Boundary Renewal Project

11th and 14th January 2025: In dry and frosty weather, several volunteers from our Parish joined together to plant 500 whips to renew the woodland edges beside Toll Lane ("The Toll") and Granny Stiles Path. Whips provided by The Conservation Volunteers (I Dig Trees initiative) made this possible. The tremendous help from volunteers made it happen. A real investment by whose who love this wood.

Local Volunteers lend a helping hand
Helen Sullivan braving the frost tea and coffee delivered to the volunteers Collecting stakes, tubes and whips
Our volunteers Our volunteers  

 

Stage 1 in Toll Wood recovery planning - Renewal of boudaries
Whips and mycorrhizal fungi at the cornre of Toll Wood Whips filing gaps between existing trees whips replacing fly-tipped damage to the woodland edge whips in sheltered area ahead of clearing dead or dying shrubs and trees

The first priority set out in our ten-year woodland management plan is to invest in boundary restoration to build resilience, food, shelter, biodiversity, and boundary security. The intention here is to fill in gaps between existing trees mostly along Toll Lane (The Toll) and plant ready to remove invasive, damaged and diseased trees mostly alongside Granny Stile's path (ZR269).

We intend that all new native shrubs and trees will be left to grow naturally to fill the gaps rather than create a 'tidy hedge'.

The whips we planted included silver birch, elder, hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose, dogwood, and hazelnut. All these species offer food and protection for Nature within the wood and for visiting creatures. The superabundance of biodiversity that comes with care for an ancient woodland will also benefit creatuees visiting homes and gardens in the nearby village of Lynsted. A win-win for us all.