Digging it: The weekly adventures of the workday team!
Do you enjoy working outdoors and meeting people? Would you like to get involved in the practical side of Andover Trees United? We have a workday team every Monday and the second Saturday of the month.
We would love to hear from you - please email terri.forbes@andovertrees.org.uk
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
MONDAY 22ND APRIL 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
Happy Earth Day!
Today the Volunteer Conservation Team was joined by volunteers from National Geographic Learning! They came together to celebrate Earth Day and begin the much needed improvement to the Diamond Wood.
Earth Day is all about environmental protection and what better way to demonstrate that than creating fencing out of natural materials to help not only protect the endangered Skylark during their nesting season, but also beginning to prepare the eastern end of the wood ready for calcareous (chalk) meadow creation.
MONDAY 15TH APRIL 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team had a very windy Monday session this week! The team came together to help to continue clearing around the Cabin - surplus building materials, wood offcuts and pallets were moved and stacked alongside the recently cleared shipping container.
Other tasks included:
The new nursery bed was mulched by the young Harrow Way volunteers.
The youngest section of hedge along the ride opposite the metal field gate was tidied by Sylvia, Ron, Annette, Jayce and Liz - canes loosened by rain and heavy winds were straightened and damaged spiral guards replaced.
The Cabin kitchen had attention too, as Annette checked out the fit of the new curtains she had been sewing.
The coronation discs have been taken to be mounted to pile before reattaching to the side of the compost toilet block.
SATURDAY 13TH APRIL 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
This month’s 2nd Saturday Workday (Volunteer Community Conservation Day) had fabulous weather and an even greater turnout! Abel & Cole sent an excellent group of staff and their families to volunteer for the morning. They did a fantastic job of clearing the base of the hedgerow they planted back in 2021.
Other members of the Community helped to relocate the tree nursery bed so the outside tap can be moved. With lots of hard work, they managed to get out three rather large oak, several rowan and a few hawthorn and lime!
A team made up of both Abel & Cole and regular Community Conservation Day volunteers began work on the landscaping down the side of the Cabin, creating the hard standing. They also dug out the soak away for the cabin sink.
ATU’s youth team lead families and young children to create insect housing with the remaining bagged woodchip, also the base of our fully established hedgerows.
All of this was supported by regular volunteers; Kat, Jana, and Wendy who also put on a lovely Tea break filled with cake and pastries!
MONDAY 8TH APRIL 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team has been continuing to prepare the Diamond Wood for spring. They have been mulching the hedgerows in the Dragon Garden and tidying down the side of the new Cabin in preparation for landscaping works.
We have had several new members join the team this week! Welcome Ron, Sylvia, Lizzie and Ryan!
WEDNESDAY 3RD APRIL 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
As Monday was a Easter Bank Holiday, there was no Volunteer Conservation Day. However, a small group met in the Wood on Wednesday April 3rd instead, where tea and cake were enjoyed to celebrate Dr Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday.
The group enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the wood and replanted one of the recently planted lime trees that had been uprooted. Read more about how ATU celebrated Jane’s special birthday on the JGI Roots n’ Shoots blog .
Photo by Wendy Davis
MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team has been working hard on various jobs this week. Wendy and Terri did a perimeter walk of the wood to check the deer fencing and planning future paths for the wood.
Other tasks included:
They have continued raking and seed sowing the Dragon Garden central walkway.
Digging trenches around the cabin ready for rat proofing
Moved the fire pit
Sorted and tidied the portacabin for the Car Boot sale bits.
MONDAY 18TH MARCH 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team have continued their work on the Dragon Garden this week. They have been hard at work raking the central walkway, preparing it for seed sowing. The gate posts in the newly planted hedge at the bottom of the Garden were levelled and cret-ed into place.
Our excellent Harrow Way students planted the last few saplings to finish the hedge outside the Garden.
MONDAY 11TH MARCH 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team has completed the last tree planting of the season! They have planted a 36m hedge in a zig-zag formation along the side of the Dragon Garden!
They then laid the mulch mat on the trees from Saturday's planting and began to mulch. The whole team worked on this together along with our fantastic Harrow Way Students.
MONDAY 4TH MARCH 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team has been hard at work preparing for Saturday's Volunteer Community Conservation Day. Andrew strimmed the area ready for hedgerow planting. Liang, Simone, Gareth and Jacey marked out the planting area, prepared the mulch mat, dug up and bagged the Limes ready for planting.
Our fantastic Harrow Way Students helped with the Saturday preparation; including marking out and mulch mat prep.
