Erika's August Flowers

 

It was very hot scything on the Jubilee Way today, August 11th. It had been getting overgrown with nettles, thistles, blackthorn and formidable brambles. The blackberries were ripe, juicy and tasty.

The photos show flowers from the meadow area near the Jubilee Way.

Knapweed, a thistle type flower.

Rose Bay Willow Herb, in which each plant can produce 80,000 seeds attached to tiny parachutes. They can disperse over long distances, which helps them colonise waste ground.

Old Man's Beard, the native clematis.

In this photo there is a Teasel, Wild Carrot and Ragwort.

And finally, this photo shows a Cinnabar Moth caterpillar, which only feeds on Ragwort.

All photos by Erika Booth

Two Work Parties and Lots of Grass

At the last two work parties - the end of last month and yesterday on Sunday 11th August, we spent a lot of time clearing some of our grass. This is usually cut by the South Gloucester mowing team but unfortunately their mowing machine is out of order. We can't just leave the grass because it will fill up the paths and open areas. So, we got the scythes out again and started to mow and rake.

We started here in the Welcome Area at the entrance to the woods from the field next to the Leisure Centre

The grass was cut down and raked off to one side then ... 

carried away by pitchfork ....

and dumped in one of our grass pits.

We worked our way around the Welcome Area

Until all was done. A good morning's work.

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Yesterday, Sunday 11th August, we continued this clearing work up at the Jubilee Way. This is a 17 mile long path that starts at Aust by the Severn Bridge and ends at Old Sudbury near the Cotswolds. On its way it passes through Filnore Woods and it's part of our job to keep it clear for walkers.

The section we needed to deal with was the eastern end as it leaves Filnore by a kissing gate.

This is looking back from the kissing gate into the woods ...

... and this is looking the other way where Erika is making a start.

Here, Alan R is cutting down the thicker vegetation at the edge which will cover the path if we don't clear it away.

It was getting quite warm by mid morning so we stopped for some water and checked on the progress so far.

We carried on after our break and before long the path could be seen beyond the kissing gate ...

... and back down along the hedgerow into the woods. Plenty of room now for anyone walking along the Jubilee Way.

Into the Jungle!

At the work party we held just over  week ago on Sunday 14th July we took on the short path that links the top of the steps leading up from the bridge to post 6 with the viewpoint area. This is really a short cut and not part of the trail shown on our information board at the entrance to the woods and on our leaflets. It is used quite a lot though by dog walkers and people just out for a walk.

The mild winter and high rainfall over the past few months has increased the growth of the grass and nearby trees to such an extent that the path has turned into a jungle!

Alan R and Chris started to clear the path from the viewpoint end ...

While Andy had a go from the other side.

Peter and me went to the other end of the path and worked our way to meet Andy in the middle.

 

We now have a nice wide path for our visitors and their dogs.

Photos by Alan Watts

Erika's Summer Walk

Erika, one of our work party volunteers, was walking to a work party in the woods recently and took some lovely photos of the plants she found on the way. Here is her description of them :- 

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On the way to Filnore Woods this morning, 26th June, I took some photos. It was going to be a scorcher. 

In the field beyond the wood I spotted this trio of cereals

Oats standing proud, barley turning golden first with the ears bending over and wheat in the foreground, getting fat on the rain we've had.

Further on I saw - 

Small leaved Lime,  White Bryony, 

and Sweet Chestnut.

Then there was 

Knapweed

The seedhead of Meadow Salsify

and Buddleja. All in flower on a sunny day.

All photos by Erika Booth

More Mowing

At the work party on the 12th May we began the scything season by clearing the area along the hedge between Filnore and the allotments and had hoped to continue by clearing the the two hedges either side of the entrance at the next work party. Unfortunately this was cancelled because of rain so we had another go last Sunday (9th June).

As you can see, the outsides of both hedges are pretty well full of vegetation that's stopping light getting to them.

The other side is just as bad so we had to get rid of the weeds and open up the hedge again.

Derek, Peter, Eric and Will got stuck into clearing that side and soon made good progress. 

On the other side, Jim and Mike were making good progress too.

While Erika cut a solitary path behind the hedge near the allotments and found :- 

We don't know whose home this was but we think it may have been a wren. If anyone does know please tell us. By the way, this isn't where the nest was built. It fell out of the hedge and was placed it that position for the photo.

                 

Erika then carried on and soon had the weeds cleared and opened up the hedge to the light.

On the other side of the entrance Jim, Eric and Mike had opened up that hedge and produced a lot of arisings.

Which Will and Peter are putting in the pits along the ride beside the allotments.

Whilst we are waiting for the S Glos mowing team to come and cut the paths and Welcome area, Andy had made a path through the grass from the entrance to the bench so our visitors can have a rest without getting their feet wet!

Erika's Flowery Walk in June

 Erika, one of our work party volunteers, was walking in the woods recently and took some lovely photos of the flowers she found there. Here is her description of them :- 

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June in Filnore Wood

The meadow areas have Red Clover. Apparently once a bee has taken the nectar it only takes 15 minutes for the flower to refill its stores, one of the quickest flowers to refill so very beneficial to pollinators.

 

The Buttercups are peaking at the moment. I like this one with the bug.

Dock and Cowslips are forming.

 

Wild Roses have a large open flower whereas the Elderflower has a collection of little tiny individual ones that form large clumps. Both have a lovely perfume.

I like the close proximity of the Oxeye daisy and the Teasel stalk, just to confuse, in this photo from the top meadow area.

And lastly this close up of some Sorrel, full of pollen and waving high above the rest of the plants to catch the wind.

All photos by Erika Booth

Six Men Went to Mow

At the work party last Sunday (12th May) we began the scything season.

The area along the hedge between Filnore and the allotments has grown quite considerably and the bracken in it is starting to grow. To prevent this spreading too much - we have quite a lot of it at Filnore, we began to cut it down. As well as clearing the bracken this will also let more light get to the smaller trees and stuff forming the hedge.

Out came our six scythes and we set to work cutting down the grass and bracken. 

When we were cutting close to the hedge great care was taken not to cut down the bluebells growing there. You can just see a patch to the left of Eric.

As the work progressed we produced a lot of brash - cut material; that was raked up, put in the barrow then unloaded into the pits further along the path. The pits were made over 10 years ago by some mountain bikers who wanted a more challenging ride!

Here Eric is repairing part of the hedge between us and the allotments where it had been broken down by someone wanting to get through. Don't know why they needed to do that - the main entrance is only a few yards away!

A little while later the ground had been cleared and tidied up and the work was done for the day ...

... until we need to re-visit in the autumn.