Monthly Community Woodland Clean-up

Last Saturday the 2nd of November 2024 a small group of volunteers took part in a Maryburgh Community Woodland Clean up. This was the first of the monthly clean-up sessions. They will be held on the 1st Saturday of each month. Everyone is welcome. Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Last Saturday’s event consisted of a start on removing the many of the invasive and non-native species from the woodland. Among the species removed were cotoneaster from the northern end of the woodland.

Removal of Cotoneaster

Non-native Snowberry hung up to allow roots to dry out

Snowberry, hung up to allow roots to dry out – Image by Megan Parker

Cotoneaster is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family from temperate areas of Asia, Europe, North Africa and China. These plants are very popular in peoples gardens. They produce an abundance of red-orange or yellow berries in the autumn, and are a favourite food with many birds. These berries find their way into the woodland mainly by birds, but are also wind blown or dumped in garden rubbish in the woodland. They can spread and exclude native woodland plants from the areas. As the Community Woodland Group hopes to increase the woodland biodiversity, this can only be achieved by excluding invasive and non-native species from the area.

Thank you For Your Help

Members of the Maryburgh Community at the Community Woodland clean-up on the 2nd November 2024

Community members on clean-up day – Image by Megan Parker

The Community Woodland Group would like to thank all those volunteers who gave up their time last Saturday to help with the first monthly clean up. They would also like to give a special thank you to the younger members of the community who, with the help of a responsible adult, carried out litter picking and filled black bin liners with litter from the woodland.

The Future Plans

Over the next few months the Clean-Ups will include removing non-native invasive species including Western Hemlock and Beech regeneration. Pruning of branches that are overhanging the woodland paths and pruning shrubs. Litter picking will also be needed regularly, due to wind blown litter and less considerate Maryburgh community members.