So what's happening right now?

Summer has arrived.....

We took delivery of <2300 trees on 5th January 2026 thanks to a generous grant from the Tree Council and National Highways. Planting of these is now completed.

We have planted 40 larger trees and a further 50+ from Wessex Woodland Management. We still have some in our own tree nursery and there will be more planting next season.

Sadly, as we have huge herds of fallow deer wandering through the Copse, we have had to make a decision to have deer fencing erected around the new trees to give them a chance to get away. We anticipate that it will have to be in situ for about 10 years. Because of rodents, we still have to protect individual trees for their first few years of life. Apart from a few tree guards, they are all either recycled or compostable. The few others will be sent for recycling when their use is finished. We have tried to do this as sustainably as possible. Now, we hope we have enough rain or we will be out watering them all! The bigger trees have sadly really struggled with the frost, cold winds and then the heat. How many will survive remains to be seen. Over the summer we expect to be out among the new trees watering and keeping an eye on them.

Spring flowers are setting seed, so we will not be walking anywhere we think we could damage them.

We are in the process of creating an outdoor learning area for the use of local schools and plan to put up a couple of benches along the rights of way, so we are still busy. 

We will begin a bit of gentle brush cutting to control the brambles, being careful not to disturb nesting animals or hurt sleeping hedgehogs.

We also have a license to thin out the oak and this will be begun autumn 2026 - or as the bird nesting season comes to an end. As this work is taking place in the old woodland we will be using a contractor who works in a more sensitive way, using floating tyres and doing as little damage to the soil ecology as possible. He will also be looking to retain trees which provide good habitat and only taking out those which will give maximum benefit to the woodland through their removal. We will be identifying potential 'veteran trees of the future' and halo felling around them to give them maximum chance of becoming old men/ women of the woods! A very strategic operation!

Footpath work was finished along the Brenda Parker Way in summer 2024. Thank you again to everyone who has helped make this possible.  

Cllr Mellor has made a generous contribution, which has been a huge help. Thank you!

Please do stick to it now to avoid doing damage to the ground flora. Thank you.