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12 August 2019
Peter Holburn from Suffolk Wildlife Trust came to look at the wood. He was pessimistic about its future due to overgrazing by deer and forecast that, without help, the wood might only have a future of perhaps 20 years.
Aug/Sept 2019
Peter recommended that we fence half an acre and coppice this to demonstrate to the owners what could be achieved. Suffolk County Council agreed to finance the fencing and the owners agreed. After researching various options the group gained consent to use portable Heras panels. These would be easy for our small group of volunteers to erect. ‘Small Woods ‘came on board to act as our bankers and advisers.
October 2019
The first fencing arrived. The purchase was supplemented by some lent to us by a local farmer. We started to try to bury the rubber “feet” in order to close the gap at the bottom against muntjak. This was effective but was very hard work due to dense roots. We resorted instead to filling in the gap with logs and brash. We had six regular helpers plus occasional others- all over 60 with the eldest being 84! Dave Rushton started to maintain a photographic record for us.
Early Nov 2019
The Woodland Trust offered to help us fence the entire wood. With help from the owners this gave us a total budget of £6K.
December 2019
Second load of fencing delivered to Castle Farm but it was too wet to take most of these up to the wood.
Jan 1 -17 2020
We took about 40 panels and ‘feet’ to Folly Lane and carried them into the wood. Hard work!
4 January 2020
Ten nest boxes, with a variety of hole size, were erected. Previously, in June 2019, a barn owl box was erected on the edge of the wood.
17 January 2020
Nigel Aitkens delivered the remaining panels, taking advantage of a hard frost to protect the track.
Over the winter donations from the wider group paid for our insurance premium.
6 February 2020
We completed the fencing. Roe and fallow deer can no longer get in.
8/9 February 2020
Storm Ciara brought a large ash down on the fence and wrecked two panels.
End Feb 2020
First oxlips appeared.
March 2020
More oxlips followed by dog violet and wood anemone.
We met with an organisation working with ex offenders and made plans to work together. Also during March the north side beyond the fence was thinned to allow in more light. We developed a more robust system to secure the brash and logs under the fence by using stakes to hold the logs in place. Wildlife seen to date: muntjac, badger, rabbit and squirrel. We marked up trees for felling to widen the ride.
23 March 2020
The UK went into lockdown to try to contain the Corona virus. This meant that some volunteers had to stop work whilst others worked only in their household couples. Five of us continued.
The wood is a soothing place to be and several members of the wider Wildlife Group visited on their permitted daily exercise.
Muntjac still in the wood. Are they still getting in or did we fence them in?
4 April 2020
Finished infilling under the panels. The first badger gate was fitted.
5 April 2020
Badger is getting in under the fence!
7 April 2020
Second badger gate fitted. Bluebells looking good.
April to early May 2020
Muntjac frequently seen. We cleared the first stretch of ditch having stopped any chainsaw work while the birds were nesting. Developed the species list. Buzzard and badger seen in the wood. 26th April early purple orchid recorded in two areas.
6 May 2020
Wild garlic in full bloom.
Mid May
Started to extract some firewood from trees which had previously fallen. Third badger gate fitted.
August 2020
Fox pictured in the wood as well as two buzzard fledglings.
Early Sept 2020
Felling of ash and maple to create a wider ride and a glade. Timber extracted. Felling paid for by SCC and carried out by Hawkins Forestry. Brash piled into dead hedges.
Sept-Oct 2020
Sold and delivered 11 loads of firewood. Obtained funding of £1K from West Suffolk Council and purchased a trailer and a log splitter. Found wrinkled peach fungi on the dead elms.
Oct, Nov 2020
Coppiced coupe 1 at north-east end of the wood.
11 November 2020
The ten nest boxes erected last year were checked. Nests were found in 7 of the 10. Boxes were cleaned and replaced.
Nov-Dec
Coppiced coupe 2 near Tuffields gate. Second lockdown.
Work started on the pond.
10/11 December 2020
We planted two wild service trees. They have been grown from seed from Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Bonney Wood.
January 2021
Third lockdown as the covid situation becomes critical. Cleared area around the wild cherry to let in more light.
Started work thinning the area outside the fence on the north side. Many more birds now apparent in the wood.
30 January 2021
Two hazels planted in coupe 1
February 2021
Further thinning of the trees on the north side of the wood.
An inspection of the “Ghost pond”, situated just outside the boundary fencing, revealed it to be full. Further work is planned over the spring and summer months to try and prevent it from drying out.
March 2021
Ditch clearing continued throughout March, whilst further chainsaw work ceased to allow the birds to nest in peace.
Further sales and delivery of firewood were made.
A slope was created on the drainage channel running from the front of the wood into the pond, where the Irises planted during the winter are growing well.
May/June 2021
The majority of work is suspended in the wood during the bird nesting season.
We don’t know whether the pond has historically been used as such or whether it is merely a slightly wider part of the ditch. It always did hold water longer than the rest of the ditch but would usually be dry by June most years. Pam has worked hard to manage this area by controlling the flow and by planting marginals so that it holds water for longer periods in the hope that this might enable amphibians to breed. It is working so far!
