Work types. Here in this paragraph are links to mini galleries which show a range of images representing the main types of work we do. Click on these work-type links to see Construction work, Felling and scrub clearance , Fencing , Gates , Hedge-laying , Paths , Bonding , Planting
- Historical images. The remainder of this page contains a long record in pictures of much of the work of our group back to 2015. Under some photos there is a link to the work description page where more photos of that work have been added at the foot of that page.
Click on an image for a larger view …
Just 2 of the 20 guys on site at Hinton Ampner putting in over 1200 tree guards.
Chawton, January 2025.
Stacking a big bonfire. Wendleholme December 2024. Last job of the year, with BBQ lunch and a heavy load of cakes and biscuits.
Chawton House. Brambles cut and cleared , ready for collection.
Hampshire Hedge laying, December 2024. other task photos
Old codgers take a lunch break. task photos
Extension to the shelter that we built 10 years ago at Manor Farm. Task photos here
Brambles cut back and cleared to make a broad vista (till next spring). Prior’s Hill Copse.
Bare earth revealed as a natural seed bed at Twyford Waterworks. October 2024.
Much brash was dragged to the track to be chipped. RHCP, September 2024.
Understorey cleared below the oaks. IVCP.
John and Dennis trim a felled pine tree. Number 2 for the day. Peewit Hill, August 2024.
Happy to get an early finish. Megan Green August 2024.
We did this! Manor Farm
Progress with earth auger and post driver.
Manor Farm. Progress photos
Looking through the rabbit underpass. Manor Farm. July 2024.
Tom and Dave reach the end of the line. Selborne.
A remnant of remaining fence in burned-out gorse at Hook seashore.
Manor Farm, 3 roof extensions.
Manor Farm raised platform. April 2024.
Megan Green April 2024
Employee of the month! More Megan Green photos.
You can see where we’ve been on a wet day in Wendleholme.
Mercury Marsh, March 2024 other task photos
A group of workers. Chawton. February 2024. More photos.
Royal Victoria Country Park fencing in the rain.
Brash stacked over Hazel stools in the hope of giving some protection from deer. RHCP February 2024.
Looking North after lunch. Sandy Point.
One of our mechanised divisions retiring for break at Itchen Valley Country Park.More photos on the task page
Clearing the path for our sponsor, Sponder’s Mede, Jan 2024. More photos.
Excavated root balls piled up near the fire on Netley Common January 2024. More task photos
The first of several brash piles. IVCP January 2024
Chawton House. Felled Ash tree. January 2024.
A large wet site with 2 bonfires. Netley common December 2023. More photos on the task page
Cleared path. But still full of puddles. Hook Common. December 2023.
Teamwork to the fore! Manor Farm, December 2023. More images.
Feeding the fire at Twyford Waterworks, November 2023.
Start of day with barbed wire lost meters behind the brambles.
IVCP clearance and oak log clear-up. October 2023. More photos
Bishop’s Waltham Moors, September 2023More task photos
Hook Park Road fence line cut-back September 2023
so lets get started ..
and get rid of the brash
It seems a shame that so much of “conservation” consists of cutting back natural vegetation, carbon release and atmospheric pollution & warming.
It was a hot day. Volunteers and rangers pitching in together.
Sample of cleared area, Sandy Point, August 2023. Task photos.
Everyone busy at Megan Green.
Ben scraped off turf then helped fill barrows. More images
Workman’s Lane August 2023. Extreme stoney soil.
Iain.
Barnfield, pathway cut in through the trees.
Looking down to the stream. River Hamble Country Park July 2023.More task photos
Fence repairs at Hacketts Marsh July 2023
Just look at them down there! Manor Farm June 2023. More photos.
Hayling Island fence and gatepost, done. June 2023.
Close-up of a post. Hayling Island summer 2023.
Digger taking the load, Megan Green May 2023.More photos on the task page
Outer and inner fence complete. Total 300m installed and one gate.More photos on the task page
Workman’s Lane outer fence line, May 2023.
