Ryburgh community woodland is here for all to enjoy after a short walk across the playing field right in the centre of the village. It covers an area of approximately 0.6 hectares/1.4 acres linking with outer boundary habitats of tall hedgerows and Ryburgh’s iconic line of tall poplar trees.
The idea of having a community woodland in Ryburgh took root in 2014 as a response to the need to reduce the cost of mowing the full expanse of the large playing field that no longer needed to serve village league football and cricket games. We decided that this less used margin could offer a new woodland amenity for the village as well as a valuable habitat area for wildlife.
Grant aid from the district council’s Big Society Fund paid for essential perimeter fencing to minimise damage to young trees from rabbits and deer, and the Woodland Trust and The Conservation Volunteers provided our first stock of native trees and shrubs. Starting in the autumn of 2014, we held a number of planting days, which were well attended by a range of volunteers, young and old, and fuelled by a lot of enthusiasm – and cake!
The other important value of this project to our community is that it has a tangible link with Ryburgh Remembers, our village project that reaches world-wide to trace and remember local men lost in combat. Several memorial trees have been added to the woodland, planted by descendants pleased that their family member now has a living and growing memorial. The first was a red oak planted in honour of Saddler Sgt John Cremer, planted in November 2014, 100 years after he was killed in action.
Since planting began, the trees and shrubs have grown remarkably quickly, despite summer droughts, with many now over 10ft tall. The native species include oak, field maple, hornbeam, alder, larch, holly, sweet briar, dogwood, guelder rose, wild cherry, silver birch, spindle and hazel. We have also included a small orchard area of apple, pear and plum trees.
The woodland has a network of paths and a picnic area to encourage visitors to linger and enjoy the range of wildlife seen here. Birds include tawny owl, sparrow hawk, kestrel, thrushes, woodpeckers, and many smaller birds, feeding on winter berries and summer insects. Several blackthorn thickets now provide valuable dense habitat, and the large number of oak seedlings appearing shows that we have some busy jays.
We have introduced small amounts of native wildflowers to the remaining playing field grass ground cover, but the really interesting change has been to see native plants gaining ground here, including stitchwort, selfheal, red campion and even betony – re-wilding in action! This increasing plant diversity has had a payback in increasing insect sightings; butterflies seen here include holly blue, speckled wood, brimstone, gatekeeper, and red admiral; and grasshoppers, crickets and dragonflies are common throughout the summer. If someone would start a list of moth sightings here this would be much appreciated.
Ryburgh Wildlife Group has been active in our various woodland work parties, helping with planting, mowing, tree, and hedgerow maintenance. This work is ongoing, together with our new initiatives adding willows and wildflower meadow areas in the adjoining margins of the playing field.
Do visit and enjoy our community woodland, and volunteers are always welcomed for our work parties – details will be circulated to residents and RWG members.
All enquiries please contact Barley Wilson 12328 829309