This Sunday 16th June we will be starting on our Himalayan Balsam pulling programme along Uddens Water.

Long trousers and substantial footwear essential as the balsam is now mostly in amongst other vegetation and there is a risk of ticks. The ground is mostly pretty uneven too and likely to be boggy in places.

It is quite early in the season, but it is there (see pics taken on Tuesday).

We will be starting near the footbridge near Bedborough Farm at 9am and working down towards the police station.

The starting location is a bit of a walk from either access, but particularly if you are unsure it is probably easier to to park on the access road to the golf course / police station and follow the river until you find us. Let me know if you need a lift or collecting from either entrance. Access point on Uddens Drive is marked with a red dot, the police station entrance isn't marked.

Unless I have a lot of people saying they are coming along, we won't bring the trailer, but we will have the usual hot/cold drinks, biscuits and gloves are provided.

If you can't make it, feel free to pull any balsam you see and leave it with the root out of the ground. Balsam pulls up easily. If it has hairs on the stalk and resists pulling out it is not balsam so leave it be :-)

Dear Friends,

You are invited to join us for our Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Wednesday 19th June
at High Mead Farm,  Ham Lane, Ferndown, Dorset.  BH22 9DP

There will be an illustrated presentation of our projects and some of the flora and fauna spotted in the woods.
The formalities are kept to a minimum, but it is an ideal opportunity to see what we have been up to over the last 12  months.

Although all the trustees had to stand for election last year as we upgraded the charity designation, we are obliged to have a third of the trustees stand for election each year.
Three existing trustees will be standing down, but will all be standing again for election.
They are Jim Burbidge, Andy Hartstone and Lin White.  See their statements here, where you can also see the agenda.

That doesn't mean there are not places for anyone else.....   We would really love to have a couple of new faces on the team.   If you are interested in getting a little more involved in the group, please get in touch.
Trustee meetings are currently only a couple of hours every other month.

Hope to see you there

Kind Regards,  The Trustees

Not a "signed up" Friend yet?  No matter you are still very welcome to come along.

Volunteer work party in Cannon Hill South this Thursday (I couldn't fit in any weekends that weren't a Bank Holiday this month).
We will be onsite from 9am - 2pm.

Lots of different tasks to really suit everyone.

1. Mark up the remaining Rhododendron patches on a site map.

2. Check the bird boxes (from a distance) and record the number of the ones in use. Unfortunately last year we did not get to check/clear them out so it would be good to know who is using them this year.

3. Sand / scrub the algae off two of the picnic benches.

4. Paint the other 2 two picnic benches and perch benches.

5. Continue scraping the paths....for those looking for something a little more physical.

6. Litter pick

7. General tidy of the picnic glade.... Create habitat piles?

8. Drill holes in stacked timber (left from forestry work as uneconomical to remove) to give bees a helping hand.

9. Spread the ash from the old fire sites. 

Obviously no fire, so no sausages, but plenty of drinks and biscuits.

Anyone that wants to just come and drink tea is also welcome.

NB. It is South of the A31, just up from the Old Thatch along Uddens Drive. 

— at Cannon Hill South known locally as Uddens Woodland.    - Andy

An early morning bike ride to survey the signage on the Castleman Trailway for our "patch".
The trailway runs from Ringwood to Upton House, but the part we are most interested in stretches from Ferndown Forest Golf Club / Police Station up to just before the Canford Bottom Roundabout.
We will be updating and maintaining the waymarkers along this section on behalf of the Dorset Countryside Ranger team.

Fascinating fact.... Of those 3 miles, only the final half mile that runs adjacent to Wimborne Road West actually follows the route of the old Castleman's Corkscrew railway (Southampton to Dorchester Railway 1847 to 1964 passengers/1974 freight).

