Earlier this month, The Westcombe Woodlands hosted another well-attended open day afternoon, celebrating our place in the local community with our environmental stewardship of our small woodland. Activities, refreshments and good weather helped create a wonderful atmosphere.

We will be opening up on Saturday, the 7th of June at the usual time of 10 o'clock for our next volunteer morning. Expect activities to include maintenance projects as well as lighter activities such as weeding with tea and coffee for refreshments.

Earlier this month, we held another well-attended volunteer morning. Cutting-up of wood for the construction of new steps was a major achievement. Summer flowers are starting to arrive with the pink red campion flowers brightly popping up.

This coming Sunday, the 6th of July, is our next weekend volunteer morning, starting at 10. We'll be doing lots of activities, which after the very warm last few days might include watering our new plants. Other activities will no doubt include weeding and general maintenance.

This short video taken at the end of June by committee member Fiona Machen, shows a ragwort plant in the Oak Glade. Just look at the pollinators on this one plant!

Thanks to the Seren Park Gardens residents who alerted us to a fallen tree over the weekend. We investigated on Sunday (20th July) and found that 2 large limbs had fallen off the mature poplar tree in the Glade (ie interior of the woodland).

Last Saturday was our August volunteer morning. It was a very productive session. Long-standing volunteer Dave Larkin let a group of young volunteers cleare an area in the glade. Gail Stirling and Pip O'Byrne were on a robinia, bindweed, nettles & bramble clearance session.

Hello everyone, this coming Sunday, the 7th of September, is the next volunteer morning at Westcombe Woodlands. As always there’ll be activities such as weeding and maintenance. We'll be onsite at 10 with refreshments mid-morning. Come and join us!

Saturday, the 30th of August saw our annual event with Les Clarke, a local expert in the study of bats. The most common species in the woodlands is the pipistrelle and occasionally Soprano Pipistrelle are recorded.

The next volunteer morning event is scheduled for this coming Sunday, the 5th of October with a start time of 10 o'clock. Then, following a short break, we will continue from 2 o'clock with our early Autumn Open Day event. Expect tours, activities and refreshments.

Our latest Early Autumn Open Day at Westcombe Woodlands saw a large crowd of visitors. Committee members were onsite organising children's activities as well as manning our much-loved refreshment stall. Andrew Slade had an area dedicated to show visitors glass cases of bees.

Hello everyone, Sunday, the 2nd of November, is the penultimate volunteer morning for this year at Westcombe Woodlands, how time flies! As always there’ll be activities such as weeding and maintenance. We'll be onsite at 10 with refreshments mid-morning. Come and join us!

November's volunteer morning was well attended. Activities completed were pond dredging, step construction, bramble bashing, weeding around the areas where wild flowers were planted earlier this year and maintenance of newly planted trees and shrubs.

Saturday, 6th of December is our last volunteer morning of 2025. In addition from midday until 2pm, we'll be having a honey sale in the Seren Park Gardens' car park. We'll be selling honey from Mudchute City Farm on the Isle of Dogs - £10 a jar & profits going to the Woodlands.

Tomorrow, Sat 6th of Dec, is the last volunteer morning of 2025. we'll start at 10:00, but we hope to undertake work at the Lasseter Place entrance. This entrance is off Vanbrugh Hill. We'll be selling local honey from Mudchute Farm from around midday at the main entrance.

A week later than usual, our first volunteer morning had a great turnout in mild January weather. We cleaned and repaired bird boxes including checked for nests, we did some weeding and maintenance. Our bluebells are already emerging & habitats were planned for new saplings.

A few days ago, volunteers were in Westcombe Woodlands to take delivery of several dozen tree saplings. They “heeled in” the delivery of several dozen tree species until we are ready to plant these during the February volunteer morning.

Last week we took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. We were delighted to welcome local wildlife expert Joe Beale. The light rain perhaps reduced the numbers of birds that interacted in the woodlands. Some species were wren, parakeet, magpie, gold crest, crow and jay.

Our beehives are already showing signs of activity as in the accompanying video. It might appear to be a quiet time of the year, but ivy, snowdrops, crocuses, mahonias, catkins and hellebores are the food that's typically available at this time of year.

February's volunteer morning was at the Lasseter Place part of the Woodlands. Dozens of tree saplings were planted and the damp weather was perfect conditions for them. Hot refreshments were organised by committee member Gail Stirling. Fresh woodchip was added to the paths.