Friends of Northaw Great Wood

Over time this beautiful old Oak tree had become hidden by Holly trees which had self-seeded in the woods. It was completely surrounded, so over the last couple of weeks the FONGW Team set to work to remove the invading Holly. 

Chain saws and a felling lever were used to bring down the Holly trees. Saplings were popped, logs cut and stacked, then the site tidied up.

The majestic old Oak tree can now continue to grow without the hindrance of Holly trees.

This very rotten oak fingerpost has been down for sometime. The Friends of Northaw Great Wood team sourced the materials and gathered to reinstate the post, enabling visitors to exit the carpark safely.

The rotten end of the post was sawn off. A new hole in the ground was dug ready to accommodate a new concrete ‘spur’ to support the rejuvenated post.

The shuv-hole tool was used to remove the spoil from the hole and the concrete spur dropped in.

Concrete mix was tipped in around the spur. Water was then added to the mix and once set the spoil put back and tamped down.    

Holes were drilled in the rejuvenated post to accommodate bolts. 

The oak post was then bolted to the concrete spur leaving a gap between the post and the ground to help prevent further rot.

Job completed!

Last week the volunteering team carried out ongoing work creating vistas in the woodland…

By cutting down and lifting the invasive Holly it increases the potential for more growth diversity within the woods.

Opening it up allows the sunlight to stream through deeper into the woodland.

 Tree poppers were used to tease out the roots of the immature Holly trees.

If left unchecked the evergreen Holly would eventually take over!

The Friends Team (FONGW) carried out long overdue, much needed work in the woods during November and December 2025.

Many years ago, plastic wire mesh fencing had been installed creating an enclosure over a large area in the woods as part of a regeneration project. It was designed to keep out the grazing deer that destroy the saplings, ultimately leaving the woodland area barren. The enclosed protected area has now rejuvenated and consequently the fencing had become redundant.

The Team spent several weeks cutting, lifting and removing the derelict fencing, most of which had become buried under detritus and moss, trapped by Hawthorn trees and entwined in Pendulous Sedge grasses.  

The non-biodegradable mesh has now been completely removed leaving the rejuvenated area a safe environment and free of what had been identified as a potential hazard to wildlife in its abandoned state.

Some of the removed mesh being carted away…

Several UK and European named storms had brought down vulnerable trees across both main routes and subsidiary tracks. Over the last few months the Work Party have been able to bring them down, clear the logs aside and make pathways safe again.

Before…

And after…

Some trees were clearly diseased and hung wildly in dangerous positions… 

And after…

Other tree casualties made it difficult for visitors to follow the tracks without ducking and diving…

Brought down safely and cleared by the Work Party, opening up the pathway again…

Autumn leaves and detritus had smothered the bridge and approaching steps making this particularly steep area of the Yellow route difficult to navigate safely. The Work Party cleared the debris exposing the planks of the bridge and the treads of the steps.

Several waymarkers have rotted and fallen over time. The Work Party have just reinstated one and replaced another on the Yellow route.

This one was reinstated…

And this one…

Replaced with a new oak post…

The Work Party continue to remove the invasive Birch saplings in the Heather glade…

Visitors to the woods will probably have noticed that a number of new bridges and boardwalks have been installed to make walking round the wood easier, especially in the wetter months.

Bridges on path alongside camp.

Boardwalk on Yellow Trail.

With help from the Wednesday Group, we have completed the restoration of an old path linking Heather Glade down to Middle Way and Hut Glade. It passes through a dense block of aspen trees which are currently losing their leaves and creating a carpet of yellow.