Coppicing Blackberry Slopes

Volunteer task day, 3/1/09.

Blackberry Slopes is a wooded area of Reddish Vale which has been neglected over the years, the trees have become overcrowded leading to poor quaility trees and have grown tall and thin. Coppicing the area will bring more light to the woodland floor and encourage more plant growth, the trees that are coppiced will sprout again and produce usefull material. The trees that are left will continue to grow, with thicker trunks and better root systems. Top left, photo shows work that has still to be done and top right, is the area which has been coppiced.

It was good to see some new faces on Saturday, why not have a go yourself? Volunteer task days are held the first Saturday of every month (check with the Visitor Centre). You will learn new skills, meet new people and get some exercise, but don't worry, there is no pressure, you can work at your own speed and do as much or as little as you want.