Other tasks included:
Liz, Doreen, Jo and John cleared the wood store.
Sam and Annette cleared the veranda and a pathway from the container to the cabin.
John and Jo repaired the fence and dug in the gate posts.
MONDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team had a successful workday today despite the VERY windy conditions! Lots of jobs were completed; before enjoying a much needed cuppa and brownies made by Annette.
Our fantastic Harrow Way Students helped with weeding and mulching the hedgerow by the metal gate, before replanting three Lime trees along the Lime Walk with Nature and Community Officer Jo.
Tasks included:
Sam organised container crates, for the newly organised tool container.
Abbey, Annette and Andrew measured and marked out the Dragon Garden Hedge ready for March’s Saturday Community Conservation Day.
Simone, Liang, Jacey, Garth and Hilary weeded and mulched the hedgerow by the metal gate. Other members of the team helped with this once they had finished their individual tasks.
Mitchell continued thinning the brambles.
Jo and John potted up the Christmas Tree.
MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team split into two teams to divide and conquer today! One team was at Harmony Woods and the other at our allotment on Vigo Road. Both teams were brilliant and worked hard to get the jobs done.
Harmony Woods tasks included:
Digging up trees to be taken to the allotment to be planted out and labelled.
Clearing down the side of the container ready for landscaping to begin.
Weeding and mulching the hedgeline near the main entrance to the wood.
Re-staking and straightening the trees in the Dragon Garden.
Allotment tasks included:
Tree ID.
Tree auditing.
Tree planting out.
Tree labelling.
MONDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team was back in the woods on this sunny Monday morning. The team has worked hard to make a good start on sorting the container.
Our hardworking Harrow Way students have been filling in the drainage trenches.
Other tasks included:
Heeling in the spare lime trees.
Planting dog violets out in the hazel circle and dragon garden.
Wood pile sorting.
A site audit and pond check.
Temporary repair to the deer fencing.
MONDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2024 AT VIGO ROAD ALLOTMENTS
The Volunteer Conservation Team had their first session at our allotment on Vigo Road this week. They have been getting the site ready to be used this year and checking on the trees in the nursery bed.
Our hardworking Harrow Way students have been weeding one of the flower beds and cleaning the flower pots.
Other tasks included:
Abbey audited the trees we have for this season.
Andrew, Jo, Simone, Sam, Ryan and Liang dug up the lime trees ready to be planted in the new Lime Walk at Harmony Woods on Saturday 10th February. They also dug over the beds ready for new planting.
Simone, Jo and Ryan heeled in the trees for the Dragon Garden Hedgerow.
Jaycee, Andrew and Liang planted out the Silver Birch and Aspen ready to be used next season.
Simone and Sam sweeped the path and polytunnel.
Annette, Liz and Annabel did tool maintenance and shed tidying, as well as weeding around the polytunnel.
Doreen was on tea duty and helped tidy the polytunnel.
MONDAY 29TH JANUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team has been working at Harmony Woods this morning. They have been continuing with the conservation of the site, conducting lots of maintenance in the wood. We were joined by two new volunteers this week, welcome Jo & John!
Our wonderful Harrow Way students have been practising the spade work again this week by filling in more of the drainage trenches around the cabin.
Other tasks included:
Abbey, Andrew and Liz have marked out Lime Walk, ready for planting on Saturday 10th February.
John, Sam and Ryan worked hard to get the fence posts in the ground around the Dragon Garden.
Simone, Jo, Jacy and Annette have tidied around the WI tree, memorial trees and the hedgerow, by clearing, weeding and mulching around the base of the trees.
Jaycee planted a wild cherry tree.
Trevor conducted a perimeter walk to check on the boundary fencing, before helping Mitchell with bramble clearing.
Annabel and Wendy continued to organise the store in the cabin.
MONDAY 15TH JANUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Volunteer Conservation Team (our new name!) have been working hard this week. Our KAVS award winning team have been conducting some much needed maintenance to the woods boundary, cutting back the encroaching brambles and mending the damaged deer fence.
Our wonderful Harrow Way students have been filling the drainage trenches around the cabin, some excellent spade work indeed!
Other tasks included:
repairing the picket fence around the Dragon Garden
coating the cabin floor with its second coat of sealant, ready for all our resources to be moved in.
Photos by Doreen Gregori and Terri Forbes
MONDAY 8TH JANUARY 2024 AT HARMONY WOODS
Welcome back and Happy New Year from all of us on the Monday Team!
The team enjoyed a lovely New Year tea break, to start the first ATU Volunteer Conservation Day of 2024! They then got stuck in with tasks around the new cabin, clearing the kitchen area after new worktops had been added.
