31^st December – Jubilee Wood. Nick leading the task.

Location – off Tanhouse Lane. Those of you who have been before will remember that Tanhouse Lane peters out into what appears to be a minor crossroads: please take the left hand turning and go up a slight incline a couple of hundred yards. Then turn left into the site opposite a mansion, modestly called Hilltop Cottage, through a pair of Weldmesh gates (I will endeavour to be early to open them). The postcode for satnavs is SO30 2SZ and the what3words address is maker/logic/copy.

Parking – please park on the grassed area to the right hand side of the track inside the gates – if we arrange our vehicles prettily there will be plenty of room.

Camp site: Around the corner approx. 100m from the car parking on/around a minor track.

Tools: we will need chainsaws – as there is plenty of work. Also, a pole saw, pitch forks and billhooks from the trailer. The rest of you please bring loppers, Silkys and bowsaws.

Work Required: we will need to split into 2 teams working approx. 50m apart as follows:

1. Cutting willow trees (most approx. 3”-4” diameter) to the south of the campsite – chainsaw plus helpers to trim and drag felled to form 2m high dead hedge (no stakes required).
2. Cutting willow trees (most approx. 3”-4” diameter) to the north of the campsite – chainsaw plus helpers to trim and drag felled to form 2m high dead hedge (no stakes required)

We will be allowed a fire so can someone bring the tinder/firelighters please.

Other information:

• Cakes – Nick will bring
• Rangers accompanying us will be Joe Bassett and Tom Bainbridge.
• The site has no public access – there may be owners feeding their horses in the bottom field but they should not pass our work site.
• Please be aware that the M27 will be shut from J9-J11 and that accordingly there may be queues from J8 (eastbound) so you will need to give a bit of thought to your route to and from site.

Hope this makes sense.
Hope it’s dry.
Hope to see lots of you.

Frosty view at the start of day.

End of work. To be replanted with disease-

Big bonfire always welcome on a cold day.í