Introduction to Tree Care session - Saturday May 8th at 10am

Hello, all lovers of our community woods!

Spring has sprung and everything is beginning to look green and gorgeous. You will have noticed that we’ve had to do some tree safety felling.  But we have also planted lots of new baby trees, which we have to look after if they are going to thrive. Could you help us to do this?

Come along to our introduction/try out session to find out more so you can feel confident and expert to assist with this vital activity. We are meeting on Saturday May 8th at 10.00am at the Railway Track path. Nev will show us how it’s done. Everyone welcome, and you don’t need to be super-fit for this volunteering role!

You really need protective gloves - ideally gardening or outdoor work ones (We have spares if you don't have your own). If you have them,  please also bring secateurs, a small sickle or a hand fork. But don’t worry if you haven’t got these things. Only the gloves are vital.

The plan is to clear the weeds that could choke our young trees, check if any saplings are dead, and replace their protective tubes.

We'll observe current social distancing regulations but please bring a flask and a snack for break time if you want to.

You do need to let us know if you are coming for track and trace contact purposes. Contact Nev by email gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com to confirm.

Do come along and have some fun! This is another great chance to really feel part of our woods by doing an important job in looking after the trees of the future.

Join our next Management Meeting, or share your thoughts in advance

Our next Gifford Woods Management Meeting will be taking place on Monday 19th April at 7.30pm.  As with all our meetings just now this will be held virtually via Zoom, and anyone from the local community is welcome to join us to give their input into how the Woodland is managed day-to-day.

Zoom meeting details can be found below, or if you would prefer to raise a matter for the Committee members to discuss in your absence, please email: gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com.

Thank you, and we hope to see some new faces on Monday evening!

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85795911363?pwd=WFZ5VERnckFlNWtNdUZ1K1lldnM5QT09

Meeting ID: 857 9591 1363

Passcode: 149916

[If you've not used Zoom before, instructions can be found by clicking here.]

Video Volunteering Guide - How can you help around Your Gifford Woods?

Although we've managed a few socially distanced volunteering days in the woods this year, it has been difficult to get as many people out to help us do all the tasks required to manage an ancient woodland.

But we know many of you will want to help further, and maybe do so at a time that suits you and your family...so to help, we have produced a short video below where our Project Manager Nev (with a bit of help!) talks you through a few of the tasks that need to be done to our younger trees.

Watch the video below, and please do let us know if this is helpful and we'll some more!

You can also see and share this video further at:

• Facebook: https://fb.watch/2cM-j-KbLJ/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gifford_Woods/status/1335623699735703552?s=20

Our most secretive residents

We were very lucky to have local mammal recorder Graham Checkley back in Our Gifford Woods recently to again monitor some of the activity.  This time Graham brought his trail camera along to study our most secretive residents, and he managed to capture quite a few additional users of Gifford Woods as can be seen in the video below (also available on our YouTube channel by clicking here)!

Here's an update from Graham to describe what he did and what he found:

"If you walk through a woodland at dusk or dawn you may be lucky enough to encounter a Fox going about their business.  But most of the mammal activity takes place at dead of night, and that's why a trail camera is so useful; it operates in infrared and is motion triggered, so it doesn't bother the animals at all.

My first camera deployment was in the Speedy Wood, where I recorded Fox and Roe Deer, but Nev suggested that I checked out the Fawn Wood too and I was very glad I did.

I recorded Badger, Brown Hare, Fox, and what looked like Wood Mice at both of the Fawn Wood locations I checked, while Roe Deer were an additional species that only frequented the quieter trails.

It's intriguing to see the number of species that can coexist on a small section of a woodland trail.  You can see Pheasants at dawn, mice at night, and Foxes at the odd hours in between; survival is so often a matter of timing.

But there's also the question of daytime survival.  Badgers have sets, Foxes have lairs and Mice have nests, but Brown Hare and Roe Deer simply hunker down and try to be invisible.  That's what makes visitor behaviour so important.

So if you do take a walk in the woods, especially at dawn or dusk, please try not to disturb our secret residents.".

A big thank you again to Graham for all his work and sharing this with us.

AGM Update, in case you missed it!

As previously publicised we held our 2020 AGM digitally this year.  On Monday 2nd December various Trustees, members of the management group and attendees from the wider community met to hear an update on progress over the last 12 months, and give their thoughts on some activites and plans for the next year.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to be there.

To see a copy of the presentation which the Trustees shared, which includes a financial update, please click here or on the image below.

As was mentioned at the AGM, whilst new Directors are appointed as a part of the formal AGM, our regular Management meetings are open to any members of the community who wish to attend.  The next of these will be held (via Zoom) on Monday 7th December at 7:30pm.  If you wish to join, please email gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com and we shall send you an invitation.

In the meantime, to echo the words of our new Chair, a big thank you to our out-going Directors for all their hard work.

AGM Reminder, & copy of 2019 Minute

We just wanted to remind you all that the Gifford Woods AGM will be held in a couple of weeks, and also provide you an opportunity before then to read and review the Minutes of our 2019 AGM.

You can read and review the 2019 AGM Minute (held on 2nd September 2019) by clicking here.

As for this year, please remember that the 2020 AGM will be held on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm, digitally via Zoom (details below). Joining Instructions for this Zoom Meeting are:

• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88258889331?pwd=a2FLM1Yzdk1oNHFVS1loS29OUXJBdz09
• Meeting ID: 882 5888 9331
• Passcode: 474745

If you've not used Zoom before, you can find out more at: https://zoom.us/.  

AGM - Monday 2nd November, 7:30pm

Our Gifford Woods AGM will be held on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm, digitally via Zoom (details below)

• Hear brief updates on what has been happening in the woods.
• Brief AGM – hear latest on charity finances & activities.
• Have your say on the future of the woods; we want to hear what you think.

All from the comfort of your own home - so please join us if you can!