Volunteer Work Party - Saturday 2nd February 10am - 3.30pm
On Saturday working with Paul Jones from Dorset Countryside Ranger Service we held a joint work party on the bridleway section and main track through Uddens Woodland, Stapehill
The day was an amazing success with 55 volunteers attending. We knew there were strong feelings for the woods, but for that many people to be available and prepared to give up their free time was really special.
We had a real mix of ages spanning 8 decades and although there were no doubt some aches and pains the next day, I'm pretty certain everyone went home with a real sense of achievement. More than 170 man hours went into the day, which is the equivalent of a full timer working there for more than a month!
Although the Ranger Service only have responsibility for the Castleman Trailway, the Forestry Commission had kindly given permission for us to have a bonfire and clear some of the invasive Rhododendron. This was fortunate as with the numbers we had, light work was made of the Bridleway and an enormous amount of Holly, Rhododendron and brash cleared keeping the team on the bonfire busy all day.
A large section of track was scraped back gaining a good metre of track. Probably the least fun task, but with 8 people at a time with shovels it didn't take long to clear a good length of it.
Special thanks -
To the ladies who made plenty of excellent cakes to keep us going.
Vera , Jill and Michael for manning the refreshment station all day.
Waitrose in Ashley Road, Parkstone for kindly donating the refreshments.
Paul Jones Trailway Ranger, Dorset Countryside for supervising us and providing tools and knowledge.
Councillor Janet Dover for promoting the event in her newsletter and finding time in a hectic schedule to lend a hand on the day.
and of course everyone who came along to help.
The day was an amazing success with 55 volunteers attending. We knew there were strong feelings for the woods, but for that many people to be available and prepared to give up their free time was really special.
We had a real mix of ages spanning 8 decades and although there were no doubt some aches and pains the next day, I'm pretty certain everyone went home with a real sense of achievement. More than 170 man hours went into the day, which is the equivalent of a full timer working there for more than a month!
Although the Ranger Service only have responsibility for the Castleman Trailway, the Forestry Commission had kindly given permission for us to have a bonfire and clear some of the invasive Rhododendron. This was fortunate as with the numbers we had, light work was made of the Bridleway and an enormous amount of Holly, Rhododendron and brash cleared keeping the team on the bonfire busy all day.
A large section of track was scraped back gaining a good metre of track. Probably the least fun task, but with 8 people at a time with shovels it didn't take long to clear a good length of it.
Special thanks -
To the ladies who made plenty of excellent cakes to keep us going.
Vera , Jill and Michael for manning the refreshment station all day.
Waitrose in Ashley Road, Parkstone for kindly donating the refreshments.
Paul Jones Trailway Ranger, Dorset Countryside for supervising us and providing tools and knowledge.
Councillor Janet Dover for promoting the event in her newsletter and finding time in a hectic schedule to lend a hand on the day.
and of course everyone who came along to help.
Photographs by Sarah Hartstone
