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Through the depths of winter - sunshine, snow and storms!

Broom clearing at The Devil's Spittleful by Jess  Morrison

From scatterings of snow to storms, this winter has been a busy one for our trainees. Jess explains more...

On those short winter days, when the sky never brightens and the mizzle (somewhere between mist and drizzle) sets in, it is easy to question why you would ever leave the warmth of home! I have been fortunate to be part of this fantastic traineeship, where you put these thoughts to one side, pack your flask, grab your waterproofs and set out every day to see what needs tending to on our wonderful reserves. I can promise you that once out and stuck into fixing a fence, coppicing a ride side or clearing the latest storm damage, I am always left with a smile on my face and an incredible sense of how lucky I am to spend my days in these precious parts of the Worcestershire landscape.

Although the wildlife has hunkered down and most plants have died back to conserve their energy for spring, the winter months have been anything but quiet for the practical conservation team. A flurry of activity has been taking place across our many reserves, making the most of nature’s slumber, undertaking crucial habitat management work to our woodlands, grasslands, heathlands and (flooding permitting) wetlands.

One cold, sunny morning I joined Andy and our hardy rovers to help with the heathland management at The Devils Spittleful. The fun winter task involved extracting over enthusiastic broom using the delightfully named ‘tree poppers’ by literally clamping onto the plant base then levering it out, roots and all - a job that quickly warms you up! Although scrub control appears ruthless, heathland thrives as a mosaic of habitats. So for a healthy heathland and diverse wildlife, it is important to have a structural and age diversity of vegetation. If one species is left unchecked, it can soon take over, overshadowing more delicate and slow growing species that thrive on the low nutrient, sandy and acidic heathland soils. This can lead to natural succession, as the scrub provides cover for saplings to get away. Over time, the soil becomes enriched and sections of heathland slowly convert into secondary woodland. By replicating traditional management, which historically utilised the many plant species for household products (such as broom stems to make the brush heads on brooms), we preserve these special habitats. Working through the towering swathes of broom, we were rewarded as heather and other heathland species were revealed beneath, which come summer will be a buzzing carpet of purple.

Trainee Jess scattering heather seed at Dropping Well Farm

Trainee Jess scattering heather seed at Dropping Well Farm

Alongside the team vigorously ‘popping’ away, another important task was taking place to help the heathland restoration plans at the Dropping Well Farm reserve. A series of scrapes have been dug, with the hope that existing and neighbouring heathland seed stock will slowly colonise them and eventually spread across the reserve. To give these scrapes a helping hand, several of the rovers spent the morning at The Devil's Spittleful collecting heather seed (which is actually the tiny dust released from the seed heads), bags of moss and leaf litter (which hopefully contain a range of other heathland seed and associated mycorrhizas to aid regrowth). In the afternoon we had great fun in the scrapes, scattering the seed and treading in the moss, helped further by the cattle and sheep joining us (presuming we had sacks of food)!

Brush cutting at Windmill Hill - before and after

Brush cutting at Windmill Hill - before and after. Photo by Jess Morrison.

From sunshine to snow, my most memorable week was the first snowfall of winter. Transforming the seemingly normal task of brush cutting at Windmill Hill (to control the bramble encroaching on one of our best limestone grasslands) into an adventure through a winter wonderland. Only a couple of days later, I found myself at Monkwood, waist deep in the pond breaking the ice! It was exciting to take part in the annual practical management of the local great crested newts, especially having been lucky enough to handle these beautiful creatures (under licenced supervision) on a course back in spring. We cleared about a third of the bulrush from the pond creating open areas for breeding and as someone who is silly enough to do the occasional winter swim I loved every minute (even when I realised my waders leaked). Hopefully when the weather thaws out the newts will appreciate our efforts.

Clearing bulrush from the Monkwood pond

Clearing bulrush from the Monkwood pond.

On a personal level, I have continued to indulge my love of woodlands, receiving Arboricultural Association training on tree surveying and inspection, attending a practical session with our Severn Treescapes team on orchard planning and planting and taking part in a fantastic two-day workshop on coppicing which I absolutely loved. However, my biggest achievement since my last blog has been attaining my chainsaw ticket!

Trainee team at Chaddesley Woods

Trainee team at Chaddesley Woods.

No sooner had we passed the assessment, Storm Darragh came rampaging through the country giving us some real experience in the field! The Trust welcomes the natural process of storm damage within our woodlands, as deadwood and tree wounds form great homes for wildlife. However, when large sections of trees came down across the rides and footpaths it was crucial these were opened up and made safe, not only for the regular management of our woodlands but also the enjoyment of our lovely members. It was particularly rewarding to use our new skills, making light work of some large scale clear ups.

The days are finally a little longer, snowdrops are decorating the woodland floor and catkins are lighting up hazel branches, bringing the promise of spring. But with spring also means the end of my traineeship and I find myself looking forward to what exciting adventure awaits me next. There are three things I know for sure;

  1. As a passionate supporter of the incredible work undertaken by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust I will continue to support them in one way or another.
  2. Whatever I do next, it will have to include time outside in nature.
  3. Having fallen in love with the Worcestershire landscape, I won’t end up too far away!

But before I take my next steps, I still have a couple more months to soak up every moment and with my official felling course and assessment just around the corner, I’ve still got plenty to be excited about before I go. I hope you all manage to get out and enjoy some of the magic that this season brings- bye for now!

I am always left with a smile on my face and an incredible sense of how lucky I am to spend my days in these precious parts of the Worcestershire landscape.

In 2019, architect Jess joined us as a volunteer to spend more time in the natural world. Now a trainee, she is hoping to pivot to a career in conservation.

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