​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.

Thanks to all those that took part in our 12 Days of Christmas Trail.   
This photo by Helen Hobbs nicely sums up exactly what we were aiming for :-)
You can see more pictures and download the 12 day drawings here
Keep you eye out for new challenges this year or why not come along to one of our Volunteer days.  We will be working in Cannon Hill North (north of the A31) for the next 3 months at least.  Kicking of on Sunday 13th January.

Until the new year, you can follow our family friendly festive trail (less than 2 miles) See here for details

Volunteer Conservation day  Sunday 2nd December Cannon Hill South
​ 
We will be in the same place as the last few months, south of the A31  off Uddens Drive (Just up from the Old Thatch on Wimborne Road West).  Postcode for SatNav BH21 7BG  If you get to the gravel track up by the A31, you have just missed us in the woodland on the left.
See the map below if you are not familiar of the site.
The red dot is roughly where we will be.

Any problems on the day call 07984 843192

We will be onsite from 9am until 2pm.
Come for the whole session or drop in for as long as you want.

Tools, guidance, gloves, Tea, Coffee, squash and biscuits will be freely available.
Weather permitting we have a bonfire with bacon rolls around Midday.  
We have switched to bacon as we have had a "bacon windfall" :-)

The ground can be fairly uneven in places and when we have a fire, there is obviously the risk of sparks.  Please dress accordingly for that...and the weather. 
We can usually find tasks to suit all ages and abilities.

For any youngsters coming to join in for their DofE etc, please bring an adult.  They are very welcome to join in or if they want to chat and drink coffee, that is absolutely fine too :-)

Tasks to include -
1.Clearing and burning more of the dug out Rhododendron.
2. Tidying up the glade area, including managing the brambles by containing them in one area.
3. Cutting back overhanging branches on the tracks to make it easier for cyclists and horse riders.
4. Scraping back the main tracks.
5. Checking and clearing out bird boxes.
6. Litter picking.

Bad Weather
Just a note on bad weather - High winds is the most likely to prevent a task going ahead.  Significant snow would also stop us.  Rain usually wouldn't, although we may finish earlier!
If we need to cancel at the last minute we will endeavour to post on the www.cannonhillfriends.org.uk/blog  and www.facebook.com/groups/saveuddenswoods/ 

If in any doubt call 07984 843192 to check.

Dates for 2019 coming soon.... No really they are!

Look forward to seeing you and please spread the word

Although not essential, it always helps to now how many people we are likely to have.
If you can let us know then great.  admin@cannonhillfriends.org.uk  

​Volunteer Conservation day  Sunday 4th November Cannon Hill South
​ 
We will be in the same place as last month, south of the A31  off Uddens Drive (Just up from the Old Thatch on Wimborne Road West).  Postcode for SatNav BH21 7BG  If you get to the gravel track up by the A31, you have just missed us in the woodland on the left.
See the map below if you are not familiar of the site.
The red dot is roughly where we will be.

Any problems on the day call 07984 843192

We will be onsite from 9am until 2pm.
Come for the whole session or drop in for as long as you want.
The location map and tasks and details below is relevant for the rest of the year.

Tools, guidance, gloves, Tea, Coffee, squash and biscuits will be freely available.
Weather permitting we have a bonfire with sausages around Midday.  

The ground can be fairly uneven in places and when we have a fire, there is obviously the risk of sparks.  Please dress accordingly for that...and the weather. 
We can usually find tasks to suit all ages and abilities.

For any youngsters coming to join in for their DofE etc, please bring an adult.  They are very welcome to join in or if they want to chat and drink coffee, that is absolutely fine too :-)

Tasks to include -
1.Clearing and burning more of the dug out Rhododendron.
2. Tidying up the glade area, including managing the brambles by containing them in one area.
3. Cutting back overhanging branches on the tracks to make it easier for cyclists and horse riders.
4. Scraping back the main tracks.
5. Checking and clearing out bird boxes.
6. Litter picking.

Bad Weather
Just a note on bad weather - High winds is the most likely to prevent a task going ahead.  Significant snow would also stop us.  Rain usually wouldn't, although we may finish earlier!
If we need to cancel at the last minute we will endeavour to post on the www.cannonhillfriends.org.uk/blog  and www.facebook.com/groups/saveuddenswoods/ 

If in any doubt call 07984 843192 to check.
Remaining 2018 Volunteer Task Days -

Sun 2nd Dec 2018

(2019 dates - still working on it, out soon ) 

Look forward to seeing you and please spread the word

Although not essential, it always helps to now how many people we are likely to have (particularly when we are purchasing sausages).  If you can let us know then great.  admin@cannonhillfriends.org.uk  

Kind Regards,

Andy Hartstone

​Volunteer Conservation day  Sunday 7th October Cannon Hill South
​ 
We will be in the same place as last month, south of the A31  off Uddens Drive (Just up from the Old Thatch on Wimborne Road West).  Postcode for SatNav BH21 7BG  If you get to the gravel track up by the A31, you have just missed us in the woodland on the left.
See the map below if you are not familiar of the site.
The red dot is roughly where we will be.
Look out for the signs.
Any problems on the day call 07984 843192

We will be onsite from 9am until 2pm.
Come for the whole session or drop in for as long as you want.
We will be spending the next 4 months working on the same site, so the location map and tasks and details below ids relevant for the rest of the year.

