Yes there can!!

This Wednesday 25th September Paul and Francis will be leading the team on a task based in the parking areas either side of Uddens Drive (North of A31). Tasks include improving the sight lines to make it easier to cross while using the Castleman trailway and obviously pull out of the parking. They will also be clearing the horse "detour route" used when cars are parked too close to the usual access. Some general tidying up and possibly cutting back some vegetation further along the trailway.
If you are coming along, please be self sufficient for refreshments and due to the proximity of cars, bring along a hi vis vest if you have one (the guys will have some spares as they will be mandatory for any work on the verge or in the carparks). This task runs from 09:30 until 15:00 approximately.

Can't make Wednesday? Then join us on Sunday 29th September!
This is an exciting one, as it is a chance to get a close up look at the transformation on the Dorset Peat Partnership Cannon Hill Mire.....
The contractors have finished flailing the Molinia grass tussocks and have infilled the drains and it is looking very different indeed!
We still have some Pine and Birch regen on the drier slopes to remove, The dry heath areas are great habitat for reptiles and as the wet heath becomes wetter we are keen to maintain these transitional areas. It is not ideal, or really necessary to burn what we are cutting, so we plan to drag it back into the crop trees where possible. Wellies would definitely be advisable, but for those that want to stay in the dry there is still plenty of Rhododendron to cut.
We will be basing ourselves just up the track from the dog splash. 
We will be onsite from 9am until 3pm ish, but as always start and end times are up to you.
Hot / cold drinks and biscuits supplied, but bring lunch if you wish.
We also provide gloves, tools and training.

Hope to see you there or at one of our future dates -  
October
Saturday 12th
Sunday 27th
Wednesday 30th
November
Saturday 9th
Sunday 24th
Wednesday 27th
December
Saturday 7th

Hi All,
As mentioned previously, our autumn volunteer work programme kicks off this Saturday.
We will be in Cannon Hill South (i.e. South of the A31 on Uddens Drive, just up from the Old Thatch).
Our base will be at the first entrance to the woods by the parking area, so you absolutely can't miss us!
/// dialects.remedy.life
SU 05179 00786

Priority tasks include refurbishing the noticeboard, repairs to a picnic table and cutting back the encroaching vegetation along the paths.
There are plenty of other bits to do too, such as a litter pick, so nobody will be underutilised :-)

We will be onsite from 9am until 3pm ish, but as always start and end times are up to you.

Hot / cold drinks and biscuits supplied, but bring lunch if you wish.

We also provide gloves, tools and training.

Hope to see you there or at one of our future dates -  
September
Wednesday 25th
Sunday 29th

October
Saturday 12th
Sunday 27th
Wednesday 30th

November
Saturday 9th
Sunday 24th
Wednesday 27th

December
Saturday 7th

Hi all,
Apologies for the late notice, but unfortunately we will not be able to run our monthly weekday session this Wednesday.
To make up for that disappointing news though, I can confirm our dates up to Christmas!!
 We will be kicking off the programme in Cannon Hill South on Saturday 14th September.
More details to follow nearer the time including location and task etc.

Dates for your diary -
September
Saturday14th
Wednesday 25th
Sunday 29th

October
Saturday 12th
Sunday 27th
Wednesday 30th

November
Saturday 9th
Sunday 24th
Wednesday 27th

December
Saturday 7th
​
They are subject to change, but we will try to stick with them as much as possible.
We may sneak another one or two into December.
We will be updating our list of emergency contacts, so look out for the link in the email we send with details of the next volunteer day.
As a reminder, we start at 9am (9.30am on Wednesdays) and finish at 3pm ish.
We like to be all inclusive and flexible though, so unless stated otherwise, arrival and departure times are up to you :-)
Hope to see you in the woods soon,
Kind regards,

Andy🦎

Hi all,
We have had a 2nd flush of invasive Himalayan Balsam come up along Uddens Water, so we are planning another session this Sunday.

