Last Friday, we were back in the woods with our stalwart team of volunteers, rolling up our sleeves to tackle the ever-narrowing pathways through Ten Acres.
Many of you may remember when we first restored this public access route five years ago. At the time, the original pathway had become impossible to travel, as years of overgrowth had pushed walkers further and further away from the historic route. To reopen it, we had to clear some sections to an incredible 3–4 metres wide just to re-establish the original path.
Fast forward five years, and nature has been doing what it does best. The woodland has gradually reclaimed much of that extra space, with the path becoming narrower each year as surrounding vegetation has continued to grow. This means regular maintenance is needed to keep the route safe and accessible for everyone.
Our volunteers spent the day trimming back brambles and clearing sections where this year’s spring growth had begun to encroach onto the pathway. Thanks to their hard work, the route is once again much easier for walkers, families, dog walkers, and anyone else enjoying this beautiful green space.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the rapid spread of brambles. In many urban woodlands, brambles can become overly dominant because of the unusually high levels of nutrients in the soil. Runoff from roads, gardens, pet waste, atmospheric pollution, and historic land use can all increase soil fertility. These nutrient-rich conditions allow brambles to grow much more vigorously than they would in a natural woodland, creating dense thickets that can outcompete a wide variety of wildflowers, grasses, and young woodland plants. Without careful management, this can reduce biodiversity and quickly block public access routes.
Regular conservation work helps maintain a balance—keeping paths open for the community while allowing the woodland itself to thrive.
Fancy lending a hand?
We meet every Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm to help care for Ten Acres Woodland. Whether you can spare an hour or stay for the whole session, everyone is welcome—no previous experience is needed.
📍 Meet us at the Ten Acres noticeboard on Cartland Road.
By volunteering, you’ll be helping to keep this wonderful woodland accessible for everyone to enjoy, while making a real difference to the health of the local environment. We’d love to see you there!
