Dec 17 2013: Final Bronze conservation day at a Copse wood in Earlswood, Reigate.  After a full technical briefing on techniques and reasons for coppicing woodland and a safety talk from Simon Elson (RACV) 25 students set to work on old and declining hazel and birch coppice along a path circling an ancient woodland.  Working effectively in teams they successfully coppiced a long row of hazels and cleared the brashings onto a fire and stored logs and branches of different sizes for a hedge maker to come along later and use.  We were joined today by local wardens from SCC and a professional hedge layer and hurdle maker who all congratulated our students on their excellent progress and attitude to the task.

Well done to all the team who have completed their dofe Bronze conservation and have been an excellent group throughout.