FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Thursday 9th April 2026

Hello Conservation Volunteers

Well, having had to cancel due to high winds a month ago, it was back to Forge Dam to meet, collect tools and then have a nice stroll down the valley towards Armchair Bridge for our recent work morning session.

Nearby is a small boggy glade where some trees had been chopped down and the remnants had been dumped on top of bittercress which the ecologists wished to preserve so we had been asked to remove all the logs and timber, with the proviso we avoid trampling on the bittercress - easier said than done, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs! Also, a desire line running from the road across the less boggy part needed blocking off.

This was no small pile of logs and branches to remove, quite the opposite, but as ever, our large contingent of volunteers were eager to start, and with as few wellies as possible in the bog, sawing and removing of the logs commenced. The plan was to use the logs to create a brash pile a few feet back from the road blocking the desire line, with another one at the edge of the bittercress bog area. On the side of the steep bank side and across the drier part of the glade was a fantastic large patch of wood anemone in flower which also required careful marshalling to prevent it being trampled!

Whilst this was in progress, another small group were stationed a little further up the path where some trees had been felled in recent weeks and another desire line had sprung up. At the top of the desire line there were a few bluebells in flower, but the rest of the area was covered in a thick pile of wood chippings and covered up any flora which may have been underneath it. The plan was similar, create a brash pile at the bottom near the road and one at the top using the felled timber but with the addition of holly woven in and avoid trampling on the bluebells!

One final task for the smaller group was to cut back the holly and other growth at the sides of the official public footpath to allow an easier passage for walkers.

A great and enjoyable mornings work. Many thanks to everybody who came along to help, and a welcome return to Mandy and her delicious flapjacks!

The next work morning is on Tuesday 28th April. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.

Lyndon

A Selection of photos from the work morning

The pile of logs and branches to be removed covering the bittercress

The desire line which needed blocking

Getting to work...

The wood anemones can be seen behind Chris in orange and Martin in blue running up the bank side

Martin and Rebecca pulling out a large log up the bank side

Building the brash pile near the road

The second brash pile starting to be built up

A busy group!

All logs removed and two brash piles built

A view from the road

Dave, Mandy, Alison and Gary starting on blocking the other desire line

Directing operations - "Mind these bluebells here!"

Bluebells can be seen at the bottom centre of the picture to the right of the desire line

The finished brash piles with holly blocking the desire line

Alison, Mandy and Gary after finshing the blocking of the desire line!

Alison and Gary cutting back holly on the official footpath

After cutting back - a nice clear path!