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Saturday, 15th March 2025: litterpicking and working on Adel Bog

Posted on March 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Friends of Adel Woods litterpicking in Adel Woods on the 15th March 2025

A fine Spring morning for litterpicking and working on Adel Bog.

Today we had five litterpickers, who between them picked up four full bags of litter from Buckstone Road, around the Village Green, around the rugby ground and along Crag Lane.

Friends of Adel Woods removing brambles and saplings from Adel Bog on the 15th March 2025

Four of us worked on Adel Bog. Although the bog looks very dry in the photograph above, it was in fact quite wet.

Today we were removing brambles and using our tree popper to remove saplings from the northern/top part of the bog, and using the brambles and saplings to build up the dead hedge which we have been creating around the perimeter.

We had a very satisfying morning.

After packing up work on the bog, two of us carried out some repairs to damage to the fence running between Buckstone Road and King Lane.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF ADEL WOODS (ACCORDING TO CHAT GPT)

Friends of Adel Woods is a community group dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Adel Woods, a picturesque woodland in North Leeds, England. Established in July 2009, the group has been instrumental in maintaining the woods and fostering community engagement.

Formation and Early Activities

The group was founded with the aim of preserving the natural beauty of Adel Woods and promoting its enjoyment among local residents. Since its inception, Friends of Adel Woods has organized monthly meetings to carry out various conservation tasks, including:

Clearing paths to improve accessibility.
Installing bird and bat boxes to support local wildlife.
Removing litter and fly-tipping to maintain the woods’ cleanliness.

These efforts have significantly contributed to the upkeep and enhancement of the woodland area.

Educational Initiatives

Beyond conservation work, the group has organized numerous educational walks and talks, enriching the community’s understanding of the local environment and its history. These events have covered a range of topics, from local flora and fauna to the historical significance of the area.

Community Impact

Friends of Adel Woods has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community among local residents. By actively involving individuals in conservation efforts and educational activities, the group has strengthened the bond between people and their natural surroundings. Their ongoing dedication ensures that Adel Woods remains a cherished and well-preserved space for future generations.

Be part of Friends of Adel Woods!

If you would like to be part of FOAW, please come along to one of our monthly meetings or get in touch through this website – you should find a “comment” button below.

Saturday, 2nd November 2024: litterpicking and preserving Adel Bog with David Preston

Posted on November 2, 2024 | Leave a comment

A cool and damp day, but not enough to cool or dampen down the spirits of seven Friends of Adel Woods!

Today the plan was to litterpick and work with David Preston, Leeds City Council ranger, on Adel Bog.

We met up with David at the Slabbering Baby entrance to the woods in Buck Stone Road. Two of us chose to litterpick, while five of us chose to work with David on Adel Bog.

Friends of Adel Woods litterpicking in Adel Woods — ***Our plucky litterpickers set off***

The litter pickers made their way up to the village green, along Crag Lane to the Stairfoot Lane car park and then back along Crag Lane to the Slabbering Baby and back to Buck Stone Road. En route they collected two bags of litter.

Friends of Adel Woods working on Adel Bog in Adel Woods — ***Adel Bog looking westwards***

The “bog team” transported tree poppers, mattocks, saws and loppers to Adel Bog where the plan was to remove saplings and brambles and create a “dead hedge” around the boundary of the bog.

The bog is a special habitat in Adel Woods. It is home to heath spotted orchids, bog asphodel , cotton grass, and other plants which are not found elsewhere in Adel Woods. Friends of Adel Woods have done a lot of work on the bog over the years to preserve it: if saplings and brambles are not removed, the bog will soon turn into woodland.

David Preston standing by a new stretch of dead hedge created on the border of Adel Bog by Friends of Adel Woods — ***David standing in front of our new stretch of dead hedge***

A dead hedge is what it says on the tin (or would do if it were in a tin!), a hedge but made with stakes, tree branches, uprooted saplings, brambles and the like. We started making a dead hedge last year and we were pleased to see that willow wands in the hedge had taken root to make the hedge even more effective.

Friends of Adel Woods working on Adel Bog — ***Two friends of Adel Woods – with a tree popper (yellow device on the left)***

The purpose of the dead hedge is to deter people from creating paths across the bog or picnicking there and to preserve this special spot in Adel Woods.

David Preston with three Friends of Adel Woods on Adel Bog — ***David with three happy members of our team, standing in front of the dead hedge***

We removed many saplings with the use of our tree popper, and uprooted many brambles, all of which went into the construction of our dead hedge. Thank you David and team!

JOIN FRIENDS OF ADEL WOODS!

We hope that you have enjoyed reading about our activities and would be delighted if you would like to join us.

Friends of Adel Woods were formed in 2009 to help maintain Adel Woods and encourage people to enjoy them. We meet one weekend morning a month to carry out various jobs or ”work parties”, and we also put on educational events such as bat walks, fungal forays and birdsong walks.

We are a very friendly group and welcome new members who want to help preserve our special woods, enjoy fresh air and exercise in the woods, and make new friends. If you would like to take part in our activities, just come along to one of our work parties or get in touch by leaving a comment on this website – you should be able to see a comment button at the bottom of this page.

For further information, please have a look at our home page.

Friends of Adel Woods in Adel Woods working on Adel Moor