Arboretum update

By Ian Bushell

We have continued with clearing the bottom corner of the Arboretum. This area was dark, with a tangle of brambles, some over 20 feet long, climbing into and descending from the trees. There was a lot of dead standing ash saplings, killed by Ash Dieback, and trees damaged by wind, weather and squirrels. 

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Now, the two big redwoods have been cleared, and the area behind them that includes two more redwoods and a larch has a lot better access after today’s efforts. The bramble and deadwood, together with material from crown-lifting the better trees, was piled up to become hibernacula, where all kinds of creatures can safely spend the winter. Over the year, this will slowly rot down.  There is still a lot more to do in this area.