From: muddyboot
Subject: December in Blundells Copse
Sent: 06 December 2014 9:07:24

The Copse felt open and airy when I walked round it yesterday. The paths were wider by about 2 feet and the removal of many trees beside the paths made them feel wider still. It was a shame to see that three large bags of rubbish had been dumped close to the Bran Close entrance and six large tyres thrown over the fence to the left of the same gate. There was part of a cupboard under a tree close to the bridge over the stream and a lot of litter scattered near to the Teviot Road entrance. The handrail on the bridge still needs mending as do most of the gates and fences at the entrances to the Copse.

From: muddyboot
Subject: June in Blundells Copse
Sent: 10 July 2014 08:47:32

June was a "growth" month. The Copse became overgrown with tall nettles, brambles, and bracken encroaching over the paths in places. However, by the end of the month some strimming had been done cutting back the brambles etc and opening up the paths again. There was a small amount of litter mainly near the seats and a couple of bags of garden waste dumped near Teviot Road entrance. The Japanese Knotweed is yellow and wilting. I presume more spraying has taken place. The handrail on the steps has been vandalised and broken and the fence/gate at that entrance is still in need of repair as is the fence near the entrance at the end of Bramble Crescent.

From: muddyboot
Subject: March in Blundells Copse
Sent: 12 April 2014 13:34:45

The Copse came to life in March after the long wet winter. There were white Wood Anemones, yellow Celandines, Stitchwort and even a few early Bluebells. The yellow Marsh Marigold plants were in flower next to the stream.
We spotted a few butterflies out in the sunshine - Brimstone, Tortoiseshell, Peacock and even a tiny Holly Blue. The trees were budding or covered in blossom - ornamental cherries and Blackthorn.
There was plenty of birdsong and also the drumming of woodpeckers to be heard.
It was on the whole still very tidy and clear of rubbish after the big "clear-up weekend" earlier in the month. and the paths were dry and accessible.

From: muddyboot
Subject: February in Blundells Copse
Sent: 28 February 2014 14:06:11

Yesterday Judith and I had a pleasant walk round the Copse. It was good to see that despite the rain the paths were holding up thanks to Ron's sterling work. His ditches along the side of the paths were full of water keeping the paths themselves mostly dry. The tree which was across the path near Calder Close has been removed at last.
It was a shame to see fly tipping next to the lower gate in Calder Close. An assortment of pipes and pieces of wood have been dumped there.
We noticed small signs of Spring appearing - namely lots of birdsong, Hazel catkins, the first two Celandines opening in a sunny patch and the Bluebell leaves poking through - now about 10cm tall. The stream was running clear. The most interesting thing we spotted was an abundance of Scarlet Elf Cup Fungus which was springing up on dead wood and leaf litter in damp shady patches all over the Copse.
Work has just started to provide new glades by cutting down twelve more trees. There isn't much to see yet but by next month we should probably see a difference .

From: muddyboot
Subject: A January walk in the Copse?
Sent: 06 January 2014 12:43:19

I've just returned from Blundells Copse after a walk in between showers. Despite all the recent heavy rain the paths were dry and easy to walk on. The ditches at the side of the path near the stream were full of water and the pipes were dripping into the stream but the path itself was firm and dry.The slope up by Calder Close is much better than it used to be and is mainly dry apart from a patch about 30 metres down from the top where it was very muddy and looked as if a spring had broken through the surface. There is also a tree down across the path about halfway up the slope. Some of it has been sawn off but two thick branches are lying across the path. The stream at the bridge was running fast and looked very clear. There was minor littering by the Teviot road entrance with a few larger pieces of rubbish in the dip. Apart from this and the remains of the children's den furniture the Copse was litter free and a pleasure to walk in.

From: muddyboot
Subject: Nov/Dec report on Blundell's Copse
Sent: Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:15:50

After a lot of work last month it is great to see that the paths are now finished. They make a great improvement and even after rain appear to be staying dry. I walked round the Copse today and even the path parallel to Calder Close was dry despite recent rain.
The pipes going into the stream were dripping water and the ditches beside the path were holding water but the path itself was dry.
Apart from the Oak trees which are still hanging on to their leaves most of the trees have lost their leaves and are looking wintry.