This is a very satisfying and non strenuous task, as it pulls out really easily.
The ground conditions can be uneven and wet in places as well as there being a risk of ticks in the long vegetation, so long trousers, sleeves and boots are recommended.
We can supply gloves or you can use your own, as the tighter fitting or more grippy gloves are probably better than our rigger gloves.
There may be a few other jobs to do, like cutting back vegetation along the path for those that want to stay on a hard surface! 

Sunday 28th July 9am - 3pm
Meet by the footbridge at the police station entrance to Uddens Plantation.
https://w3w.co/launch.sake.beam
SU 06891 02368
Parking available at the Ferndown Forest Golf Club, Forest Links Road,  BH22 9PH
We won't have the trailer, but we will still have hot / cold drinks and biscuits. Bring lunch if staying all day.

Wednesday 31st July 9.30am - 2.30pm
Join Paul and the team for some tasks.
As yet to be decided, but there are plenty of things to do!
It will depend on what we prioritise and how many people we have.
If you are interested coming along, please let us know, so we can give you the details.
While we are still working out what works for our Wednesday sessions, please can we ask that you bring your own drinks with you.
Rumour has it, there will be biscuits though 😅

NB - We may finish earlier than stated times depending on the work, weather and how everyone feels on the day. 
As ever, you can of course come and go as suits.

August dates out soon - The Summer is always harder to plan ahead.  We hope to get some longer term plans in place for the Autumn and Winter seasons.
Hope to see you there,

Andy🦎

Hi All,
It is lovely to be able to announce that we have recently gained some new volunteers / potential volunteer.
Welcome!  We are a super friendly and relaxed group.  You are welcome to join us whenever you are free, there is never any pressure :-)
This time of year is usually a little quieter as bird nesting season and other seasonal constraints reduce what activities we can undertake.
Currently we aim to do a Saturday and a Sunday each month and have also started a Wednesday (the last Wednesday of the month).
Having said that, It looks like we will only be able to fit one weekend session in July (likely to be the 2nd half of the month).

Back to this Sunday!   We had expected to carry out our usual Summer task of Himalayan balsam (an invasive non-native menace) pulling along Uddens Water.  Amazingly though, after two sessions this year, it looks like we are on top of it... A fabulous achievement after 10 years of focussing on it.
We do have a plan B - Bracken, another invasive (although native) plant, needs controlling on our Elford Heath lowland heathland restoration site.  We will be whacking it to break the stems and hopefully stop it's spread.  This can be quite a physical and hot task on uneven terrain.
As the Bracken bashing won't suit everyone, we have found another task in the vicinity.   Another non-native, Rhododendron ponticum within the adjacent woodland can be cut  and stacked.  This should be more shady and the ground is less uneven.  It is rare for Rhododendron to support nesting birds, but we will obviously check the site carefully in advance.
The ground should be dry, but there is risk of ticks in the long vegetation, so long trousers, sleeves and boots are recommended.
Tools, gloves, hot / cold drinks and biscuits, but bring some lunch if staying all day.

Location (See poor picture below)-
Elford Heath (not listed on maps), but it is in Uddens Plantation. South of the solar farm.  Follow the main gravel  forest road and you can't miss us.
SU 05572 01698
https://w3w.co/salad.majors.shirts

Parking -
Closest is the first entrance off Uddens Drive (just off the A31)
SU 04994 01188
https://w3w.co/district.strumming.prickly

NB - We plan to be there 9am-3pm, but may finish earlier depending on the work, weather and how everyone feels on the day. 
As ever, you can of course come and go as suits.
Any questions, please ask.
Hope to see you there,
Andy🦎

Hoping you have had a good May and are keen to get back to some work in the woods this June.
We have a change of scenery and change of task this month.