The gate team. Stage 1 done. More photos on the task page
IVCP APRIL 2023 More photos on task page
Mending fences RHCP March 2023.More photos on the task page
Digging hole for new fence post, Selborne.
One of our teams hard at work planting, Manor Farm, March 2023.
Dennis (and Geoff) doing Monday woodwork cutting beams and planks from oak trunks.
Large area of brambles and birch cleared at Wendleholme February Lots of photos
Prior’s Hill Copse after our clearance work. February 2023.
After 2 winters these steps down a muddy slope are still in excellent condition. RHCP.
Look what we did! RHCP February 2023. More photos
Megan Green dream team. 66m of new pathway done over 2 weeks. January 2023.More photos
Frosty morning at Megan’s Green. All hard at work. January 2023.
A group of happy chappies enjoying the cold countryside conservation challenge.
Alpha Labs people getting involved. Warsash December 2022. More photos on the task page
Shelter 4. Took 5 guys 5 hours!
Layed hedge RHCP November 2022
Very wet under foot
Reduced team got the binders on 25m of layed hedge at RHCP.
At Manor Farm shelter 2 took 6 men 6 hours …
How long will shelter 3 take?
Close-up on neat style.More photos
End of day 1. Hinton Ampner, November 2022. More photos
Starting point for shelter assembly. Manor Farm October 2022. More photos.
Broad expanse of the cleared glade. Chawton October 2022. More photos
Hard at it in Itchen Valley Country Park, Ashtrim site.Progress photos
Our pigstys inhabited at Manor Farm.
Morning, day 1. BW Moors. September 2022 More photos
Cleared. With good firewood left to enrich the soil from whence it came. IVCP. More photos
One of the fence lines installed at Botley Wood, August 2022. More photos
Cutting back along the path. Chawton. August 2022. More photos
The nest boxes we made during lockdown in December 2020. Decorated by a local school.
Now installed in Kite’s Croft.
Fencing mesh installed. Manor Farm, August 2022.
Adding ship-lap cladding and a corrugated roof. Many more photos
Total of 66m layed over 2 weeks at Megan Green. More photos here.
Barry smoothes the path with a whacker stick. Week 3 on the Toplands path.
Bernie and Iain supervised the grading team. More photos
Working in teams, making good progress. RHCP June 2022.
A bench in the shade, to sit on or lean on. Chawton.More photos
Some tree trunks are beyond our capability, Chawton House, June 2022.More photos
Cleared debris from and dug out a ditch. RHCP June 2022. More task photos
Refurbished and strengthened. Selborne. May 2022
End of the job. Give me a tool to rest on.
Refurbished steps at Selborne, May 2022.Further photos here
Coffee-time on a damp day that got wetter. Itchen Valley Country Park May 2022
Turning the corner. IVCP.
Workmans Lane #1
Workmans Lane #2
Manor Farm orchard with tree guards.
Hacketts Marsh #2
Hacketts Marsh #1
Kevin applies last staples of the day and Rod squelches off with wet wellies.
Looking East. Hook with Warsash coastal reserve.
Nearly finished. 3 years and 15 visits to re-fence the whole field. More photos
Hinton Ampnor, layed hedge. More photos
Extended cone cover over Hazel coppiced stool.More photos
Most of the guys in front of the bonus hedge, Manor Farm.
After a challenging task briefing progress is being made at Manor Farm. February 2022.Progress photos
Making planting holes and planting two young Hornbeams. Manor Farm. More photos
Tree line cleared of scrub. Manor Farm, February 2022.
Mechanised removal of arisings. Manor Farm ,January 2022. More photos
Preparing a hedge for laying, RHCP January 2022
View from the right.
View from the left.
A large bonfire of damp willow logs. Hamble Common, December 2021.
