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Gravel from the path had fallen onto the top of the steps down from Stairfoot Lane car park to the stream.  David and your faithful reporter spent half an hour removing the offending stones.

We then went and had a look at the bog.

Yesterday, when visiting Adel Bog, Andrew, David and I noticed that a massive part had broken off a tree above Crag Lane and a large branch was left suspended over a pathway threatening to fall on unsuspecting pedestrians.  We came back this morning equipped with ropes, a pullley and a bow saw and pulled down the dangerous branch.  We also cut down various parts of the fallen branch which seemed to pose a danger if children were to play amid them.  The suspended branch can be seen in the middle of the photo towards the top.  The large trunk in the middle right of the picture is part of the fallen branch.  Barbara came to congratulate us on our achievement.

BTCV have made a substantial start on renovating Adel Bog.  This is part of their work after three days toiling.  As you can see, it’s not very boggy at the moment! Another four days to go.

Another great turn out on a beautiful morning for litter picking and path clearing – this is not an ironic posting, there were eight of us, one hiding behind the holly bush, one taking the photograph and five elsewhere! We focused on Crag Lane.

Steve Joul led an enthusiastic group of seventeen on a tour of the wonders of Adel Woods.  Despite over-running by 45 minutes, we still did not complete all of them!

Starting with an ancient celtic carving (a national monument!) we went on to explore different habitats, finishing with Adel Moor at about 4.30 where, in the golden evening light, we had two sightings of lizards and a mouse!

On the way, Steve pointed out many interesting species of flora and fauna.  At the beginning he showed us some caterpillars of the Death’s Head Hawk Moth which had recently been found in Leeds.

About three months ago, your correspondent found a plastic dustbin.  Rather than take it to the tip, he decided to put it by the entrance to the woods near Old Leo’s.  The bin was an instant success and an instant catastrophe.  A success in that people used it.  A catastrophe in that people started leaving their bags of doggies’ doo doo in it as well.  Your correspondent emptied this charming receptacle on about four occasions, but enough was enough and we have removed the bin.  Clearing a bin of about 15 kilos of ordure is an experience your correspondence does not wish to repeat.

We understand that Leeds CC is not prepared to put a bin in the woods because it is too expensive to empty.

Many thanks to Diane Gregory of the West Yorkshire Bat Group who led a wonderful bat walk.The photograph does not do justice to the evening – but unfortunately, due to an oversight, it is the only one your correspondent took!

There were 38 (!) of us, including a pleasing number of children, and due to Diane’s prior “casing of the joint” we were treated to a wonderful display of aerial acrobatics of up to a dozen bats at very close range – on occasions only a couple of feet over our heads – accompanied by a cacophony of clicks and raspberries from the bat detectors.

Most of the bats were common pipistrelle, but towards the end of the evening (about 10.30pm) some [   ] appeared.  Then, on a sudden, as magically as they arrived, the bats left and the bat detectors fell silent, leaving only the excited hum of conversation.

BTCV are to start the process of restoring Adel Bog to its full glory with the aid of funding from Alwoodley Parish Council and a grant from Access to Nature.  The bog has been slowly been turning to dry land in the process of succession – the taking over by “non-bog” species, in this case primarily purple moor grass and birch trees.

The Bog is the only site in Leeds to have the heath spotted orchid and this morning we counted just short of forty in flower, so the habitat is definitely worth saving.

BTCV will do seven days of work on the bog during August, clearing back the tree line and removing encroaching species.

Sara and Win see the funny side after some heavy duty litter picking.

While Win and Sara were litter picking, about a dozen of us were clearing saplings from Adel Moor.

We had two sightings of the common lizard – which needs the open heathland to survive.  So keep pulling Tina – only another five hundred trees to go!

Despite heavy rain at 9 am, a stalwart crew met up in the car park on King Lane at 10 am to carry out this morning’s tasks.  In fact by 10 am the rain had stopped and it turned into a very pleasant morning.

Three tasks today:  some of us litter picked; some cleared branches and foliage from the bridges over Nanny Beck to open it up and make it more of a feature;  and some of us cleared foliage and leaf mould from the path between the Buckstones and King Lane and from the footpath on King Lane.

We finished at 12, astonished at what can be achieved with a little concentrated effort!