The Island Pond Wood: a summary of content from Issue 260 June 2022

from Launton Lines Issue 260 June 2022

Launton Lines Issue 260 June 2022

Island Pond Wood volunteer work sessions

We have been lucky enough to run a number of volunteer sessions in the wood in recent months. A big thank you to Kate and Roger Neal for leading the sessions and for all those who attended. A total of nine sessions were run over the last year, one with Bicester Green Gym, three with Vale Countryside Volunteers and the rest with FIPW volunteers. Jobs carried out included hedgerow coppicing, tree thinning, raking up after the meadow cut and dumping the cuttings in the woodland, litter picking, spreading wood chippings and sapling popping.

Saturday work session dates for the rest of 2022 For those of you that have been asking when will there be Saturday sessions as we work in the week, here are dates to put in your diaries.

��Saturday 9 July - path clearance/cutting over hanging vegetation

��Saturday 20 August - top meadow rake up

��Saturday 17 September - pond reed cut and island cut back

All sessions run 10-1, meeting at the picnic bench. Own tools required.

Photo below: A working party at the hedgerow on the south of the woodland, clearing the undergrowth to set up an open space to encourage butterflies and other insects. There are now three of these areas in the hedgerow.

Photo from The Friends of Island Pond Wood

Photo above: A working party at the hedgerow on the south of the woodland, clearing the undergrowth to set up an open space to encourage butterflies and other insects. There are now three of these areas in the hedgerow.

A letter to the Editor

Launton’s very own Woodland - Island Pond Wood

I was so pleased to be able to go round the Woodland after so many years of not being able to gain access on my mobility scooter.

Although I’m not that good when it comes to identifying trees, I was delighted to see how many different species there now are in our Woodland. I saw not only the Willows (originally planted making up at least 70% of the trees) but that the Black Poplars are still there too, also the Oaks first planted in the small area off behind the cottages. Now I have seen Maple, Hazel and even some Crab Apple, and more Oaks among the main area of the Woodland, along with the original Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Bramble hedging.

Well I did successfully negotiate all paths, defined and less defined, on my mobility scooter. I met some of the young people who are now taking on looking after the woodland for us to enjoy. It was so nice to meet these youngsters who are prepared to take on this voluntary work.

I have to say Thank You to all those who played their part and those who are still doing their bit in looking after this treasure of an idyllic place for us, and yet another Thank You to all the villagers who help raise the money and those who planted all the trees back in 1999 as part of the Millenium Project of The Woodland Trust called Woods on Your Doorstep - now on our doorstep!

Pat Mitchell

Bee Happy: The Friends of Island Pond Wood’s Community Event

The Island Pond Wood was buzzing with a hive of activity on the afternoon of 21 May. Celebrating National Bee Day, Muddy Feet Forest School in the woods created a swarm of pinecone bees with children and we saw many joyous, jubilee crowns proudly created from buttercups, twigs and other woodland materials.

Caulcott Honey demonstrated a tactile and interesting display of how bees make honey, and we had many apprentice candlemakers, who came away with a hand-rolled beeswax candle from the event.

We are pleased to say that we now have several woven wicker hurdles, which many of the community helped to make on the day, which will be used around the woodlands.

Sweet notes of music from Bicester Concert Band drifted across the meadow in our reflection area of the woods and Bicester Stagecoach students gave uplifting and powerful vocal performances in the afternoon.

The Hummingbird Centre ran out of their loveable bee headdresses they were so popular, and Bicester Face Painting painted over 50 rainbow kitten designs (the kitten was the favourite of the day)!

We must say a big thank you to all of our volunteers who generously gave their time to the event, and to our sponsors, SPARKS fund Cherwell District Council, Launton Parish Council, and Jason Barfoot (Jason’s logs: 07961 53 80 35). Over 150 artists (submitted from Launton C of E School students) created the most beautiful observational drawings of different species of bees which adorned the trees around the event.

Lastly, thank you to all who came, we hope you left with a smile!

We will be taking a short break before starting to plan for our autumn event – please save the date for Saturday 15 October for our Apple Day.

Do please contact us on fipwlimited@gmail.com if you would like to become a member or would like to be more actively engaged with your local wood.

Your membership fee of £10 per year goes towards the maintenance and enhancement of your woodland, and everyone is welcome to join.

Zara Sankey

There are some photos from the Bee Day event on the centre pages (26 - 27) of this issue of Launton Lines.

FIPW Bee Day in Pictures on 23 May