This Friday, 3rd April, saw our brilliant volunteers back out in the woods once again—this time tackling more storm-damaged trees. After the recent rough weather, there’s been no shortage of fallen limbs and unstable trunks to deal with, and as always, the team got stuck in with energy and good humour.
There was also a bit of excitement in the air as we tested out our fancy new silky pole saw… oooh, ahhh! It certainly made light work of some of the higher branches and awkward cuts, and it’s safe to say it was a popular addition to the toolkit.
A big focus of the day was dealing with damaged crack willow. While these trees are a familiar sight in wet woodland areas and along waterways, they can become increasingly hazardous as they mature. Crack willow gets its name from the distinctive cracking sound its wood makes as branches split—something that happens all too easily, especially in windy or stormy conditions.
As these trees age, their wood becomes brittle and prone to sudden failure. Large limbs can snap without much warning, and entire trees are known to split or fall, particularly after heavy rain or strong winds. When this happens, they can block paths, damage surrounding vegetation, and even obstruct waterways—creating both safety risks and environmental challenges.
That’s why managing storm-damaged crack willow is such an important part of our work. By clearing fallen sections and carefully cutting back unstable limbs, we’re helping to keep the woodland safer and more accessible for both people and wildlife. It also helps prevent further damage to nearby trees and reduces the risk of blockages in natural drainage routes.
Of course, as satisfying as it is to clear one area, there’s always more to be done. Woodland management is very much an ongoing process—there’s always another fallen branch, another overgrown patch, another job waiting just around the corner. But that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. Every session brings visible progress, and every volunteer plays a part in that.
If you fancy getting involved (and maybe having a go with the silky saw yourself), we’re out every Friday from 10am to 2pm. Meet us at the Ten Acres noticeboard and join in whenever you can.
It might be never-ending work—but with a team like this, it’s work well worth doing.
