Pollarding Willow, Teamwork and Tea in the Woods

This week was a little different as we spent the entire day working togther as a group. We lit the main fire and started the day with a cuppa and then moved some planks to a drier location next to our poly tunnel. Our focus for the day was to do some woodland management by pollarding the willow along the boundary line. This will not only maintain the size of the willow to a manageable size but will provide valuable resources for craft projects and to make a woven screen for the urinal.

For lunch, we took the trolley with our food and equipment to the boundary line in the woods, where we would be working and created a camp. We had a small fire to cook lunch on; we had a great time sitting round the fire and chatting, while we ate lunch.

It was exciting to notice a sign of spring – the willow had the start of their white fluffy pussy willow catkins starting to bud. This ties in with Imbolc – 1st February, which marks the beginning of spring. It is also about mid point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.