RolloTreadwayMar 22

I went to the woods. I did feel a bit better amongst the trees, but the hike back up to my home has ruined all that and felt horrible (this is why I want to buy a house right beside woods).

I met this sight, which looks terrible. If I didn't know better, I'd assume the woods were being removed for some kind of development.

But I do know better. I know that this is the work of the Woodland Trust, and the wood is being saved, not killed. There are three major projects ongoing: remove the destructive rhododendrons, cut back the invasive conifers, and also unfortunately to remove a stand of diseased trees. In their place, native trees and ground plants will grow. Clearings will be encouraged to develop naturally, all the better for biodiversity.

This will be wonderful. It's a shame that so much destruction is required to get there. But needs must.

Show thread@shezza_tMar 22

@RolloTreadway A long time ago, I helped clear invasive rhododendrons as part of work’s community volunteering scheme. The aim was to remove the remains of an old, old ornamental garden and replace it with native woodland.

Until that day spent hacking shrubs away to let the mini digger in to dig up their roots, I had no idea rhododendrons were so destructive to other plants.

So yeah, the clearances are grim to see in the early stages.

Show threadRolloTreadway
@shezza_t I did some voluntary work on that too, a couple of years ago, cutting back rhododendron growth so that it would be less work for the professionals (and thus less expense for the Woodland Trust) to fully remove them.
Mar 22 at 8:12pmWeb
Show thread@shezza_tMar 22

@RolloTreadway Nice.

I had the chance to do a load of charity volunteering through work, and the stuff like that, or sorting out gardens at a special school, were the best.