We spent a warm, late-September day on Stinchcombe Hill. The woodland is gradually creeping up the hill and taking over the limestone grassland, which is an important habitat for various flora and fauna, particularly butterflies and moths.

The dense scrub on the steep hillside cannot be cut mechanically. Our task was to cut back the hawthorn and brambles to the ground so that future regrowth can be kept in check using a brush cutter.

Five GVCV volunteers were joined by a couple of Stinchcombe Hill’s own volunteer group. Battling the thorns in the sunshine was hard-going but rewarding. We certainly made our mark on the hill!

You can find out more about Stinchcombe Hill Trust on their website.