Hello hello what’s been happening in the last weeks since my last blog then?? Well quite a bit actually, weather on the whole has been pretty great and it’s been nice to be getting out amongst it. Things have been rather busy down here in South Gloucestershire, we recently completed three days of hedge laying at Leap Valley nature reserve. The hedge was previously laid by TCV about a decade ago but unfortunately due to a lack of maintenance it had become overgrown and the trees which had sprung up from the centre of the hedge over the last few years were blocking a really great view of the small wetland area they have there. So with a group of regular TCV volunteers and members of the Leap Valley Friends Group on the final day we set about restoring this once fine hedge to its former glories. Everybody got stuck in and really enjoyed the few days we spent there. It was really satisfying at the end of the three days to see the amount of work we had accomplished and a great sense of achievement was felt by all.
We have also been out doing some tree planting on community green spaces with the regular group of volunteers from the Tree Life Centre. You can see a photo at one of the sites we planted at below, be great to see over the coming years how much they will transform this landscape and the benefits it will have for the community. We have also been helping to lay a footpath down at Stoke Park in Bristol to help improve access through the wooded area. This has been great fun for everybody getting to use the small diggers to transport the aggregate. It’s been hard work shovelling the gravel and also extremely muddy at times but a great time was had by all and we have made great progress the two times we have been there.
Well what’s been happening at the Tree Life Centre itself? Well the shelter I mentioned in my last blog is almost complete with our first event being held there on Friday 27th February. The event involved showing the group how to make a bird box which they themselves would make and then get to take away with them. The event proved to be a great success with everyone enjoying themselves and gave me valuable experience in the running and planning of an event. With a number of events take place at the Tree Life Centre over the Easter break it was really good experience to get a taste of what is to come.