from the school helped, but it still took about an hour to do all five areas. 
Small plants are growing-- lets hope we get some more rain over half term!

Help needed in the wood.

Earlier this year we applied  for a selection of free packets of wildflower seeds from GrowWild. Our application was successful and our pack arrived last month

The Management Group will prepare five suitable areas beforehand, ready for volunteers to sow a packet of  seeds. These are  the five selections of flower types.   

The wet weather has eased up and spring is in the air, so we shall be sowing our seeds next Saturday 21st April at 10.30 . Everyone is welcome, but the number of packets is limited.so you need to be in the wood on time. We shall give out the seeds by the pond.

Almost Spring

Strong winds in January blew down part of a coppiced ash in the hedge, blocking the ride towards the back of the wood. We hope to clear it out of the way soon. We shall pile up the twiggy bits in amongst the trees to make protective habitats for small animals.

Since writing this; Alan Smyth,  with help from a small group of woodlanders has cut up and removed the main part of the tree, which has just left the twiggy bits piled into heaps nearby.

The stormy winds also tore off  some of the rigid tree guards. I don't like to see plastic lying about-- not good for the environment, so I have been collecting them up and  put in my black, non recyclable bin.

Look out for signs of spring as you wander round and thank you to all the people who clean  up after their dogs--- the dog waste bins fill up really quickly!!!!

Plans for the pond

               

 This  photo of our  pond was taken soon after it had been dug out in 2014. In fact it started to fill up while it was being dug and the men didn't have time to seal the base properly .

This year the pond has had very little water in it since the spring and looks very sad!

 Charles Course from Heathpatch Ltd, suggested that the pond should be made  deeper and perhaps larger and .has offered to use his digger to do the work for us during the winter.
I'm sure that all the pupils from Elmsett School who helped to design our woodland, will be jumping up and down with joy because they knew that a pond  would attract a huge variety of wildlife into our wood.
 Hip Hip hurrah!

Thanks for your help!

The wildflowers along the edge of the rides were cut last week ready for the working party to rake up and put into heaps among the trees.
A small group of 7 retired, over seventies (except one ), managed to rake up most of the debris and heap it  into piles along the rides.

But the dark clouds were looming  ---  time was running out and energy was  ebbing away!

So the  piles still need to  be moved off the rides and heaped between the trees.This will  encourage more wildflowers to grow next year

Strong winds are forecast for Tuesday night, so if anyone has some spare time PLEASE head into the wood with a fork and complete the work that the golden oldies started !!