Category Archives: Ox Close Wood

Coppicing in Ox Close Wood

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Coppicing is one of the oldest forms of wood management in the UK. Trees are cut down to their stumps, which are known as stools, to encourage new shoots to grow. The stools are cut in rotation and so the different areas of regrowth provide a wide range of habitats. Coppicing provides a renewable source of wood and the cycle can carry on indefinitely.

Nick preparing stakes

In Ox Close Wood, the hazel has been coppiced by Leeds Coppice Workers and the stools now need to be protected to prevent deer from eating the new shoots. This project has been led by two of our volunteers Nick and Lin. Stakes have been placed around the stools and cages made from brash placed around them. They have been assisted by Open Country, Leeds Wealth Fund volunteers and our Friday volunteer team.

Leeds Wealth Fund volunteers
Open Country using brash to make cages
Martin, Open Country volunteer, making a cage
Melanie and Mina, two of our Friday volunteer team

Family Pizza Day Sunday 7th July – Postponed

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We are very sorry to say that we have decided to postpone our Family Day planned for this coming Sunday.

It must be a busy weekend as we have had very few people booking places. As the event takes a lot of preparation and organisation it seems sensible to postpone it.

We are sorry to disappoint those that have booked and we hope to welcome you to another EKWT family event in the Autumn.

Everyone is of course most welcome to visit Ox Close Wood and our other nature reserves at any time.

A Great Family Day!

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Last Sunday we enjoyed another great family day and even managed to avoid the storms! We had lots of activities and of course tasty pizzas.

All hands on deck to help load the 2 charcoal kilns
Debbie with her tawny owl explains the
importance of feathers
Paul emptying and identifying moths from his overnight trapping session
Fish and line willow weaving with Jinny
Izzy wizzy let’s get busy with frothy potions
Pizzas all round!

Many thanks to everyone who came and made the afternoon such a success

Family Day – Sunday 9th July

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We will be holding our annual family day on Sunday 9th July from 2-4pm at the charcoal burn area in Oxclose Wood.

This year we won’t have the kilns lit, but will be loading them ready to burn – something that children love being involved with. We would recommend bringing gloves to protect your hands. It is a great opportunity to learn about the charcoal burns too, but without the smoke!

The pizza oven will be fired up and we will provide the dough. If you can bring tomato sauce and toppings that would be great. We won’t be able to provide seating, so please feel free to bring rugs or chairs.

There will be lots of fun for the children including willow weaving, scavenger hunt and drawing. Our Trust moth expert will have traps to show the children the variety of moths that live in the woods. There will also be the opportunity to learn more about the Trust, with talks on charcoal burns and how the woodland is managed.

This event is free for members or a minimum donation of £5 for non members.

We need to know numbers, to enable us to plan activities and prepare the right quantity of pizza dough. If you could let us know if you are coming and how many of you there will be, by Thursday 6th July that would be helpful. We are limited to the number of pizzas we can cook in the time available, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please reply to thomasin@ekwt.org.uk, we hope to see you there!