Thanks to the efforts of local moth enthusiasts data is being collected from #ForgeValleyWoods NNR this spring, with a successful trapping night this week resulting in 198 moths of 21 species, inc. 73 Common Quaker, 33 Water Carpet, 8 Oak Beauty, 6 Satellite & a noteworthy Red Sword-grass 🦋

This week we've also been working at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR opening up the quarry faces for their geological interest & valuable invertebrate habitat, whilst strimming the calcareous grassland pockets - nice to see Spurge Laurel & Wild Garlic, with the first Snowdrops also starting to appear.

It was more of a snowy landscape for the team at #ForgeValleyWoods where time was spent coppicing hazel and clearing dead ash between the roadside and riverbank (allowing more light to reach the river and woodland floor), whilst also preventing future health and safety work 🌲

Great to have our fantastic team back together and back out on the reserve again this week following the Christmas and New Year break, with work undertaken at both #SkipwithCommon and #ForgeValleyWoods NNRs 🌲

Last week our team managed to fit in another two days working at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR – dealing with dangerous trees along the roadside and riverbank, as well as coppicing more hazel to increase the light reaching the woodland floor and river – many thanks as always to our fantastic team 👏

Last week we also fitted in two days working at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR at the top of the Derwent catchment, to help Raincliffe Woods Community Enterprise manage the fallen trees over the boardwalk and riverside path, as well as managing roadside trees - great job as always by our fantastic team 👏

A rather damp day but good to be back at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR this week to meet with the Raincliffe Woods Community Enterprise forester to identify urgent tree works (following the recent storms and wet weather which has resulted in significant tree falls in the area).

Earlier this week our team were over at #ForgeValleyWoods NNR talking to the Raincliffe Woods Community Enterprise group about upcoming woodland management across the site – fantastic to see all the autumnal colours and a bit of ‘leaf-art’ 🍂🍃🍁