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There are many (more) birds in the woodland in 2014. Our activities over the last few years have increased both the number and variety of birds in the woodland. Now that the woodland is being actively managed, members of the community have commented on the changes. When the Highways Agency planted the trees they planted too many for them all to survive. This was deliberate because it is common practice to plant three trees with a view to removing the weakest after a few years and then the weaker of the two remaining a few years later again. This was never done, leading to all the trees growing vigourously to get the light. The result was tall trees with no light, and therefore no plant, bird or animal life, below. In the heavily wooded area behind Crossfields this was compounded by the surrounding hedge not being cut for 30 years which meant that it was difficult to see anything, even on a sunny day. Since we felled the sycamores to let some light in there has been a dramatic change. There is a completely new habitat now that an “understory” has grown up with hazels, holly, elderberry and other plants which provide nesting and feeding opportunities for birds that need that environment. Laying the original field hedges now provides sites for hedge-nesting birds. The forty plus nest boxes that the community provided are being well used. The latest project has been to install a bird feeding station behind the school with two carefully sited viewing hides, one in the school grounds for the students and one for the community at large. The brash remaining from tree maintenance work is decomposing to provide an environment for insects that again provide bird food.
Now that the nesting season has finished, the bird boxes have all been examined and cleaned out ready for next year. Click to see a report on this year’s usage and click here to find out what happened in your box.
Here are some pictures from the bird boxes and the feeding station. Click on a thumbnail below.
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