Category: Activity Blog

Nine volunteers met at Blunden Hall and moved on to the Birch Brook reserve. We admired the further length of ‘laid’ hedge created recently by BCTV volunteers and under our Working Party Leader’s guidance set to work on finishing two stretches of ‘dead hedge’. Dead hedges are the most primitive and ancient form of hedging, they comprise two parallel rows of stakes with the area between them filled with dead woody material. The stakes are then bound together at the top with long woven wooden binders which gives stability to the whole structure. They are quick to make and provide an important wildlife habitat for birds, hedgehogs etc. In terms of ecology they’ve very similar to an old woodpile, so we hope to see various wildlife make use of them for shelter and food.

On Tuesday 27th February, despite the snow and cold, two hardy Cove Brook Greenway Group volunteers helped by volunteers from BVCT continued the work started last year to lay a hedge on the boundary of the Birch Brook Reserve in Cove. The Group’s next working party on 10th March is at Birch Brook so you can come along and see the results!

Read more about what was achieved here

Snowy Hedge-Laying on the Cove Brook

At its last Working Party on 10th February a party of volunteers had a very muddy but enjoyable time clearing brambles to open up views of the Brook. The recent pipe laying work in the area had left large swathes of open earth which were sown with wildflower seeds. We also planted some seeds at the edge of the Brook. We will be watching carefully to see their progress. Despite the drizzle and the mud it was a great morning. Here are some of our CBGG volunteers hard at work.