From: muddyboot
Subject: A walk in Blundell's Copse in October
Sent: 24 Oct 2013 11:59:50

It was good to see that work had begun tidying the woods and improving the surface of the paths. Brambles and nettles have been strimmed back and trees ( mainly holly) have been removed thus opening the views into the woods.To the left of the bridge the stream had been cleared and looked so much better.
As we walked round we found that, despite the torrential rain of a few days ago, most of the paths were fairly dry. The exception to this was the 20 yards or so of path approaching the stream from the Bramble Crescent end which was very muddy with large puddles ! We saw that pipes had been inserted into the ground and were sticking out over the stream. This we presume is a work in progress?
The wide path up to Teviot Road had been partly resurfaced There was no litter around but the access gate was missing a padlock. The path along beside the field was wide and dry. There was just one place where a rose bush was partially blocking the way at eye level.
In almost the same spot (where the Willow branch was removed from blocking the path last month) another Willow tree has been blown over and is partially blocking the corner by the Calder Close seat. With worse weather forecast the tree may fall further and become a hazard.The entrance to Moorlands school field has been cleared up to the gate.
The broken fences and gates reported in August are still not repaired and there is now a further piece of fence missing along Calder Close boundary.
The only "rubbish" was the collection of chairs, bed base etc.. in the "den" mentioned last month. Apart from this the Copse was noticeably clear of litter which was good to see and made for a pleasant walk.

From: muddyboot
Subject: A September walk in the Copse
Sent: 23 Sep 2013 17:46:37

We had a September walk around Blundells Copse on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, there is no sign yet of the gates and fences being mended at the main entrances.
This is apparently a mast year when trees and bushes produce an excess of fruit, nuts and seeds.
This was evident throughout the Copse. The path near the stream was covered in acorns and crab apples, the Ash trees are weighed down with bunches of keys and the blackberries have been abundant this year. The wild rose bushes are covered in orange (and some black) hips. Autumn has arrived.
Just before we reached the bridge we spotted a blue adult size bicycle thrown behind a tree to the right of the path. As we walked up the slope towards the field there was litter, bits of old rotting carpet and lumps of concrete to the right near the top.
At the top of the path close to Teviot Road entrance someone had been flytipping. There was a mattress base, pieces of a cupboard and two perfectly sound dining chairs. These were seized on by a group of children who carried them away to use in their den.
As we walked along the path by the field we saw, in the undergrowth to the left, a large brightly coloured object that looked like a giant hamster wheel with a diameter of about 5 feet. The children managed to roll it up on to the path and off to their den ! When we rounded the corner by Moorlands field we found the den about a hundred yards further on in the woods to the left of the path.
It was good to see that the paths were clear and the bracken and brambles had been cut back along the edges. The Willow tree which was blocking the path has been removed and the way is now open.

From: muddyboot
Subject: Blundells Copse August 18th
Sent: 19 August 2013 16:14:42

Walking round Blundells Copse with a friend plus two dogs on a sunny afternoon.
The entrances to the woods unfortunately gave a poor impression as both the Bran Close gate and fence and the one at the top of the steps was damaged.The steps gate is jammed open and immovable and the fence has been ripped out. It was good to see though that a handrail has been fixed on the left hand side of the steps and some new seats have been erected at various points. The litter surrounding them showed that they are already being used !
The woods are beginning to show signs of Autumn with ripening blackberries, berries on the Rowan trees and rose hips changing colour in the hedges. We saw and heard a flock of Long-tailed Tits and saw a few butterflies. The Bracken was very tall and the nettles and brambles are covering every available space..
As we walked along the path at the top next to the field we noticed that three large rose bushes ( ? ) had died and fallen down leaving a gap in the boundary with the field. The path and gateway into Moorlands field from the wood is overgrown and couldn't be used.
The most URGENT thing needing attention is along the path towards the top entrance in Calder Close. A Willow tree is lying across the path at a height of about a metre preventing most people, pushchairs, buggies etc to get through. This needs removing ASAP.
There were a few wild flowers in the area near Calder Close top gate - Knapweed, Clematis, Campion, Cranesbill - but they struggled to compete with the brambles, nettles and bindweed..
As we walked along by the stream we came across two carrier bags full of bottles but these were removed by two passing good samaritans - thank you to them. The stream was very low despite the rain.
All in all it was a pleasant walk.

From: muddyboot
Subject: Report on Blundells Wood
Sent: 29 July 2013 15:43:25

The wooden gates / fences at the two entrances from Bramble Crescent are damaged also the one at the lower end of Calder Close. There is a lot of broken glass in the undergrowth to the right of the path between the steps and where the first bench used to be. The brambles and nettles are starting to encroach over the paths especially leading to the exit onto Thicket Road.



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