Volunteers put their back into it at the Woods!

Volunteers from Axe Vale & District Conservation Society (AVDCS) and the Holyford Woodland Trust spent last Saturday in the glorious surroundings of Holyford Woods, working hard to create a new path through the Seaton Down Copse area of the woods.

Although it was a perfect day to be in the woods, the nature of the work was pretty tough – digging out steps and levelling out very stony ground on a steep wooded valley! The hard work was offset by the sight of bluebells shooting up throughout the woods showing that spring is truly on its way during a well-earned lunch break.

The circular route is now almost complete and will be officially opened at the annual Bluebell Day which is based at Horriford Farm, adjacent to Holyford Woods on 4 May this year.

Holyford Woods became the 1000th site to be designated a Local Nature Reserve by English Nature (now Natural England) in 2004, and is owned by East Devon District Council, being leased and managed by Holyford Woodland Trust in partnership with EDDC.

EDDC’s Nature Conservation Officer, Steve Edmonds, said: “The hard work put in by the volunteers from AVDCS and the Holyford Woodland Trust is simply invaluable to us, due to the difficult nature of getting machinery in and around the woods. Thanks to their help, a new pocket of the woods will be open for visitors to enjoy – and we look forward to it being walked officially for the first time by members of the Holyford Woodland Trust and visitors at Bluebell Day”.