On Saturday morning the 5th July, ten local volunteers from Maryburgh were in the community woodland carrying out the regular clean-up of the area for the benefit of everyone in the village. Again, the maintenance plan guidelines were followed to remove the invasive non-native Beech saplings from the woodland.

In June, following the maintenance plan, work had started on clearing the saplings from compartment 5. In July, the volunteers continued where they had left off in June and the rest of compartment 5 was cleared of Beech. The cut saplings were then stacked in piles to provide habitats for the woodland wildlife.

The working group included a new member willing to help with the ongoing work. Equipped with safety equipment and after some instruction and guidance from one of our existing volunteers, she set to work tackling her first tree and helping to clear the non-native saplings.

New volunteer tacking her first tree – Image by Elsbeth Neil

With the area mostly cleared of the non-native Beech, the space was opened up, allowing more sunlight to reach the soil, encouraging the Oak. Hazel and Rowan to grow and spread in the area.

As normal with our monthly clean-ups, the volunteers made their way to the green open space in Birch Drive after about 2 hours work to enjoy tea, coffee and home baking provided by one of the volunteers from the Maryburgh Community group. The Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank all the volunteers from the village who gave up a Saturday morning to help with the monthly clean-up.

More help is always needed to maintain and improve the woodland for the benefit of everyone in the community. If you cannot spare a couple of hours to join us for some fun in the woodland, why not help out in other ways. You can now make a donation using our PayPal online system. All donations will go to help with the future development of our community woodland.