Other Tasks Included:
Glove pairing after they had been cleaned from tree planting.
A perimeter walk of the whole wood was done to audit the fence for maintenance, as well as for mapping all the significant and memorial trees. (Some key maintenance issues identified below!).
Our excellent Harrow Way Students also tackled the clearing of the last of the woodpile.
Photos by Doreen Gregori
MONDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week was the final Monday Workday of 2023! The team has spent the year doing a fantastic job of caring for Harmony Woods and finished off the year with some very hard work.
Tasks included:
The students from Harrow Way helped regular team members Doreen, Annabel, Simone, Ryan and Liang mulch the hedgerow by the Enham gate.
Trevor, Andrew and Sam finished the fence around the Dragon Garden.
Mitchell scythed the bramble hedgerow back to make it easier to pick.
Annette, Sam, Lorna, Doreen and Terri made wreaths ready for orders that have been placed
Liz made the tea and cake!
Check in next year to see what the team will be up to in 2024. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Andover Trees!
Photos by Doreen Gregori and Terri Forbes
MONDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team reconvened at Harmony Woods this week after tree planting at Bury Hill Nature Reserve for the last three weeks.
On Monday’s chilly morning the team have been busy tidying and organising the cabin area ready for its grand opening! They also did a perimeter walk to check on the fencing and see if any repairs are needed.
Meanwhile, Nature and Community Officers Abbey & Jo, where out at Andover College attending their volunteer fair (thank you Kay for our lovely new banner!). It was lovely to meet so many keen students, thank you to those that showed interest and signed up to volunteer.
Photos by Terri Forbes & Jo Oliver-Hawkins
MONDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Today the Monday workday team enjoyed a chilly morning in the woods. Thankfully the rain held off long enough for the team to get the jobs done!
Tasks included:
The team has been working on shearing the wildflower chalk mounds, to tidy them up for winter.
The wood pile is getting there, with still some sorting left to go.
Work has also been done to maintain the hedgerow around the pond.
Andrew and Shane were on tool maintenance.
Trevor was inspecting the water through the pipelines.
Photos by Doreen Gregori
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 30TH OCTOBER AT HARMONY WOODS
Today’s tasks included:
Planting out the remaining primroses in the Hazel Circle
Continuing work on the safe storage of the wood pile
Auditing kit for Schools’ Planting Weeks
Weeding and mulching the hedge lines
The Harrow Way students started collecting wildflower seeds from the chalk mound - a haven for pollinators in summer - and shearing it. While vegetative cover is important for wildlife over winter, it’s important to remove it from areas designated for wildflowers, because if it is left to die back and decay that process will add nutrients to the soil and allow more dominant species to take hold.
The team were also treated to a delicious spread of homemade bread and cheese accompanied by different jams, jellies, and chutneys, made by Terri and Annette from ingredients foraged in Harmony Woods!
MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been at it again! This week has been particularly busy with lots of events to prepare for.
Tasks included:
Trevor and Andrew have been preparing an area of the site for a memorial cherry tree planting, by strimming and pre-digging the holes.
Andrew and Sam then continued strimming duties in the Hazel Circle ready for primrose planting.
Liang, Eddie, Lucas and Annabel have also weeded and mulched the sloe hedge by the compost loo.
Luis and Tony have mended the broken table!
They also had a lovely visit from a Pond frog, check out a lovely picture by Annabel below!
Photos by Doreen Gregori and Annabel Gunter
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been hard at work this week. They have mulched along Cherry Tree Walk. The Harroway Students worked very hard to wheelbarrow mulch along the ride.
Other tasks included
The team completed the Welcome Gateway at the top end of Harmony Woods.
They repaired the broken slat in the fence by the main entrance to the wood.
ATU has also very kindly been donated another wheelbarrow from Haemmerlin Co. Thank you very much for your support!
Photo taken by Doreen Gregori
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday team had a lovely morning at Harmony Woods this week. They have done more work on the water drainage pipes, from the cabin to the pond. They then weeded along Cherry Tree Walk, around tree bases, ready for mulching after the expected rain, with the Harrow Way Students.
Other tasks included:
Cleaning the Portacabin,
Measuring the gate ready for its fixings
Continuing tidying the wood pile!
Photos by Terri Forbes and Doreen Gregori
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team had some exciting new additions this week. They welcomed some new student volunteers from Harrow Way School! The new students joined our experienced student volunteers and our Monday Team experts to help weed the nursery beds after a site walk of Harmony Woods.