Tools, guidance, gloves, Tea, Coffee, squash and biscuits will be freely available.
Weather permitting we have a bonfire with sausages around Midday.  

The ground can be fairly uneven in places and when we have a fire, there is obviously the risk of sparks.  Please dress accordingly for that...and the weather. 
We can usually find tasks to suit all ages and abilities.

For any youngsters coming to join in for their DofE etc, please bring an adult.  They are very welcome to join in or if they want to chat and drink coffee, that is absolutely fine too :-)

Tasks to include -
1.Clearing and burning more of the dug out Rhododendron.
2. Tidying up the glade area, including managing the brambles by containing them in one area.
3. Cutting back overhanging branches on the tracks to make it easier for cyclists and horse riders.
4. Scraping back the main tracks.
5. Checking and clearing out bird boxes.
6. Litter picking.

Bad Weather
Just a note on bad weather - High winds is the most likely to prevent a task going ahead.  Significant snow would also stop us.  Rain usually wouldn't, although we may finish earlier!
If we need to cancel at the last minute we will endeavour to post on the www.cannonhillfriends.org.uk/blog  and www.facebook.com/groups/saveuddenswoods/ 

If in any doubt call 07984 843192 to check.
Remaining 2018 Volunteer Task Days -

Sun 4th Nov 2018 
Sun 2nd Dec 2018

(2019 dates - We will get these too you within the next month... so you have no excuse :-) 

Look forward to seeing you and please spread the word

Although not essential, it always helps to now how many people we are likely to have (particularly when we are purchasing sausages).  If you can let us know then great.  admin@cannonhillfriends.org.uk  Note - Problem with the email address has been resolved!


Kind Regards,

Andy Hartstone

The following entries all scored 100% which is brilliant!

Jill & John Whitfield
Liz Mitchener
Jacky Bodell
Jake & Will Avey-Hebditch

As we had more than one winning entry, an overall winner was pulled out of a hat at this month’s trustees meeting.

The winners are Jake & Will Avey-Hebditch.

Every correct entry will get a certificate.

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions which are really useful.

1. More benches between Uddens Drive and the police station – Originally we were expecting the Great Heath project to install more along the trailway. We are now planning to plug the gaps (hopefully 2019 if we can sort funding).

2. Seasonally themed hunts – Yes definitely, we will look at doing these. Probably covering a smaller area as it was pointed out the shear vastness and lack of tips was quite daunting.

3. Youth group involvement - Yes please! That is one of our core objectives. We have been joined on our regular work parties in the past by the Army Cadets and Cubs from Winton and Scouts from Wimborne. We can arrange tasks suitable for youth groups (self-supervised as we do not conduct DBS vetting) either in conjunction with our regular volunteer events of possibly standalone events.

Thanks to everyone who got involved, look out for more games coming soon.

Note - We will probably be removing the bench labels soon as some are badly water damaged so if you are still playing... you have a week or so :-)

The autumn volunteer task events kicked of today with a respectable 14 volunteers (nearly 40 hours of work) making a good start on the overgrown main track in Cannon Hill South.
Other tasks completed include preparing a bonfire site for next month's task day and controlling the brambles in the picnic glade.
To be honest we could have done with a few more pairs of hands, so don't be shy, come along and help out next month (Sunday 7th October)!
The first picture is the before view!  Less than 2 foot wide in places and used by cyclists, horse riders and walkers.

Volunteer Conservation day  Sunday 9th September Cannon Hill South
​ 
We are returning to our site South of the A31  off Uddens Drive (Just up from the Old Thatch on Wimborne Road West).  Postcode for SatNav BH21 7BG  If you get to the gravel track up by the A31, you have just missed us in the woodland on the left.
See the map above if you are not familiar of the site.
The red cross is the Glade picnic area.  If we are not there, we will be visible from the parking areas (blue dots), so you should be able to find us. Look out for the signs.

We will be onsite from 9am until 2pm.
Come for the whole session or drop in for as long as you want.
We will be spending the next 4 months working on the same site, so the location map and tasks and details below ids relevant for the rest of the year.

Tools, guidance, gloves, Tea, Coffee, squash and biscuits will be freely available.
Weather permitting we have a bonfire with sausages around Midday.  
For this coming Sunday we will be erring on the side of caution as it is still fairly dry about, so will NOT be having a bonfire, therefore if you are staying for the whole session, you may want to bring some lunch.

The ground can be fairly uneven in places and when we have a fire, there is obviously the risk of sparks.  Please dress accordingly for that...and the weather. 
We can usually find tasks to suit all ages and abilities.

