On a sunny autumn day, the Atos team arrived at Battram Wood eager to learn about woodlands and work together on woodlands conservation activities. The team took a guided walk where colleagues discovered some of the fascinating adaptations of woodland trees - such as holly trees, which grow spiky leaves only on their lower branches to deter browsing animals, while keeping smoother leaves higher up to conserve energy. During the walk, the team also learned about the challenges facing woodlands like Battram, including ash dieback - a serious fungal disease expected to kill up to 80% of the UK’s ash trees.

Atos volunteers then got stuck into their conservation tasks, removing old tree guards hidden deep in the undergrowth. Using secateurs to cut through vegetation, they collected guards and stakes to be reused for new tree plantings wherever possible. In the afternoon, the team chose to continue with further habitat improvements, working together to clear brambles from the Millennium Circle, helping more light reach the woodland floor and encouraging a greater diversity of plants to grow.

Thank you Atos for taking the time out of your week to connect with this community-minded, local woodland and support the woodland's health and growth.