Friends of Dothill & Shawbirch Local Nature Reserve
9th January
The first task for this year was to clear a fallen tree from one of the paths.
Other jobs today were path clearing & litter picking, and coppicing in Beanhill Wood.
16th January
One team cleared saplings from a Tee Lake revetment, while another continued coppicing.
6th February
The Friends began a dead hedge by Millennium Wood. These provide shelter for small mammals and birds.
13th February
More dead hedging this week. Here are some of the ladies clearing brambles.
Continuing with dead hedging - great work everyone!
20th February
Some 'tidying' jobs this week - oak nursery wattle fence...
...and Jude clearing mesh at Dothill Pool. Other teams did tree work in Donnerville Spinney and sapling removal at Tee Lake.
Dead hedge completed - lovely job, everyone!
27th February
Today's tasks included clearing mud from paths, sapling removal from revetments, and some tree management in Donnerville Spinney.
March frogspawn
Appearing in some of the ponds now. If you see strings of spawn, it's been produced by toads - frogspawn comes in clumps!
5th March
We finished the tree work in Donnerville Spinney, which will benefit the lovely big oak. Another group finished clearing mud from the path by the canal pools.
Another team cleaned and oiled some of the signs.
More mud-clearing on the corner going down to Admaston Bridge.
Another group cut back foliage to reveal the dovecote ruins on the edge of the Reserve.
Yet more volunteers did some willow removal at the top of the canal pools. What a difference!
12th March
Today's task was to remove the old fence by the Henge.
Many hands make light work...
... all done!
19th March
Some of the Friends dismantled the vandalised dead hedge and some old fencing by Tee Lake Boulevard.
Another team removed the disused kissing-gate by the Donnerville Close steps.
Ready for collection, with some iron railings also retrieved from the undergrowth!
26th March
Today the ladies' team cut back some brambles from the daffs at Shawbirch entrance...
...cleared round the maples and removed some nearby sycamore saplings.
2nd April
A team of ladies crown-lifted the nursery oaks, while the chaps installed planted coir rolls on Dothill Pool. The Tee Lake rolls were put in last week.
April - new hedge, Beanhill Meadow
A hedge has been planted as one of Telford & Wrekin Council's Biodiversity Net Gain projects. A lovely additional habitat and food source for birds, small mammals and insects.
16th April
One team worked on willow control at the Charlton Pool...
...and by Horse Pool.
The painting team got to work on the entrances.. Tee Lake Boulevard before...
...and after. Great work, ladies!
More ladies working at the Morville Drive entrance.
30th April
After 3 sessions, the willows at Charlton Pool were finally cleared today - great work all!
Other teams worked on improving some of the entrances - here's Carole at Harley Close.
Old steps on the Silkin Way replaced by Telford & Wrekin Council and woodwork painted by us - a team effort!
7th May
Today we worked on clearing benches, 50 Tree Trail signs, bridges and entrances, while others began repairing the vandalised dead-hedge.
Steps off the Wellington-Admaston Road - before...
...and after.
14th May
A number of us repaired the dead-hedge in Beanhill Wood.
21st May
Fiona clearing one of the Tee Lake paths...
...and Kevin and Carole clearing another.
11th June
We cut back on the path south of the Wellingtonia, and dug up willows from the Tee Lake silt flats.
18th June
One team did some sapling control on the silt flats, another worked on the path by Teme Avenue...
...that's a definite improvement, ladies.
25th June
We cleared between trees 34 & 35 and worked on the revetments - hot today so we allowed ourselves a rest!
2nd July
Great work recovering the oaks in the nursery!
Another team cleared the path west of Tee Lake.
July sights
Purple loosestrife and ox-eye daisies edging Tee Lake.
Near the stepping stones, Beanhill Brook.