​Thanks to our local Councillor George Russell and funding from EDDC we will be installing a bench half way along the old railway line in Stapehill.
The bridleway that forms part of the Castleman Trailway, runs parallel with Wimborne Road West for half a mile with entrances on Uddens Drive and near the Canford Bottom Roundabout.
Since it has been re-surfaced, it makes an ideal wildlife rich green route for the those that find our woodland just a little too far to go.
A bench in a sunny spot half way along will allow for even greater enjoyment of the route.
We will be installing a hard wood bench of the same design (minus carved map) to the ones recently installed along the length of the Castleman Trailway as part of the recent Great Heath Project.
We are very grateful to Linwood Sawmill Limited at Mannington who are supporting the project with locally sourced hardwood at cost price. Amazing! 
As part of the project we will be installing an interpretation panel at the same spot with some local & natural history information.
The scheme also has the support of the Dorset Countryside Ranger Team who are responsible for this section of the Trailway.

​Come and join us this Sunday (10th March) anytime from 9am until 2pm ish. 
We will be working on the Bridleway in Cannon Hill North running along the field edge from the A31 bridge to the high burial mound view point.  (same as last two months).
We will set up near the lower burial mound.
The map shows the main area of work and our base in red.
The blue shows the main access points/parking and route to take to find us. We will put some signs up to point you in the right direction when you get near.

We will be mainly opening up the bridleway that runs along the field edge.  Cutting back the encroaching holly etc

Tasks can be tailored to suit the individual. Gloves, tools, training, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash and as many ginger crunch creams as you can eat! Due to popular demand we are back to sausages in rolls for those around after midday.

​Come and join us this Sunday (10th Feb) anytime from 9am until 2pm ish. 
We will be working on the Bridleway in Cannon Hill North running along the field edge from the A31 bridge to the high burial mound view point.
We will set up near the lower burial mound.
The map shows the main area of work and our base in red.
The blue shows the main access points/parking and route to take to find us. We will put some signs up to point you in the right direction when you get near.

We did't get as much done last month as we hoped and we know some of our key players are not available this month, so if you are free, please come along.

There is enough to keep us busy at that location for 
Sun 10th March too.

Tasks to include clearing the encroaching vegetation on the bridleway, burial mounds and path across the recently planted area. There is also some Rhododendron in this area.

Tasks can be tailored to suit the individual. Gloves, tools, training, tea, coffee, squash and as many ginger crunch creams as you can eat! Bacon rolls for those around after midday.

Uddens House (demolished in the 1950's) whose driveway was in the heart of our woodland has been lost in the mists of time, limited to some old photos and genealogical records.
Until now! 
Our history page has been updated with the memories of Betty Rudling who lived and worked there between the wars.
We are grateful to Lin White her daughter (who still lives within sight of the woods and is one of our trustees) for sharing these memories.
She has also shared an account of the Holy Cross Abbey at Stapehill.
A fascinating read and insight through the eyes of a 14 year old girl in 1934.
Have a read and let us know what you think.
If anyone can provide any photos or memories of the woods or surrounding area from times gone by, we would love to hear from you.

​Come and join us this Sunday (13th Jan) anytime from 9am until 2pm ish. 
We will be working on the Bridleway in Cannon Hill North running along the field edge from the A31 bridge to the high burial mound view point.
We will set up near the lower burial mound.
The map shows the main area of work and our base in red.
The blue shows the main access points/parking and route to take to find us. We will put some signs up to point you in the right direction when you get near.

We think there is enough to keep us busy at that location for Sun 13th January
Sun 10th February
Sun 10th March

Tasks to include clearing the encroaching vegetation on the bridleway, burial mounds and path across the recently planted area. There is also some Rhododendron in this area.

This is a task that can accommodate large numbers, so don't be shy. If you have not been before, come along and see what you think, even if it is just to grab a coffee and have a chat. 
We would absolutely love to see a few more Colehillians.. So for those of you who are reluctant to go "south of the road", the next 3 months at least is your opportunity :-)

Tasks can be tailored to suit the individual. Gloves, tools, training, tea, coffee, squash and as many ginger crunch creams as you can eat! Bacon rolls for those around after midday.