Bonfire slow to start on Hamble Common, December 2021
Shorter section finished. Pitt Down December 2021. More photos
Smile? I’m busy! More photos
Progress at lunchtime, week 1 at Workman’s Lane. See more photos
Harvest of Hazel binders. One of several piles saved from the fire. Crab Wood December 2021 More
The thinned hedge, ready for next visit. More photos
A hedge we first layed 10 years ago. RHCP November 2021.
1 down and looking good, 16 to go at Twyford Waterworks. Progress photos
Sponders Mede gets a new set of dragon’s teeth.
Willow thicket can now be seen through at the end of day 2.
Bishops Waltham Moors. Cutting back the old Willow. More images here
After decades of service Rod resigns as chairman. Tom presents a cherry-wood fruit bowl he turned from timber recovered during clearance at the Barnwood carpark. Well done both.
Full turn-out for Twyford Waterworks and AGM. All sitting comfortably and Peter shows a leg.
Fixing barbed wire near the end of day 3.
Shawford Down 2021 – end of day 2
IVCP clearing in progress.
Wicor site maintenance August 2021. More photos here
Kevin takes the strain of being watched, Itchen Valley Country Park August 2021.
Tipping and whacking in progress RHCP August 2021. More photos
100m of barbed wire fence replaced at Wicor
The long straight section was very muddy. July 2021. More photos on the event page.
9 guys watch 1 add the finishing touches at BW Moors
The view from knee-high. More photos here.
8 Barn Owl boxes we made as volunteering at home during lockdown3.
The view from the top. June 2021. See the task page for many more photos.
Basic slog moving hoggin at RHCP June 2021
Finishing the new gate at Western CEPrimary School. June 2021. More images.
A fiddly manoeuvre with legs in holes
Fence line re-staked. Speltham Down, May 2021. See also
Netley Common April 2021. See also More photos
The nest boxes we made at home in December 2020. Decorated.
Itchen Valley Country Park. Job done. See also More event photos
Franchises Lodge April 2021. See more at task photos
Shakespeare Infant School mid April 2021. See also Progress photos
Rain and mud could not dampen our enthusiasm at Manor Farm December 2020. See also more mud but less wire
Products of volunteering at home during lockdown2
Keeping our distance in the wet wet wet. IVCP October 2020
One of 2 recovered gates donated by HCS. With access ramp.
Always a bonfire. Sponders Mede.
Bishops Waltham Moors. See where we’ve been and more photos
No prizes for fitting twisted gates.
RHCP SEPT 2020
Manor Farm. Make do and mend. Sept 2020
Netley common looking good after clearance work over last winter. The only ‘natural’ heath with heather in Southampton.
The big stretch. Steve working under strain.
Royal Victoria Country Park progress against the odds and terrible soil.
85m of Wicor fence completed in Monday overtime.
Wicor, work in progress. New and old side by side.
Working and social distancing.
Heading home, stalked by covid-19
Tom’s log pile. Sad end for an old oak.
Steve works on a fallen oak bough hung up in a young tree.
Brush cutters, hard at it.
Stepping up to the challenge.
It’s always well hung with Dennis on the job.
Rod adds finishing touches to Brian and Barry’s steps.
Not so easy to see where we’ve been on this weeded bank.
Like lizards, warming themselves on a sunny bank at Claylands.
Twyford Waterworks
Always a fire.
Where we’ve been, not a bramble to be seen.
Didn’t we do well! 160m thinned out and layed over 4 visits.
The last branch goes down.
January 2020
starting scrub clearance at Claylands
Burning the cleared scrub at Claylands
Doughnut eaters at Manor Farm
Trying to return to open heath at Netley Common at the end of 2019.
Wide open spaces don’t just happen.
A fence and a fire(2) at Wendleholm
December 2019 on the way to Manor Farm.
Thinning out the mature hedge
Cold and wet but still working.
Tidying the finished hedge, Hinton Ampnor 2019
Preparation work for hedge laying.
Green area 1200 sqm October 2019. Yellow area 980 sqm in 2018.
