Leaders Stuart & Ros
The Coopers Hill nature reserve consists of 55 hectares of beech woodland and small areas of flower rich grassland and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The site is well known as the venue of the annual cheese rolling contest in which brave folk pursue a rolling Double Gloucester cheese down a precipitous slope. This is not pursuit for the faint hearted!
Our work for the day was to continue with
the coppicing in a compartment between two of the well-used trails.
The purpose was to reduce the canopy and thus allow light down
to ground level. This would benefit the flora and butterfly population.
Many of the coppice stools were quite large and correct felling techniques were required to make sure work progressed safely. Julian, the reserve warden, demonstrated and explained how it should be done so novices and experienced volunteers could tackle the task with confidence. Also, working with us for the first time was Ed, a full-time seasonal worker, who is part of the Gloucestershire County Council Countryside Management Team.
The large timbers were stacked in a pile and would be sold for firewood. Straight pieces of the right diameter were also saved for use as stakes for hedge laying. The remaining brash was burned on the bonfire.
Ten volunteers set
to work with bow saws and loppers and by lunchtime a huge amount
of material had been felled and stacked or burnt.
Although the weather was cool the work kept us all warm and fortunately it stayed dry all day. Members of the public walking nearby were informed of our activities and the purpose of coppicing was described on notices put up for the day.