For any youngsters coming to join in for their DofE etc, please bring an adult.  They are very welcome to join in or if they want to chat and drink coffee, that is absolutely fine too :-)

Tasks to include -
1.Clearing and burning more of the dug out Rhododendron.
2. Tidying up the glade area, including managing the brambles by containing them in one area.
3. Cutting back overhanging branches on the tracks to make it easier for cyclists and horse riders.
4. Scraping back the main tracks.
5. Checking and clearing out bird boxes.
6. Litter picking.

Bad Weather
Just a note on bad weather - High winds is the most likely to prevent a task going ahead.  Significant snow would also stop us.  Rain usually wouldn't, although we may finish earlier!
If we need to cancel at the last minute we will endeavour to post on the www.cannonhillfriends.org.uk/blog  and www.facebook.com/groups/saveuddenswoods/ 

2018 Volunteer Task Days -
Sun 9th Sep 2018 
Sun 7th Oct 2018 
Sun 4th Nov 2018 
Sun 2nd Dec 2018

(2019 dates - We will get these too you withing the next month... so you have no excuse :-) 

Look forward to seeing you and please spread the word

Although not essential, it always helps to now how many people we are likely to have (particularly when we are purchasing sausages).  If you can let us know then great.  admin@cannonhillfriends.org.uk

THE FRIENDS’ SUMMER NEWS LETTER
Time is flying and we are currently experiencing a welcome few days of rain in the midst of the hottest recorded temperatures since the Great Heatwave of 1976. It has been worrying indeed to see the Forest so tinder dry and with daily news of other valued heaths and moorlands aflame, we would ask everyone to be especially vigilant if these conditions return, to help prevent a similar tragedy.

PERCH BENCH PROJECT
As reported in our last Newsletter, the completion of the Perch Bench project courtesy of Cllr George Russell’s community funding has allowed us to proceed with our launch of a fun competition to run throughout the summer months. We were fortunate to receive publicity via the Stour and Avon magazine who featured a photo of Cllr Russell and some local volunteers and hope that lots of you will have fun seeking out all 20 of the Perch Benches and identifying the wildlife pictures sited beneath them all by Andy and Scott. (We also took the opportunity to give the benches a spruce up for the summer).
At the end of the summer those who have submitted their findings via our website, will be collated and the names of those who completed all 20 (or nearest) will be put into a hat for deciding the overall winner who will then receive a £25 voucher of their choice.
Cllr Russell will shortly be standing down due to the re-organisation of the District Councils and we thank him most sincerely for all the support and encouragement he has given the Friends since its inception. We wish him well in his retirement.

PR LEAFLET
Our thanks to Lin who has designed a leaflet to promote the Friends, briefly outlining our aims and the benefits of the woodlands. Photo’s taken by Andy have been incorporated, along with a map of the area on the reverse. We hope to distribute them in local Tourist Information and Community sites when printing is completed and hope you will look out for them and help us spread the word to those who may not yet be aware.

PATHS
Much work has been done to the lower lying pathways and gateways which became waterlogged and we hope that when the rain finally does return, you will notice a marked improvement in all-weather access. Grateful thanks must go to Chris and his friends at Stone Zone in Ferndown for donating such a large quantity of scalpings to allow this work to be carried out.
See picture at the end of this newsletter to see the finished work.
 
HIMALAYAN BALSAM
Despite torrential rain on the day, there was a good turnout of stalwart volunteers who braved the difficult conditions to have yet another go at bringing the rampant Himalayan Balsam near the police station, under control. Their efforts over the past few seasons have made a noticeable difference to its invasion, with the pathways being almost free of its stranglehold and new and varied flora and fauna already beginning to flourish. We thank all of you who have made such a difference.
The photo at the top of the newsletter, taken on the 2nd (brighter) day of the balsam pulling features Kevin modeling our newly acquired waders to retrieve some of the more inaccessible weed.

AGM
June saw our annual AGM taking place in Stapehill Village Hall with a good turnout of Friends and other interested parties. In accordance with the requirements of our new Charitable Status, Janet ensured that all of the current Trustees were held to re selection and also gave the required opportunities for any new potential Trustees to volunteer.  Due to work commitments, Chris stood down as a Trustee but will retain his interest in supporting the Friends and will attend committee meetings as/when in the future. Janet thanked him for all his efforts throughout the entire history of our group.
You can read the minutes and accounts for 2017/18 here .
Andy gave an illustrated talk on the past year’s Work Parties which highlighted just how much has been achieved. He also outlined some future projects being considered by the Trustee’s which we will be delighted to achieve, with hopefully the usual invaluable support from you as volunteers.
As always he urged everyone to keep an eye on our website, notice boards or the ‘What’s On’ section of the local Stour and Avon magazine for details of our Work Parties. Everyone is welcome to come along and lend a hand, or just to have a cuppa and a chat.
 
AND FINALLY . . .
All in all, it has been a very satisfying and productive season despite the summer months being lower key with well-deserved holidays taking priority and we look forwards to seeing you all in the Autumn when it will hopefully be cooler.  The Autumn series of work parties kick off on Sunday 9th September.
 
Janet – Chair of Friends
Lin – Vice Chair/Secretary