Other tasks included:
The pipeline from the Cabin to the pond was repaired, establishing a flow of water.
The right side of the Cabin was strimmed, sheared and tidied.
The wood pile was organised some more. The radar gate entrance was also strimmed.
After all that hard work the team enjoyed some tea and cake in celebration of the walkers completing their fundraising walk of the Test Way. Again, a special thank you to our walkers; Ben, Shane, Andrew, Liz and Annette!
Photos by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been hard at work this week, preparing the woods for Autumn. The main task for the team was to rake the freshly cut meadow. This is important because chalk meadow wildflowers like the soil to be low in nutrients. If the grass was left to break down in the meadow, this would increase the nutrients in the soil, resulting in poor wildflower yield next year. This task was done by Liang, Liz, Simone, Chris, Luis and Trevor. Other tasks included:
The straightening and reinforcement of the new gate posts by Chris, Luis and Trevor.
The drainage pipes from the cabin to the pond were inspected by Trevor and Chris.
Henry and Sam did the beating up and listed all dead whips which need replacing.
Photos by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
On a very wet Monday Workday the team have been getting things ready for Peace Day on Thursday 21st September, where Andover Trees United will be doing their annual procession.
They have cleared the kit from the Land Rover.
Prepared peace doves.
Raked the meadow after its cut on Sunday.
Moved soil pile.
Collected rubbish for a dump run.
Continued maintenance of Enham gate fencing.
Photos by Doreen Gregori
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This Monday was at our allotment on Vigo Road. The team worked really hard to get the area ready for the Autumn/Winter season, and Tree Planting. Check out the before and after picture below. The tasks this week included;
Shane, Andrew and Sam clipped, pruned and tidied the hedgeline.
Liang, Simone and Annabel weeded the nursery beds.
Everyone tackled the overgrown patio beds and patio area.
Wendy was on gate duty and refreshments.
Simone and Abigail audited and organised the wildflowers, where they found a four leaf clover!
Thanks to Sonny and Sam for sorting and tidying flowerpots. The polytunnel is looking much better!
A special thanks to Dave for his washing up duties.
Photos by Doreen Gregori
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
Photos by Doreen Gregori
MONDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This Monday was an extremely hot Workday for the team! But what better way to spend some time in the sun, than caring for our community woodland at Harmony Woods. The team split into several groups this week;
The Gate Team collected their supplies and placed the posts ready for the gateway to be added.
The Dragon Garden Team continued with the mound sculpting.
The Tree Team started auditing the trees, ready for tree planting season.
The Cabin Team started sorting and clearing beside the container. They also gave some of the tools a good clean and checking over.
Phots taken by Doreen Gregori and Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 21ST AUGUST 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Monday Workday this week was a busy one! The fencing crew (Trevor, Shane, Andrew and Chris) were out in force, measuring and collecting new posts ready for the gate to be repositioned. We are relocating the gates over the next few weeks, to allow for better protection to the wood.
Other tasks included:
Simone and Terri were sieving the leftover soil to be able to carry on levelling where the archeological pit was dug. This will make it ready to be reseeded in the autumn.
Sarah, Henry and Liang carried on defining and shaping the mounds in the Dragon Garden.
Annette went off to do some foraging and came back with two bags of rowan berries to make some jam with.
Members of ATU Youth group helped Jo and Abbey with the children’s Summer Activity Programme ‘Nature Explorers’.
Photos taken by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 14th AUGUST 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been working with the Dragon Garden volunteers this morning, to help with part two! The smoothing and sculpting of the mounds is coming along nicely.
The soil was perfect for working with on Monday morning… They raked stones and clods off the flat walkway in the middle of the garden and scraped the soil underneath which was filled into buckets and used as topsoil to make moulding easier. It will also be better for planting into in October.
They also managed to rebuild the fence around the dragon garden, making sure the area is kept safe and secure.
Photos by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 31ST JULY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Workday Team has been helping with the first part of the Dragon Garden this week! The first part has seen the earth moving part of the project, placing it in the right locations to form the mounds. The Workday Team started the basic shaping of the earth, compacting it with shovels to give it its dragon/cockatrice shape. They were able to rake back the central area, levelling it off.
They made fantastic progress, meaning the dragon has really started to take shape! Thank you for all your help!
Part Two starts Saturday 12th August! We will be smoothing and sculpting the mounds into the perfect shape, ready for planting in October. If you would like to sign-up; please email abbey.sadler@andovertrees.org.uk
Photos by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 24TH JULY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been hard at work this week! The wood needs lots of maintenance in the summer months, which the team is excellent at carrying out. Lots of the tasks this week involved prepping the area for the new feature, The Dragon Garden! If you would like to help out with this, please contact abbey.sadler@andovertrees.org.uk
Tasks included:
Sorted the wood pile, and secured it behind a heras fence.
