
On Friday, we held our first nature conservation workday of the year. The chilly weather did not deter our enthusiastic volunteers, who came well wrapped up. Andy Stubbs from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust led us in woodland thinning, which involved removing small Holly trees and non-native species.

We heaped the cut branches into brash piles. These piles benefit a wide range of animals, from mammals to insects. Ecologists recommend that about a quarter to a third of woodland mass consists of dead wood, as it enhances the diversity of habitats for resident species.
Woodland thinning aims to create glades or open regions for people to enjoy. It also allows different plants to become established, making the wood more biodiverse. To assist the process, at the end of Friday’s session, we raked the ground and scattered wildflower seeds around the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Oak that had been cleared of Holly.
The seed mix we used included thirteen native wildflower species:
Red Campion, White Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Primrose, Wood Sage, Hairy St John’s Wort, Hedge Woundwort, Cowslip, Hedge Cranesbill, Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Foxglove, Tufted Vetch and Wood Avens.
Most of these species are perennials, so they will take more than a year to establish and flower. We shall watch with interest to see what emerges over time.