Creating A Gap at Thornton Wood

Fallen ash tree in Thornton Wood. Photo: Paul Loughnane

The last event at Thornton Wood was “bridging a gap” across the ditch between Heavy Oak and Lamperloons coppices. The next event, and last event for a while, was creating a gap.

Cut through the fallen ash tree in Thornton Wood. Photo: Paul Loughnane

A large canopy Ash tree had fallen across the path to the coppice areas. This was not a victim of Ash die back just part of the normal woodland cycle. This will be an increasing frequent task for the volunteers as ash die back takes its toll on mature ash trees. The tree was too large for the prospective Wirral Wildlife spring wildflower walkers to clamber over, so the volunteers carefully cut through the considerable trunk. The path was cleared of trip hazards such as fallen limbs of wood and brambles and the area below the Heavy Oak coppice was cleared.

Primroses in Heavy Oak Coppice visited by bumblebee. Photo: Dave Edwards

In Heavy Oak coppice 23 flowering primrose were counted, the most ever. Several species of bumble bees were landing on them to gain nectar. It was quite comical as the weight of the bumble bee landing on the flower pulled the flower down. It was good to see these pollinators visiting as this should further increase the primrose population in the wood.