Our beehives are already showing signs of activity as in the accompanying video. It might appear to be a quiet time of the year, but ivy, snowdrops, crocuses, mahonias, catkins and hellebores are the food that's typically available at this time of year.

Last Sunday we took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. We welcomed local wildlife expert Joe Beale. The morning event lasted for an hour but light rain perhaps reduced the numbers of birds that interacted in the woodlands. Some species recorded were wren, magpie, gold crest, crow and jay.

November's volunteer morning was one of the most attended for quite some time! Around 20 people were onsite, tackling many different small projects, all to create a better environment. This week we completed the annual pond-dredging, the creation of more steps to allow safer access and weeding.

Our latest Early Autumn Open Day at Westcombe Woodlands saw a large crowd of visitors. Committee members were onsite organising children's activities as well as manning our much-loved refreshment stall. Andrew Slade had an area dedicated to show visitors glass cases of bees.

The next volunteer morning event is scheduled for this coming Sunday, the 5th of October with a start time of 10 o'clock. Then, following a short break, we will continue from 2 o'clock with our early Autumn Open Day event. Expect tours, activities and refreshments.

Saturday, the 30th of August saw our annual event with Les Clarke, a local expert in the study of bats. He has been assisting Westcombe Woodlands for several years. The most common species in the woodlands is the pipistrelle and occasionally Soprano Pipistrelle are recorded.

Hello everyone, this coming Sunday, the 7th of September, is the next volunteer morning at Westcombe Woodlands. As always there’ll be activities such as weeding and maintenance. We'll be onsite at 10 with refreshments mid-morning. Come and join us!

Last Saturday was our August volunteer morning. It was a very productive session. Long-standing volunteer Dave Larkin let a group of young volunteers clear an area in the glade. Gail Stirling and Pip O'Byrne were on a robinia, bindweed, nettles & bramble clearance session.

Thanks to the Seren Park Gardens residents who alerted us to a fallen tree over the weekend. We investigated on Sunday (20th July) and found that 2 large limbs had fallen off the mature poplar tree in the Glade (ie interior of the woodland).