Joining up from multiple offices, a team from LRG met at Battram Wood, just outside of Birmingham, to take part in a day of practical conservation work. Battram Wood is a young forest, where the majority of the trees were planted less than 30 years ago, so it requires plenty of maintenance to keep it healthy and accessible to the public.

Starting off with a guided walk of the woodland, the team learnt about the history of Battram Wood and about woodland management, local species, and taking note of overgrown brambles to come back to later.

After the guided tour, members from LRG collected pruning shears to tackle the brambles that were taking over footpaths throughout the forest. As such, they were outcompeting other favourable plants and were a risk hazard to walkers. Despite the hot weather, the team made excellent progress in clearing swathes of overgrown brambles from pathways and around signposts, making them easier to read for other visitors.

In the afternoon, the group moved over to another part of the woodland to restore an educational site for schoolchildren who visit the woodland. Working in teams, they built and repaired pathways, moved logs into place for benches, and then competed in some team-building activities.

The day ended with a brief mindfulness session, reflecting on the impact of their work and enjoying the surroundings of the forest.

Thank you to the LRG team who set aside their day to help keep such an important woodland healthy.