On our 3 sessions this month we will be working along Uddens Water pulling out invasive Himalayan Balsam.
This is a very satisfying and non strenuous, as it pulls out really easily.
The ground conditions can be uneven and wet in places as well as there being a risk of ticks in the long vegetation, so long trousers, sleeves and boots are recommended.
We can supply gloves or you can use your own, as the tighter fitting or more grippy gloves are probably better than our rigger gloves.
There may be a few other jobs to do, like cutting back vegetation along the path for those that want to stay on a hard surface! 

Saturday 8th June 9am - 3pm
Meet by the footbridge at the police station entrance to Uddens Plantation.
https://w3w.co/launch.sake.beam
SU 06891 02368

Wednesday 26th June 9.30am - 2.30pm
Sunday 30th June 9am - 3pm
Meet by the footbridge near Bedborough solar farm on the Castleman Trailway.
https://w3w.co/finally.tame.equipping
SU 05782 02181

Parking for all days available at the Ferndown Forest Golf Club, Forest Links Road,  BH22 9PH
We can highly recommend the Forest Inn there for a post volunteering drink or even a pre-volunteering breakfast!

NB - We may finish earlier depending on the work, weather and how everyone feels on the day.  As ever, you can of course come and go as suits.
If arriving later, follow the trailway along Uddens water until you come to our vehicle. It there is nobody in sight, there will be a radio there for you to call us.

We won't have the trailer, but we will still have hot / cold drinks and biscuits. Bring lunch if staying all day.

Saturday 15th June we will be at Ferndown Fete on the Field - Come and see us!

Hope to see you there,

Andy 🦎

​Dear Friends,  

SATURDAY
The plan for Saturday is to move to the next stage of the Dog splash project.
There is a limit to the number of people that can safely work on the decking itself, so we have some other projects we can do in the same area.
1. Install hand rail on deck area by dog splash.
2. Drainage work to send the water back into the mire and stop it washing out the road
3. Cutting Rhododendron along the track edge as previously.
These tasks are suitable to carry out without disturbing any nesting birds or reptiles.
Please bring some lunch if you are staying all day.
LOCATION - Saturday
We will be based at the Dog Splash, as marked on the map below (Ignore the blue dot / meeting point). 
SU 04486 01303
 https://w3w.co/resists.tens.shredding

Parking (Red dot on map) -
Parking area and entrance off Uddens Drive (North from the A31)
SU 04916 01268
https://w3w.co/clutches.evolving.cashiers

For those that have not been before or recently -
We are onsite from 9am - 3pm ish You are welcome to come and go at times convenient to you.
Stay for the whole session or pop along for a couple of hours.
We always have a plentiful supply of hot and cold drinks and biscuits...... 
Tools, gloves, training and safety brief provided.
All ages welcome, but under 16's to be supervised please.

Please dress for the weather, uneven / wet ground conditions and possible spikey vegetation. For those working on the dog splash platform, please wear safety footwear if you have it (Don't worry if not we will have other mitigation methods in place!).

WEDNESDAY
The plan for Wednesday lead by Paul and Francis is to return to the top of the mire in Cannon Hill North where we spent most of the winter.
Tasks include -
1. Clear the fire site and tidy the general area
2. Fill in some of the smaller drainage ditches
3. Repair the wheel ruts on Lizard alley

LOCATION - Wednesday
We will be based at the top of Lizard Alley. (Blue Dot / Meeting point on map below) 
SU 04316 01132 
https://w3w.co/waitress.customers.economies

Parking (Red dot on map) -
Parking area and entrance off Uddens Drive (North from the A31)
SU 04916 01268
https://w3w.co/clutches.evolving.cashiers
For those that have not been before or recently -
We are onsite from 9:30am - 2:30pm ish You are welcome to come and go at times convenient to you.
Stay for the whole session or pop along for a couple of hours.
We always have a plentiful supply of hot and cold drinks and biscuits...... 
Tools, gloves, training and safety brief provided.
All ages welcome, but under 16's to be supervised please.