June/July 2021
Following the discovery that some of the coppiced hazel shoots were being eaten by deer, the affected trees were reinforced with more brash.
The ride was carefully mowed by tractor.
July 2021
Extracted, previously cut, firewood from the wood and stacked for drying.
August/September 2021
Continued to extract firewood from the wood, and stacked for drying.
October 2021
Completed extracting firewood, and began to coppice south side of the wood.
November 2021
Further coppicing continued.
December 2021
A tawny owl box was erected on 2nd of December, during which snow started falling. Further coppicing continued as did delivery and sales of firewood.
January 2022
Coppicing in one coupe was completed and work started on improving the brash density around the fence line. The ten bird boxes were checked and all were found to have been used for nesting. They were cleaned and re-secured and a further two were erected.
February 2022
The heras fencing panels damaged by falling branches during storm Eunice on 18th of February, were replaced and some repairs made. Continued coppicing and a working party of volunteers moved logs to the ride for collection.
March 2022
The first 13 Heras Panels were reinforced with chicken wire to prevent Muntjac getting into the wood. The rest of the panels will be similarly treated over the coming months. Further deliveries of firewood made to the village.
April 2022
Work continued on reinforcement of the heras panels using chicken wire. This will be continued during May and June whilst all noisy machinery work is suspended. In addition, delivery of firewood continued. Eight members of the village Ladies Group came for a greatly enjoyed guided tour. The bluebells and wild garlic both flowering profusely looked stunning. It was good to have the opportunity to share our work with others.
May 2022
Work continued on reinforcing the fencing with chicken wire and a trailer load of logs was extracted from the wood for firewood processing.
June 2022
Continued putting chicken wire on the fencing. Extracted several loads of cord wood and delivered two loads locally.
Strimmed and cleared the central ride, for access. Also planned maintenance to the pond, to encourage water retention.
July 2022
Continued with the task of reinforcing the boundary fence and extracted several loads of wood, ready for processing into firewood.
Also, watered some recently planted tree saplings and had an advisory visit from a representative of Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
August 2022
Continued to water the tree saplings during this exceptionally dry and hot summer. We also started to clear some fallen trees for firewood.
September 2022
Extracted more firewood and continued to stregthen the boundary fence.
October 2022
We started coppicing. Extracted firewood, processed and delivered some. Continued to strengthen the fencing- no Muntjac seen on the camera trap.
November 2022
Continued to process firewood, carried out plenty of coppicing and finally completed strengthening the boundary fence.
December 2022
Removed the remains of the last rusted vehicles dumped in the wood and continued with more coppicing.
January 2023
The nest boxes were checked, and 9 of the 12 had had nests in them from the previous breeding season.
Also, with the help of four new volunteers, we started coppicing a new coupe. Made a new track through to the north east side and extracted some fallen timber. Processed more firewood.
February 2023
We completed this season's coppicing and, because it has been so dry, we extracted several loads of firewood.
March/April 2023
Light duties in the wood this month, to limit disturbance to breeding birds. Some layering of hazel and a bit of pond maintenance. Also, more firewood processing away from the wood.
May/June 2023
Fire wood deliveries, checking and repairing the fence line.
July 2023
We have undertaken major felling of mature trees, with the aid of a contractor, to create a new glade. This open area will allow in the sunlight for wildflowers, benefit insects and increase biodiversity.
September 2023
Extracted the last batch of the coppiced wood and cleared the ride
October 2023
Started to recoppice some hazel in the glade which needed to be lowered.
November/December 2023
Re-coppicing, pollarded some field maples and stacked firewood.
January 2024
We started to clear the brash from felled trees and logged the manageable branches. Also had to repair fences damaged by wind.
Larry Roby, the joint owner of Cages Wood, sadly died this month. His wife, Florence, continues to support our efforts and takes great joy in seeing the work put in to improving the future of the wood.
March 2024
Weekend work party – processing felled trees, clearing brash and stacking logs ready for extraction.
April 2024
Cleared the remaining brash and stacked as a dead hedge along the boundary fence. Also delivered the last loads of firewood, rebuilt and upgraded the log stores. Finally, we were very excited to have an Otter make a visit to the wood, captured on the trail camera!
May 2024
Anglia Water have kindly donated some Heras panels. These have been used to replace panels damaged by fallen trees during storms.
Late Spring to Autumn 2024
Since April we have mainly concentrated on processing the timber which was felled in the summer of 2023. We have sold 23 loads of firewood in 2024 to date, the vast majority to group members. These were all ‘ready to burn’ compliant. We also donated a half load as a raffle prize for the village hall.
November 2024
Some group members hosted a visit from Grahame Hill, the new regional woodland advisor from the Small Woods charity. Small Woods exist to provide help and support to those owning or managing, you guessed it - small woods! They have been an essential assistant to our early involvement with restoring Cages Wood.
He was very complimentary about the work we have achieved over the past five years and gave us some useful suggestions for future management. He plans to stimulate an Eastern Region group where we can share best practice and visit other woodlands.