Birch clearing at Dunham Massey on 5 October 2014

Eight of us spent today in beautiful autumn sunshine cutting down birch trees in the plantation near Charcoal Lodge.  MNTV had planted oak trees in the plantation a decade ago and while they have grown well the birch have grown much taller and needed to be removed.  In time the oaks will be thinned out.

We cut the birch down with bowsaws, dragged them to the entrance/exit gate and stacked them on a trailer which John Mann (Ranger) drove to the farmer's field near the Rangers' compound and unloaded with the help of two of us.  The farmer will burn the brash on Bonfire Night.

Daniel brought along the banner that Anne Yates and Martin Swithenbank made years ago.  We could hang it perfectly on the deer fence and after the workday John took a photo of us all beneath it: