Dale Wood is a mature broadleaved woodland situated on the edge of a larger wooded area.
Looking out from the wood there is a view of pasture and woodland along a delightful valley dipping below the rolling countryside. The woodland itself is a narrow strip of mature woodland packed with character. In spring the carpet of bluebells can be fully appreciated while walking along the soft track that passes through the wood emerging again on the main track.
The trees in this wood are maple, sweet chestnut and oak with a few spruce trees. There is a developed lower canopy of hazel, sycamore, birch and chestnut that fill the wood with a green shimmer. The woodland floor is generally unhindered by vegetation except for woodland grasses, ferns and of course bluebells in spring.
Near to the track are some remains of a few horse jumps that a previous owner once used. In reality many rusty barrells & car tyres.
The wood has been untouched for some time & will require a lot of work, There are many fallen & damaged trees, the paths are blocked & in a poor boggy condition. Several trees are in a dangerous condition & will require felling or branches removed.
This said, it certainly has the charm of a special place. Hidden from public view, nestled at the back of a large wood.
NOVEMBER 2017
4 hours cutting up tree, fallen across main path into sections with chainsaw. Tree had been down a long time & had seasoned. Very hard to cut through. Sections to be placed along path as seating.
December 2017
2 weeks + repairing bottom track. Cold & wet& muddy, need to get a shelter, this is not pleasant. Both access points of path have become unpassable due to mud & damage caused by unauthorised access. Back filled waterlogged areas with stones for drainage & grip to enable vehicle access.
January 2018
Planted 1st tree, spruce sapling
February 2018
Cleared woodland floor of fallen branches, felled dead & diseased trees. Built a log store for firewood,
March 2018
Sited with difficulty woodland caravan for use as store & shelter. really useful on the cold wet days, & to leave tools in
June 2018
Badgers moved in, 2 new sets. Muntjack deer, fallow deer, squirrels & rabbits. Fox gloves in bloom, ferns growing prolifically. Flattened ferns to encourage growth of woodland plants. & sapling regeneration
Bromsgrove planning contacted, filled in planning contravention notice,
Spent weekend days sawing up fallen trees, Had a couple of barbecues on evenings, nice & quiet , nobody else in the wood. Pushed Sarah in wheelchair along tracks. pleasant evening.