Please dress for the weather, uneven / wet ground conditions and possible spikey vegetation.


Please don't hesitate to ask if you need more information.

Dear Friends,

As delightful as it is to spend time by the new dog splash in Cannon Hill North, admiring all your hard work on the mire restoration project, it is time for a change of scenery!

Cannon Hill South is in need of some love and attention.

The fence damaged by an over enthusiastic horse need repairing. Everyone I have spoke to believes it is the responsibility of National Highways.... with the exception of....National Highways....   So we are going to patch it up.

Other tasks include -
scraping off the mud on the main tracks and making sure they can drain.
Cutting back encroaching vegetation along the paths.
Giving the benches some TLC (weather dependant).
Litter picking.

As always we will be on site from 9am until 3pm ish.
Come along whenever you like for as long as you like.

Location - We are South of the A31, so up Uddens Drive from the Old Thatch end (or come across the bridge from Cannon Hill North).

We will be starting work and have a fair bit to do up by the bridge over the A31, so come and find us there.

Initial work site -
W3W ///questions.spring.static 
SU 04797 00861

Parking along Uddens Drive -
W3W ///worksheet.files.songs
SU 05136 00900

As always, we have plenty of hot drinks and biscuits.
If you are staying all day, bring some lunch if you wish.
Gloves, tools, training and great company provided.
Dress for the weather conditions, uneven ground and spikey plants.

Under 16's to be accompanied please.

Future dates -
Sat 20th April
Wed 24th April
Sun 12th May
Wed 29th May

Please don't hesitate if you have any questions.
Kind regards,

Andy Hartstone
Friends of Uddens & Cannon Hill Woodlands
07984 843192
[email protected]

Project updates from the woods!
Read our latest (and embarrassingly infrequent) "Newsletter" here -
https://mailchi.mp/de14102f036f/easter-update
It contains updates on a lot of our projects, including the incredibly popular "Dog Splash".  
This project was an original idea of one of our founding members and first chairman Michael Gorse, who sadly passed away last year.
With his son Martyn's blessing, we are dedicating this project in his memory.  
Any donations to cover the remaining costs of this project would be very gratefully received.
Online donations can be made here -
https://cannon-hill-remembers-michael-gorse.raiselysite.com/
More details can be found in the newsletter linked at the top.
💚🦎

Dear Friends,  
*** Scroll down for April - June dates for your diary ***
What an amazing effort the other week!  Hopefully you have seen the progress on the deck at the dog splash, if not see the picture above.
We achieved far more than expected and it is really taking shape.
This Wednesday 27th March we will be continuing the work on and around it.
As always we have tasks to suit everyone, including the ever present Rhododendron management....

Please bring some lunch if you are staying all day.

For those that have not been before or recently -
We are onsite from 9am - 3pm ish You are welcome to come and go at times convenient to you.
Stay for the whole session or pop along for a couple of hours.
We always have a plentiful supply of hot and cold drinks and biscuits...... and possibly some other treats.
Tools, gloves, training and safety brief provided.
All ages welcome, but under 16's to be supervised please.

Please dress for the weather, uneven / wet ground conditions and possible spikey vegetation. 

LOCATION - Wednesday
We will be based at the Dog Splash, as marked on the map below (Ignore the blue dot / meeting point). 
SU 04486 01303
 https://w3w.co/resists.tens.shredding

Parking (Red dot on map) -
Parking area and entrance off Uddens Drive (North from the A31)
SU 04916 01268
https://w3w.co/clutches.evolving.cashiers


Hope to see you there or at one of our future events -

Sunday 7th April - Cannon Hill South - Fence repairs, path & bench maintenance
Saturday 20th April
Wednesday 24th April
Sunday 12th May
Wednesday 29th May
Saturday 8th June
Wednesday 26th June
Sunday 30th June

Please don't hesitate to ask if you need more information.
Kind regards,

Andy  🦎
 
07984 843192
 
[email protected]