Sheared the mounds ready for the dragon garden to begin on the weekend.
Cleared and weeded the dragon garden area.
Secured the old dig site.
Finished back filling the new dig site.
They also had a lovely visit from a hedgehog, pictured below!
Photo by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 17TH JULY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been on a mission this week! They have finally managed to clear behind the compost loos to allow for the old cube to be moved behind it. Our compost loo is a ThunderBox which is the most sustainable and simplest way of providing a remote or off-grid toilet. The old cube will now make compost to be used in the woods in a few years.
Other tasks included:
Completed backfilling trench and covering of new archaeology trench.
Covered the old archaeology trench.
Fenced around a better quality wood pile.
Put up more security signage.
Photos by Terri Forbes and Jo Oliver-Hawkins
There had been some damage to the original archaeology ditch trench, due to anti-social behaviour, over the weekend. People have lit a campfire in the trench, as well as in the gated area adjacent to it. Unfortunately, this has caused some damage to the trench that the Archaeologist and the community of Andover have spent years uncovering. Consequently we had to sorting, salvage, and cover the trench in order to protect it and make it safe.
We ask that NO FIRES of any kind are lit in Harmony/Diamond Woods without express permission from the Andover Trees United Team. If you see anyone acting suspicious, please contact us. With the dry weather conditions this could have been much worse, especially because the wood is so close to schools and housing!
Photos by Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 10TH JULY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
The Monday Team has been hard at work this week! They have managed to cover a large variety of jobs that needed to be completed after the Community Archaeology took precedence over the last few weeks.
Tasks included:
The dugout section from the dig has been backfilled and protected, ready for next year’s excavation.
The pond has had a good clear out of all the mare’s tails.
The nursery beds have had fantastic weeding and watering.
Some more signs were made for the nursery beds by the Harrow Way students.
We had some great finds this morning with the best one being a complete exoskeleton of a dragonfly larva (pictured below).
Photos taken by Abbey Sadler and Terri Forbes
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 3RD JULY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Between the Barrows continues!
The Monday team has once again been helping with the community archaeology project this week. As we enter the final week of the dig, the team from Southampton University and our Monday Workday team have been troweling the dig site and sieving the spoil to look for struck flint!
This week they have managed to uncover the chalk walls of the barrow at the original site from 2016, that is located to the left of the cabin.
Check out this Friday’s blog post for the full details of this community Archaeology project.
Photos by Abbey Sadler
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 26TH JUNE 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Between the Barrows has begun!
This Monday workday was very different, as it was the start of our community archaeology dig program. With the lovely team from Southampton University staying on site, a team of lovely volunteers worked with them to continue the excavation of the bronze age barrow that lies underneath Harmony Woods.
Tasks included:
Mattoking
Spoil pile sieving
Flint Sorting
The Harrow Way students also got to join in with the dig!
More to follow on this exciting event. Look out for more blog updates and news articles.
Photos by Jo Oliver-Hawkins
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 19TH JUNE 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
There’s nothing like the smell of freshly cut grass! The Monday Workday Team has been hard at work mowing the rides! Both coppicing and the creation of rides and glades mimic natural processes of fires and storms, which open up expanses of woodland to sunlight, allowing ground flora to flourish, taller grassland areas to thrive, and fallen trees to rot down. Eventually, scrub takes over, saplings grow, and the woodland canopy closes up again. All of these areas provide unique habitats for an array of species.
Other tasks included:
Tidying and sorting the portacabin, after its move ready for the community archaeology dig next week.
Removing the horsetail from the pond
Tidying the wood pile
Watering the Poplar Tree planted in memory of Barbara Long.
The Harrow Way students have weeded and labelled the nursery beds!
Photos taken by Abbey Sadler and Terri Forbes
A Purple-loosestrife was found in the pond area by Andrew. In the family Lythraceae, it is a perennial that likes to be on marginal vegetation of lakes, rivers, ponds, canals etc. It can attract over 30 different herbivores insects including the elephant hawk moth!
Photo taken by Andrew Whitney
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 12TH JUNE 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Monday Workday was a busy one at Harmony Woods today. The team worked hard in the scorching sun to complete the following tasks:
The portacabin was emptied and cleaned, ready to be moved this week for ‘Between the Barrows’ by Terri, Sam and Simone.
All the equipment was sorted in the new cabin safely by Terri, Sam and Simone.
