Join Mark Howard, hurdle maker for a Spring walk through Coppice Woodland near Crondall on Saturday 27th April at 4.30pm. Appreciate the benefits of traditional woodland management and hedge laying to wildlife. Please let us know if you plan to come along (by email to info@www.froylewildlife.co.uk) so that we have an idea of numbers.

Meet at SU785483 (see map) T-junction on the Well Rd at Jonathan Kilns Cottages to look at some hedge laying first then on to the wood. As parking is limited, please share lifts if possible from Froyle Village Hall leaving at 4.15pm sharp.

Mark says that he set out with a simple philosophy 25 years ago; to supply sustainable woodland products from local ancient woods, which, although they had probably been managed by man for at least two thousand years, had sadly been neglected previously. Based on a traditional management practice called coppicing, which relies on the ability of many tree species, after being cut, to produce new shoots, these rods or poles are harvested after a number of years and the cycle begins again. This management over the centuries has created a unique ecology for a diverse range of species such as our much-loved bluebell, nightingales and fritillary butterflies.

Update after the walk: We braved the end of Storm Hannah for a fascinating and entertaining afternoon, some photos taken on the day are shown below.