17th January 2017 ... weekly volunteers

John, Alan, Steve, Ian, Terry, Bernard, Mike m, Mike p, Stuart, Ray, David a, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- extended the track clearance in ol2, with cutting birch and bonfire of brash. Two good size log piles built.

- cleared some problem stumps from the track, but there are still a couple at the beginning to do

- pulled down some ring barked trees that had bent over or snapped.  note that small birch do not ring bark well

- cleared some birch that were crowding some oak and chestnut

- cleared a little glade at the side of the track

- John pulled some pine on the m1 and a rhododendron in ol2

- looked the ponies

Observations:

- brambling, bull Finch, redpolls

- ravens being territorial in ol2

- 2 collared turtle doves

- stock dove

- Coal tit singing

- goldcrest, GS woodpecker

- cold, but sunny

- David made a nice fire in Keith's absence in Egypt.

Martin

10th January 2017 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, David a, Neil, Stuart, Ian, Steve, Mike m, Mike p, Bernard, Terry (new volunteer) Pat and Martin

Activities:

- looked the ponies
- mended the kissing gate
- pollarded some of the birches along the top
- coppiced gorse to the east of the reservoir and had bonfire.
- pruned odd branch that was unsafe or bullying

Observations:

- crossbills
- nice, but cold wind starting


Martin

3rd January 2017 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Neil, Stuart, Keith, Bernard, David p, David a, Ian, and Martin.  And Mike p who had wrong instructions on where to meet us, did some work around tool store.  My fault.

Activities:

- looked the ponies.  There were 8 koniks and 3 Exmoors.  Apparently Gary brought us an extra one that had been out of action for three weeks with foot trouble.  Some eating the gorse.

- widened the track for the bird count to allow vehicular access in ol2.  Logs stacked for collection and brash burnt.  Filled in one hole with pine logs. More work needed.

- some birch on the old road in ol2 cut and stacked.

Observations:

- pretty cold and a fire needed
- crossbills, redpolls, Raven, brambling


Martin

27th December 2016 ... weekly volunteers

everybody too busy

martin

20th December 2016 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, Mike p, Ray, Bernard, Stuart and Martin

Activities:

- looked the ponies
- cut and pulled gorse along Reynard's way and had one bonfire

Observations:

- missing some loppers
- crossbills and bramblings
- ravens
- cold and foggy weather
- no one can look at the weekend

Martin

13th December 2016 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Keith, Neil, Stuart, Bernard, Ian, Mike p, Mike m, and Martin

Activities:

- looked the ponies
- coppiced more gorse in the triangle and had a bonfire
- cut and split lots of fire wood in the shed. Brought more wood into shed for the future
- cleared a Pile of gorse logs near the small gate for fire wood.  Mike p took home.
- cut a couple of Xmas trees

Observations:

- weather not very nice.  Warm, but foggy and drizzling most of the time.
- crossbill, brambling

Martin

6th December 2016 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David a, David p, Mike p, Mike m, Steve, Ian, Graham, Keith, Pat ( but had to deal with car), Alan, Stuart, Jack (came to see us), and Martin

Activities:

- two gorse bonfires at the gorse triangle, burning arisings from about a month ago and further cutting.  Some cutting done along the side of the road.

- searched for any lost tools from the visit of Sackville pupils the day before.  One lopper may be missing.

- two attempts at looking the ponies failed.  Were seen the evening before and not a worry.  Looked on Wednesday successfully.

Observations:

- crossbills, reed buntings, ravens, Stonechats, bramblings
- cold but warming weather, slight wind

Martin

29th November 2016 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Pat, David p, Ian, Mike m, Bernard, Stuart, Keith, Steve, Jonathan and Martin.  Ray visited us for lunch, going for a walk.

Activities

- looked the ponies
- two gorse bonfires along the top and Reynard's way, burning stuff cut two weeks ago and more coppicing today. Gorse has been cleared from most of the path and down the first part of the ditch and bank.
- repaired the fence near the forest car park along the top, where the two top stands of barb appeared to have been cut and a fence post knocked over.
- Stuart dug some bracken peat from the roller stand piles, and took home
- John did some small gorse and pine digging near the bonfire sites

Observations:

- meet John luck visiting the reserve
- crossbills, reed buntings, Stonechats, fieldfares, redwings, song thrush, blackbirds, dunnocks, Goldcrests
- leucistic blackbird in normal patch
- bramblings at tool store
- cold, but clear skies. Early frost


Martin