A wintry surprise this morning when we woke to find half an inch of snow on the ground. Nevertheless, we had a clear blue sky which meant it was a beautiful crisp morning.
Our local ranger, David Preston, and his fellow ranger, Heather Wagstaffe, had scheduled this morning for carrying out some trimming of the trees on the southern boundary of Adel Bog and requested the help of Friends of Adel Woods in using the off-cuts to make a “dead hedge”.
Adel Bog is a special habitat in Adel Woods: home to a healthy population of heath spotted orchids, bog asphodel, rushes, flag irises, cotton grass, tormentil and crossed leaf heath, to name a few plants found there. Friends of Adel Woods have done a lot of work over the years to preserve it and improve its condition – removing brambles, tree saplings and bracken and I am pleased to say that this Autumn and Winter the bog is looking great. It is the wettest it has been for years – every footstep risks sinking six inches into the mud!
The purpose of trimming the trees was to increase the open area of the bog, to create a clear boundary, and to reduce the problem of trees dropping seeds into the bog, and thus turning the bog into woodland.
Five Friends responded to David’s call for help, and joined David and Heather at 11.40 am, by which time they had completed their work and were ready for the clear up.
We worked till 1 pm using some of the off-cuts to make stakes for future dead hedging around the bog, and using the rest to create a dead hedge to make a clear boundary along about 10 metres of the southern perimeter.
A dead hedge is a barrier made of natural materials, usually held in place with stakes, though on this occasion, due to time constraints, we wove the materials between the trees around the edge of the bog. Whilst the hedge is called a dead hedge, it is possible for off-cuts to take root or for plants to grow within it, so that it becomes a living hedge.
The purpose of creating a barrier around the bog is to keep it safe from disturbance, particularly from dogs whose droppings are very damaging to the bog flora and fauna.
At completion of our work, we put a couple of notices up in the dead hedge explaining its purpose.
Friends of Adel Woods were formed in 2009 to help maintain Adel Woods and encourage people to enjoy them. We meet one morning a month to carry out various jobs, and we also put on educational events. Recently, we have had a bat walk, and a fungal foray.
Our next “work party” is on Sunday the 10th December, when we will be litter picking, and carrying out path maintenance.
If you would like to take part in our activities, please get in touch by leaving a comment on this website – you should find a button below.
Friends of Adel Woods 