Last month I said I would mention the unmentionable - rhododendrons, specifically ponticum L. According to my "bible" on woodland conservation this variety is the most prolific imported evergreen shrub. In many parts of Britain it is a completely dominant shrub in whole woods, and is a major threat to woodland conservation. You can say that again! The trouble is that litttle will grow beneath it, and birds don't like it. So we root it up and burn it, which makes sure that it won't root again.
Rhodies are not too difficult to deal because the roots are fairly shallow unless a plant is well grown. For volunteers in a small wood it's no problem. Our best tool is a mattock (a wide-edged pick) which is ideal to get down into the roots. You can hand winch them out, but it does seem to me that that's a bit of of a fiddling job - and it has to be carried out with care. We shall return to the rhodies. Their number is up!
Since the end of February we have widened part of the lower ride above the stream, which was last dealt with four years ago. Mostly the ride is now down to a footpath with a steadily-burgeoning growth of bramble, birch seedlings and some heather, which waylay the walker, and hamper the smaller hawthorn and spindle on the edge of the ride, although the latter are very few and far between, probably because they prefer chalk or limestone soils. I wonder who drew up the planting plan after the Big Storm!
By the time you read this we will have completed about 200 yards (220 metres or so) along the ride, and as we look back at it we picture the butterflies and other insects which will inhabit it soon. Because the sun shines along the ride at mid-day, and because opening up rides help encourage wildlife, we hope this season we may find something really exciting.
Yesterday, I picked up my jacket to go home after work and it was covered in wood ants! They were sunning themselves ready for refurbishing their summer home. These creatures abound in the wood and are a feature of the reserve. So watch where you sit down from now on!
John Hall © 2000