Hard at work fetching and burning
Teamwork – joint firewatch. Bishops Waltham Moors October 2019.
Don’t turn your back on a falling tree.
Sponders Mede early Autumn
Clearing up boardwalk at Kite’s Croft
Improved bridge access at Kite’s Croft
Lining up for the hokey cokey, Hayling.
The attempt at group telekinesis made post driving no easier.
Many hands make link work
I’m sure that that’s a dinosaur footprint.
Glyn & Roly put the lid on.
Redefining the boundary along the stream in Durcombe’s Copse.
Structure after 2 days
Bridge completed week 4
Location
Testing the Bridge
Steps to Bridge
Where did you get that lovely sun hat? It’s a good match for my jumper.
Wrestling through flint and ancient iron slag outside the blacksmiths shop.
Male bonding in full swing (with apologies to Barry) at Manor Farm. May 2019.
Martin’s work style holds 10 volunteers spellbound.
Give us a kiss, but no tongues!
“To me.” “To you.” It seemed so easy when the Chuckle Brothers untangle wire on YouTube.
Fence erection, still at the floppy stage.
MondaysRextra gate replaced.
The wrong way and right way to lift a heavy load.
Kissing gate in its new home.
An opening for a kissing gate
kissing gate in old location
Wicor path 2018
Progress. 2019
Short Lythe footpath repairs for NT
Short Lythe Kissing Gate for NT
Short Lythe footpath repairs for NT
Short Lythe Gates for NT
going
going
Four fine fellers fixing a fence
Itchen Field, end of day 1. Total of 340m worked on over 2 days. February 2019.
Hinton Ampner Itchen Field, work in progress.
After. Stacked as a dead hedge.
Before clearing invading saplings from pasture land. February 2019.
… never known to sit on the fence.
Mainwarings hedge and ditch defences coming along.
Somehow I’m reminded of the Tiller Girls!
Tuesday overtime
The group was unanimous in its choice of Mr January for the WCV Calendar.
Hedge Laying Hamble CP
January 2019
.. now where did I put my keys?
Growing
You can see where we’ve been. Jan 2019. After 4 visits.
Spot the holly – in the dead hedge.
Adey gets the silly hat prize amidst strong competition. Chowtime for the troops as an Elf looks on.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four muddy ducks
Three life jackets
Two Bundles of faggots
And a rowboat on the lake.
The highest form of pond life – Derek, Peter and Mike rest on their laurels during the duck pond clearing at Manor Farm.
Meanwhile Mrs W looks high and low for her marigolds.
Duck Island Volunteers get to work
Manor Farm Man Shed
12:37 departure from duck island
Bernie wears ear protection
After scrub clearance from the island and far bank
Start of day
Clearing scrub between the trees. Another turnout of 20 guys.
Seven guys give support and encouragement as Rod works. November 2018.
Yellow areas cleared, 980sqm, at The Moors October 2018
Feeding themselves
Feeding the cows
Feeding the fire
Enjoying the best of Hampshire’s countryside.
Good turnout at Twyford despite the rain
4 of WCV joined with Titchfield Haven volunteers to finish the hedge laying. 16.10.2018
Petrol power beats pensioner power (just) when the going gets tough.
Week 2. All hard at it on another fine October day
Bernie and Dave tend fires while the rest rest after a very hot morning – in October.
A big patch cleared and carried away to be burned at Browndown. Week 1.
Titchfield Canal Hedge Sept 2018
Titchfield Canal Hedge Sept 2018
Ah, there it is, at Sponders Mede.
There should be a pond down here somewhere!
The final 80 meters
This will keep them safe
Absolutely vertical – nice work.
Side 3 completed in Friday overtime.