The area beside the new cabin was tied and strimmed by Doreen and Claire.
The chippings used to protect the path in winter were collected by Annabell.
A new watering system was set up by Trevor and Luis for the Poplar Tree planted in memory of Barbara Long.
Photos by Abbey Sadler
The team also took turns placing their painted wooden disc on the compost loo to finish the King’s Coronation Murial.
Photos by Abbey Sadler
The Harrow Way students and Nature and Community Officers Abbey and Jo went down to the eastern end of the wood to measure and mark out the proposed new wildflower meadow. They also had some lovely visits from some Cinnabar Moths and Small Heath Butterflies.
Photos by Abbey Sadler
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 5TH JUNE 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Monday Workday was back at Harmony Woods today. The team worked hard in the sun to complete the following tasks:
The dipping pond was cleared and topped up
The hedgeline was weeded and mulched.
The Compost Loo was treated with varnish to protect it from the weather.
The Harrow Way students, and Nature and Community Officer Jo, potted up trees from the nursery bed, ready to be planted out in the autumn/winter.
Photos by Jo Oliver-Hawkins
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 22ND MAY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Unfortunately, due to sickness, Monday Workday was cancelled this week. However the students from Harrow Way still met in Harmony Woods with Nature and Community Officer Jo and two of our regular volunteers Trevor and Luis. The tasks included:
Mulching and weeding around the new hedgerows planting in the winter.
Enjoying some fun and hard work in the sun!
Photos taken by Jo Oliver-Hawkins
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Email doreen.gregori@andovertrees.org.uk or wendy.davis@andovertrees.org.uk to get involved!
We hope to see you soon!
MONDAY 15TH MAY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Allotment Time! Today our regular workday took us to the Allotments on Vigo Road, Andover. This week's tasks Included:
Wildflower pricking out by Linda, Sharon, Liang and the Harrow Way Students.
Weeding of the nursery beds.
Mending the storage planter. Thank you Luis!
Painting of the sheds and shelving by Andrew, Sam and Simone.
Young volunteers from Harrow Way School, walked through the allotments checking out all the fruit and veg growing and seeing what they could identify. They then helped the Andover Trees United volunteer team in the polytunnel with wildflower pricking out!
Photos by Doreen Gregori and Jo Oliver-Hawkins
MONDAY 8TH MAY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Long Live the King! Today was a very special addition to our regular workday. Andover Trees United and the local people of Andover took part in the ‘Big Help Out’ for King Charles III coronation! The event was sponsored in part by Test Valley Borough Council.
Many lovely people came to volunteer their time at Harmony Woods on Monday the 8th May, to follow the new King’s wishes to volunteer on the coronation bank holiday. Andover Trees United worked hard to put on a range of activities to celebrate the historic event. Activities included;
Clearing of the newly planted hedgerow. Weeding, clearing, replacing and straightening spiral guards - all helping to allow the hedge to grow to the best of its potential.
Our wonderful carpenter Ben Startup, volunteered his time to help continue the cabin building. He was joined by several other professionals to finish a little bit more of the woodland classroom.
A truly momentous task was the maintenance of the compost toilets. The front loo needed to be fixed and the tank for both loos needed to be replaced. After Wendy drove to Devon to get us a new tank; Luis, Steve, Abbey and Ali managed to take apart the wooden frame and replace the tank. Craig from Jewsons lent a hand with his pallet forklift, and the front loo was fixed.
Our lovely new Land-Rover was not looking so new any more! James and his team made her look brand new again by giving her a much needed wash.
Our Ecology Intern, Laura, continued with 2023 Nature in Harmony Data collection with the help of volunteers Patrick and Andrew.
To memorialise the event Andover Trees United decided to create a coronation mural with hand-painted wooden discs. Each member of the community painted a disc with wildflowers, native trees and local animals, that will be displayed on the side of the compost toilets in a coronation mural.
Photos taken by Terri Forbes
Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, Lady Louisa Portal attended in her capacity as representative of the King, to give a lovely address and celebrate the Junior Foresters of the Nature in Harmony Youth Team by awarding them their 'Queen’s Green Canopy' coins.
Lady Portal, who is a longtime supporter of Andover Trees United, thanked the team for all the hard work over the years as well as for the ‘Big Help Out’. She also read a letter from Lord-Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson, please read below:
The Deputy Lord-Lieutenant ended her speech with a toast to the new king that was followed by cake made by Amy.
Photo taken by Terri Forbes
Andover Trees United would like to say a massive THANK YOU to all that attended the event. It was wonderful to see so many people brave the weather (which in the end was quite kind to us), and to see so many new faces. We hope to see all of you in the future!
