The Friends of Island Pond install and dedicate a new bench and plan Community Events for the autumn

Island Pond Wood: Working Party and a Celebration

On Saturday 17 September a team of volunteers set to work in the wood cutting back overhanging vegetation around the pond. This involved trimming willow on the pond edge, and venturing over to the island. The aim was to increase the light levels reaching the pond in areas that were severely overshadowed. The group also started on the annual reed cut, but could only get so far due to the reach of the tools, so this will be continued in the coming months.

The willow brash cut will hopefully be used to create a dead hedge around the far side of the pond to prevent people stepping off the bank into the pond. As always, a massive thank you to everyone who came out to help, and a special mention to Yvonne Barrett for lending us the boat! Please keep your eyes peeled for the next work session dates which will be confirmed in the next issue of Launton Lines and on our Facebook page.

But our Saturday did not end there!

At 11.30 we welcomed Bob and Maureen Roberts into the wood for a celebration of their work and achievements on site over the many years they have been in charge. Friends of Island Pond Wood are grateful that the site was handed over so seamlessly and with an outstanding legacy to uphold. We were also joined by many of the residents who worked with Bob and Maureen over the years and celebrated with tea and cake by the pond.

These residents had also made a donation for a new bench to commemorate Bob and Maureen as “Custodians of the Wood”, which was officially christened on the day. Thank you to everyone who showed up to help us celebrate their achievements, it was lovely to see so many familiar faces enjoying the wood.

Maureen and Bob Roberts take a first sit down on their ‘Custodians of the Wood’ bench by the pond.

Left to right: Rob Dowman (current FIPW Ltd chair), Maureen Roberts (previous F&F committee chair), Bob Roberts (previous FIPW Ltd chair), Ed Hamill (LEG member and long serving volunteer), Chloe Bradford (current F&F committee chair), Tony Meacock (previous FIPW Ltd chair)

Community events at Island Pond Wood

There are two events in the Island Pond Wood this month, and the popular Muddy Feet Forest School are back for drop-in sessions at both the Apple Day (15 October, see page 44) and our Halloween trail (29 October, see page 31). No need to pre book, just turn up and join in, all materials are provided, Muddy Feet will be set up within the woodland area on the event days.

We are pleased to have our local Launton Village Players playing a 45 minute set at the Apple Day event on Saturday 15 October, and Peekaboo’s Music and Play Group will be running two interactive music sessions for under 5’s between 2.15 and 2.45 and then again between 3.15 and 3.45. There will be arts and crafts, a cake sale and refreshments available, as well as the very important apple pressing and demonstrations running until 4:00pm. If you have any spare apples to donate for apple pressing - please message our Facebook page or email, as we’ll be collecting these on the day before the event - so on 14 October.

As we had some budget left over from our Launton Parish Council grant we have been able to host the Halloween Spooky Trail on Saturday 29 October. Muddy Feet Forest School will run from 1:00pm - 3:00pm and the self-led trail is open all day which will see areas of the woods decorated for the day.