Pond Viewing Platform nearly done
The Pier being constructed
The Pond before we begin. August 2018
Disabled access path for Titchfield Haven
Titchfield Haven Path
Fencing for Royal Victoria Railway
Mind the Train. July 2018
Volunteers on the Line
More volunteers on the line
Child safety barrier for Winchester school
Fencing on Hinton Ampner estate
Taking shade at the end of a hot day at Hinton Ampner
Fence alongside Creek House, Hook
New Fence alongside Creek House, Hook
Hard work and a long way to haul hoggin
Resurfacing Path at Hatch Grange
2 Gates for Titchfield Canal path. May 2018
15 of the usual suspects at the end of a day at Selborne.
Burning Brash at Sponders Mede
Woodland clearance at Sponders Mede
Barnfield, clear view all through. 9/12/16 – 4/4/18
Job complete and cleared away. See StreetView for ‘before’ images.
Renewed fencing at Speltham Down
Teamwork gets the job done
Gate 2 completed by the MondayExtra crew
Erecting a steel gate at Botley Wood
Creating a dead hedge at Botley Wood
Reed burning at Mercury Marsh
Reed burning at Mercury Marsh
Reed burning at Mercury Marsh
Burning brash with panache at Chawton
Thinned Copse at Chawton. January 2018
Lumberjacks at Chawton – and we’re OK.
Barbecue at Botley Wood. Dec 2017
First coppicing cut of trees at Botley Wood
Removing brash at Botley Wood
Brash to be chipped for Manor Farm
HCC provides lunch at Botley Wood
Stakes for hedge during instruction day
Completed Hedge Titchfield Haven
Thinning Hedge Line Titchield Haven
Hedge Laying Titchfield Canal
Privett Church BEFORE
Privett Cemetery AFTER
Privett Church BEFORE. November 2017.
Laying Hedge Selborne
Hedge Laying Selborne
Fencing at Western School. August 2017
Hanging wire on fence Western School
Coppicing at Western School
Installing Western School Fence Posts
Manor Farm Deer Fence Hide
Auger Drilling post hole – Newton Rd
Aligning fence with new gate – Newton Rd
Driving fence post – Newton Rd
Straining livestock fencing – Newton Rd
Attaching fittings to gate at Manor Farm
Installing gates at Manor Farm
High fencing posts for Manor Farm
Edging path for Otterbourne School
Willow Cross fence at Otterbourne School
Edging Path for Otterbourne School
Cricket Pavilion lunch – Hinton Ampner
Digging Post Hole at Hinton Ampner
New Fence Strainer for Hinton Ampner
Hinton Ampner
Hedgelaying at Manor Farm
Hedgelaying at Manor Farm
Chawton Trailer Challenge !
Thinning Copse at Chawton
Burning Cuttings at Chawton
Warsash Rhododendron Clearance AFTER
Warsash Rhododendron Clearance BEFORE
New Equipment
Team Bonding
Mercury Marsh – Before
Mercury Marsh Reed Burning
Reed Burning Mercury Marsh
Pleaching the Hedge Titchfield Canal
Tichfield Canal Before
Titchfield Canal after
Staking the Hedge Tichfield Canal
Hook and Warsash Nature Reserve
Clearing Rhododendrons at Hook
Hook & Warsash Nature Reserve
Clearing Rhododendrons at Hook
Barnfield Carpark. Started Dec 2016
West Down Chilbolton
Burning Brambles at West Down
Coppicing at Megan Green
Coppicing at Megan Green, West End
Repairs to Titchfield Haven Canal Bank
Dog Dips closed along Titchfield Canal
Fencing Pond at Hacketts Marsh
Cowes Lane Corral
Manor Farm digging trench for fox proofing
Manor Farm attaching wire mesh to cage.
Hardstanding at Gull Coppice
Holly removal in Priors Hill Copse
Seating area in Wildlife Garden
Otterbourne Primary School Owl Centre
Hanging Gate
Otterbourne Fencing
Selbourne New fencing posts
Clearing fence line
Laying the Hedge
Completed Hedge. Early 2016
New fencing material
Large Animal Shelter completed at Manor Farm
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