Photo taken by Abbey Sadler
Staying in Touch
To stay in touch, it helps to register for the monthly newsletter on our website: https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/newsletter
We meet in the woods (or on the allotment) every Monday and on the second Saturday of the month - but there are lots of behind the scenes ways to help out if you would like to. Saturday 13th May 1:00-3:30 we will be spreading mulch over your beautifully cleared hedgerow bases.
We hope to see you again soon!
MONDAY 24TH APRIL 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
It’s Wildflower Season! Today our regular workday took us to the Allotments on Vigo Road, Andover. This week's tasks Included:
Wildflower seed sowing in the polytunnel.
The creation of a gravel bed, including edging, ready for wildflower watering.
Weeding the allotment plot, especially the flower beds, ready for planting.
Young volunteers from Harrow Way School, walked through the allotments checking out all the fruit and veg growing and seeing what they could identify. They then helped the Andover Trees United volunteer team in the polytunnel with wildflower seed sowing!
We had several visits from many small creatures, including a funnel weaving Giant House Spider (Eratigena duellica).
MONDAY 17TH APRIL 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
After a bank holiday Monday off, the team were back at Harmony Woods this week:
Andrew and Joe were weeding and mulching the orchard by the pond, and started on some of the trees by the portacabin.
Doreen created a makeshift fence across the entrance to the wildflower meadow to prevent visitors from walking on it, to enable the safe and strong growth of the flowers.
Fence and gate maintenance were carried out by Luis and Trevor.
There was also rubbish to be cleared and bagged up.
Youth volunteers from Harrow Way School, checked the Pinch Point and tidied up any rubbish. (The Pinch Point was created in the north-west corner of the site by our Nature in Harmony Exchange Project youth team, to reduce the amount of open ground wildlife has to cross from the shelter of the mature trees and boundary hedgerow to the long grasses and young trees of Harmony Woods.) They then re-staked and replaced broken guards on the new hedgerow with the help of ATU’s Nature and Community Officer Jo. The two also created signs to go along the new wildflower meadow fence to help passersby understand why the area is cordoned off.
Nature and Community Officer Abbey and Ecology Intern Laura, continued with Nature In Harmony data collection for 2023. The data collection started at the beginning of the month and runs weekly till the end of September. If you have a good knowledge of data collection techniques and identification of chalk grassland and woodland species, and would like to help, please email laura.morrell@andovertrees.org.uk. Laura will also be running citizen science events on the fourth Saturday of each month between April and September. The first of these is April 29th and will focus on trees - please email if you would like to take part.
MONDAY 3RD APRIL 2023 AT THE ALLOTMENT
The team returned to our allotment on Vigo Road to start sowing seeds for the wildflowers that will be grown over the coming months, ready for planting at Harmony Woods and elsewhere in the summer. Other tasks were weeding the nursery bed and applying soil enhancer, heeling in more surplus tree whips, and potting up ash seedlings.
MONDAY 27TH MARCH 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Tasks today included extending the nursery bed and heeling in surplus tree whips to keep them going until next tree planting season, weeding the mulch pile, tidying areas of the wood, sorting and tidying the wood pile, and filling in potholes in the track.
MONDAY 20TH MARCH 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week’s jobs included: edging the nursery bed, sharpening and cleaning shears, cleaning tools, sorting out the canes, cleaning the portacabin, and doing a dump run!
MONDAY 13TH MARCH 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
We are expecting a delivery of mulch this week so one of today’s tasks was clearing the remains of the old one. The team also did some maintenance of the hedge line along the Princess Anne Tree enclosure, completed installing the sign timeline along the fences of the enclosure, extended the nursery bed, ‘heeled in’ spare bare-rooted tree whips, and planting an oak tree that had been donated.
MONDAY 6TH MARCH 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week’s tasks included heeling in spare bare-rooted tree whips into the nursery bed, clipping the hedge by the pond, and continuing with fencing and installing the timeline signs along the fence surrounding the Princess Anne Tree enclosure.
MONDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week the team completed this year’s beating up! This included the section of hedgerow along the ride leading from the Anton lane gate to the Co-Op hedge, and just a few to locate in another section of the wood. The memorial trees were also checked. Work also continued on extending the nursery bed.
MONDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week the team continued weeding around the bases of the orchard trees, and beating up in some of the final areas.
MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Today’s tasks included: more beating up (checking and replacing tree saplings that have died), weeding around the bases of the orchard trees near the pond and the trees around Princess Anne’s Tree, strimming by the gate, putting a border around the nursery bed, and assessing the height of the hedging around the pond with a view to trimming.
MONDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Today a tree was planted in memory of Barbara Townsend Long, a founding member of Andover Trees United who sadly died last year. Barbara’s husband Nigel Long attended with a few guests. The large tree was part of last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by Sarah Eberle; as part of its sustainability, most of the plants used in the garden were donated to ATU to rehome. We would like to thank Kieron Beattie Landscapes Ltd for storing this tree and others until decisions could be made about their new homes, and for bringing machinery today to dig the hole and lower the tree into the ground.
Afterwards, regular workday tasks continued: beating up, pond maintenance, and nursery bed extension. The Harrow Way students made fat balls to feed birds during this crucial time of late winter known as ‘the hungry gap’.
MONDAY 30TH JANUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Today we had a delivery from Jewson of more milled floorboards for the Cabin. Andrew strimmed the long grass around the pond, and Henry and Annette dug up some of the bullrushes and willow saplings in and around the pond to stop them taking over. Liang and Doreen did some more beating up, and Luis and Trevor raised the big seating logs off the ground to stop them deteriorating further.
MONDAY 23RD JANUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
A very frosty day, and everything was frozen! Today’s tasks included more beating up of hedgerows, extending the nursery bed, and creating a compost bin.
MONDAY 16TH JANUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
This week’s jobs included beating up a hedgerow (replacing dead whips), clearing rubbish for a dump run, and the Harrow Way students did a litter pick :)
The team also continued fencing around the Princess Anne Tree, which was the very first tree planted on the site in 2012, by HRH Princess Anne. A few footpaths have been worn into the area around it and we would like to direct people to just one, past the tree and commemorative plaque, to prevent further erosion and allow the vegetation to regrow.
MONDAY 9TH JANUARY 2023 AT HARMONY WOODS
Our first session of the new year!
Trevor, Luis, and Chris continued building fencing. Liang and Andrew replaced dead beech hedging. The pupils from Harrow Way School released a field mouse that Doreen caught in her shed, and built little habitat piles of deadwood… house for the mouse! Lee put some more bark chip down where the path was muddy. And we used the new orange wheelbarrow very kindly donated by a friend of Luis.
MONDAY 7TH NOVEMBER AT HARMONY WOODS
This week’s tasks included:
‘Beating up’ (removing dead trees) in the hedgerow in preparation for a second row to be planted this Saturday
Planting out the last of the clover grown in pots at the allotment over the summer
Tidying and mulching around the dipping pond
Weeding the nursery bed
Carrying out maintenance of the co-op hedgerow
Youth volunteers from Harrow Way School trimmed and cleared the long grass from the base of some of our special commemorative trees, and there was also great excitement at the arrival of ATU’s Land Rover! It is the first time the charity has owned it’s own ‘wheels’ and the purchase is thanks to our Reaching Communities grant so we extend a grateful thanks to all Big Lottery players. The vehicle has arrived just in time to ferry the tools and equipment needed for this year’s schools’ tree planting at Bury Hill between November 15th and December 1st; we still need lots of extra hands for this so please do get in touch if you can help, by emailing volunteers@andovertrees.org.uk.
There are also still places available for the first tree planting of the year this Saturday November 12th, 1:15pm - 3:30pm, so please email if you would like to come along!
MONDAY 26th SEPT AT HARMONY WOODS
This week the work team gathered up the raked grass heaps from the main wildflower meadow and began raking the second grass circle. Time was also spent shearing and clearing the chalk mound meadow and clearing creeping thistle and common ragwort from the Habitat’s Trail area.
Wildlife spot: common frog - a relative from the allotment frog we spotted last week? ;)
MONDAY 12th SEPT AT HARMONY WOODS
Today we spent the morning clearing the rubbish and generally tidying the site in preparation for International Peace Day on 21st September.
Trevor Chris and Ian carried on with their fencing project.
Annabelle and Doreen did a dump run.
We had a walk around and identified and listed jobs coming up such as cutting and raking the flower meadow, seed collecting, foraging hazelnuts, cutting Hazel ring bushes etc.
MONDAY 5th SEPTEMBER AT THE ALLOTMENT
Volunteers have been working hard to strim, trim, weed and tidy the allotment.
The watering team have been keeping the wildflower plants and nursery bed trees alive during the hot weather so the rain today was a welcome guest!
Tea break was a real treat this week with Annette bringing homemade bread and a choice of homemade conserves using rowan berries, crab apples, and blackberries from Harmony Woods.
