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
