Branchlines October Updates
BRANCHLINES AND OLD SCHOOL WOOD
Working Parties have resumed on most Wednesday mornings after the summer break.
Monthly Working Party; Saturday October 24th
Volunteers meet as usual at 9.30am by the benches on the main track. Various tasks including aftercare for new trees, keeping paths and rides clear, perhaps some raking up; enjoying the fresh air, company and wildlife!
NEW VOLUNTEERS WELCOME. All tools and training provided. 11am refreshment break; bring a drink and dress for the weather.
Update.
The David Hilditch bench and the arbour seat were damaged, perhaps by rough use. Many thanks again to Ray for repairs.
The ponds are filling again with the rain. We have been removing weeds and brambles encroaching on the main pond. Dragonflies and damselflies were enjoying the scene, including ‘large red damselfly’. Grass seeds are now germinating on the chalk bank; the large upright plants were ‘Weld’.
Despite the loss of many young hazel in the drought, the new mulberry tree has thrived and has been fruiting. We are considering getting an apple press for producing juice from the fruit of the community orchard and maybe other apples that people bring on an ‘Apple Day’
It has been sad to see litter and dog poo left by inconsiderate visitors.
HAY DAY took place on Saturday August 22nd, the annual social event when we rake up the newly cut hay with refreshments in the church mid morning. The Old Meadow remains to be mown this autumn, once our mower has been repaired. Another raking session will be needed
Forest School resumed in the summer term, with children from the village school spending some Friday mornings in The Glades. This area is out of bounds for dogs and should not be used for campfires or barbeques.
David Taylor
ST LAWRENCE CHURCHYARD
Working Party, Saturday October 10th
We would value your help with ongoing general maintenance. Meet 9.30am in the churchyard. All tools provided, no special skills needed, and we stop for a chat and refreshments at 11am. It’s good for your mental and physical health to be outdoors with nature.
Last month we did the bonfire and removed brambles and some nettles and drooping branches. Lots of other jobs waiting such as hedge trimming, moving soil, spreading the compost we have made, raking up the last of this year’s mowing.
New information signs are going up. Our church is in the ‘diocese’ (administrative area) of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. They have a website which includes information on churchyard management for the benefit of people and wildlife. In the older part of the churchyard, we have war graves and protected trees. Important and uncommon wild flowers include burnet saxifrage, meadow saxifrage and wild clary, which thrive in grassland managed as meadow. The new graveyard is mainly lawn. Prohibited items are being removed in line with regulations.
Please keep dogs on leads in the churchyard. Dog poo in the church wheelie bins makes them pretty smelly, so could it go in the dedicated bin on The Street opposite the Old School House please – only 30 yards away.
David Taylor
