| Footpaths |
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| Footpaths trace their way across
120,000 miles of Britain’s countryside and the number of people using them is rapidly
increasing; some paths are being quietly ‘absorbed’ into farmland, many are
poorly signposted and are being eroded at an alarming rate. The work we do is essential to
arrest devastating erosive processes and in some cases to fight back against rampant plant
life. The work includes clearance of overgrown vegetation, application of many drainage
techniques, resurfacing work, construction of boardwalks and step building to retain
slopes and topsoil. |
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| Fencing |
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| Fencing involves
both modern and traditional methods and materials. The work can be lengthy but the result
is a rigid structure which should remain for several years. Fencing is required for
protection of newly planted trees or established woods, preventing access to particular
habitats, stock control and land management. The form of fencing range from completely
wooded structures (including stiles), to ‘pig wire’ with end strainers and
intermediate posts. Typically end strainers have to be sunk 3 feet into the ground and
packed with rock; as a result the finished post should be strong enough for the average
person to swing on without any visible movement. |
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| Dry stone walling |
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| Dry stone walls are a common
feature of the uplands, where conditions are too severe for the planting of hedges and
some means of livestock control and protection is needed. A well made dry stone wall will
far outlive its mortared counterpart and supports a much wider diversity of wildlife. This
provides reason enough for the continuation of a highly skilled craft now some 4,000 years
old. |
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| Hedgelaying |
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| Hedgelaying is a more recent
skill, known only since Roman times! This is a means of providing livestock control and
shelter in the form of an interwoven barrier. These valuable lines of hedges across
Britain allow rich local ecosystems and form ‘wildlife corridors’ from one area
to another. The idea of hedgelaying is to slice far enough through the stem bases of an
existing bush or line of saplings for them to be lent over close to the ground, woven and
staked into position. They will survive this rather brutal treatment and grow into a thick
stock-proof boundary. |
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| Scrub removal |
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| Scrub is typically vegetation
dominated by small trees and important habitat for wildlife and also provides a valuable
stage in plant succession. However, to be effective it must be controlled. Management is
necessary to protect rarer species from more dominant types. Rhododendron being a classic
‘encroacher’ on both footpaths and habitats of conservation value. Many of the
winter tasks involve ‘bashing’ of scrub and are usually accompanied by a most
welcome bonfire. |
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| Ponds & Canals |
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| Pond and canal tasks are always
a popular feature of our programme. The work we do helps combat the effects of increasing
pollution and years of neglect of our aquatic habitats. Traditional methods of clay
puddling are still used, however many new ponds are constructed with modern impermeable
liners. Existing ponds need to be cleared of debris, banks and inlets may require
reinforcement and very importantly, surrounding trees may require thinning to allow more
light in and reduce the chance of vegetation falling in. |
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| Tree Planting |
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| Planting of native deciduous
trees is necessary to continue a system of age succession within scrub and woodlands. This
activity is mainly carried out during the winter months. |
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| Tree Felling |
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| Treefelling is an essential part
of woodland conservation and management, which at first may seem to go against the grain!
The major reasons for the thinning out of the existing tree canopy are to remove invasive
species and introduce light pockets that increase the diversity of species and ages in the
woodland, and at the same time assist the growth of remaining trees. |
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| Coppicing |
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| Coppicing of trees is also
carried out, the aim being not to kill the tree but to prune it back to the ground so that
it produces many new shoots. This is an ancient practice that provided a reliable supply
of straight poles for the woodsman. Again the conservation benefits of this technique are
increased light and space to the woodland. |
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