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Stephanie and Judith and family created a fantastic stand for the Friends of Adel Woods at the ACA Gala, garnering 13 new Friends.

Didn’t they do well?!

Five of us braved the rain to spend a morning clearing paths of holly – from the picnic area down to the pond, and along the stream – pausing to admire the pond and the Slabbering Baby.  Despite the rain it was a very enjoyable morning and, as can be seen in the picture, we made a big difference.  This path by the stream was becoming dangerous because it was so narrow.

Eighteen of us were up, if not with the lark, at least before the paper shop opened to accompany Steve Joul on a really interesting walk around the woods listening to and trying to spot birds.

Species heard or seen included:

Nightcap;  Blackbird;  Mistle thrushes;  Starling; Stock doves;  Chiff chaff;  Song thrush;  Coat tit; Great tit; Blue tit; Swift; Swallow; Carrion crow; White throat; Bullfinch; Robin; Dunnock; Kestrel.

The kestrel was the last one we saw, after most people had  left.  We were standing in the car park when it flew out of the woods between the cricket field and King Lane and flew over the cricket ground before hovering in characteristic fashion over the open field.  It was the first time that your reporter has seen a kestrel in the woods.

Thanks again to Steve Joul for a really interesting and informative morning!

Our first Annual General Meeting, and our first elected committee.

The officers and committee are:

Chairman:  Roger Gilbert

Treasurer:  Judith White

Secretary:  Stephanie Clarke

Rest of the Committee:  Tom Swire,  Andrew Jellings,  Sara Hamilton, Tina Hall and David Hall.

Under the “Access to Nature at Leeds” scheme, BTCV have funding for 40 days per annum for the next three years to work with Leeds voluntary groups.  Mark McKenna of BTCV met with Steve Joul, George, and your chairman, to have a look at the woods and see how BTCV might be able to help.  Possible projects include repairing further parts of the dry stone walling on Crag Lane, improving the Meanwood Valley Trail – including Crag Lane, putting steps in the path between the stream and the Stairfoot Lane car park, restoring the bog area to its former glory, and clearing trees from Adel Moor.

Pictured are Mark, Steve and George inspecting the bog.

A glorious morning – and 12 Friends led by Steve Joul.  Spirits were lifted even higher by Pippa (bottom right) who rivalled (if that it is possible) the enthusiasm of a Countryside Ranger spotting his first Anthocharis Cardamines of the season!

While Steve led the waymarking of the Meanwood Valley Trail, three of us cleared holly branches from the path by the stream, and six more picked up about 12 bags of litter from Crag Lane and the thickett and stream.

This was the first time FOAW went national, with sterling assistance from Joan from Cambridge!

Thanks and a big Woof to all from Pippa!

Yet again the FOAW weather fairy waved her magic wand and blessed us with an absolutely glorious day.  In all six of us, including Steve Joul, worked from 10 till 4.30 clearing and improving a stretch of dry stone wall on Crag Lane.

As Steve and I made our way back to the Stairfoot Lane car park at the end of the afternoon, we spotted a pet rabbit near the car park entrance. He or she was clearly on their own and lost or abandoned.  We put down our wheelbarrows and

gave chase.  The rabbit leapt through your reporter’s hands before hiding under a van.  Eventually six or more members of the public joined in, coaxing the rabbit with dog biscuits, calling to it seductively, and finally scrambling through thickets of brambles before the rabbit was caught and settled peacefully in the arms of its captor to enjoy a gentle stroke and tickle.

The rabbit is now being fostered by a new family.

I don’t know what it is, but we always seem to get good weather for our events, and it was a beautiful morning today.  Nine of us spent 2 hours clearing brambles off the saplings which were overgrown by brambles.  In addition we picked up three bags of litter along Crag Lane.

We also got some suitable birch logs for our Christmas decoration event in December.

So a good day was had by all!