next task days
Over 16 years and sufficiently mobile? Then bring a packed lunch and enjoy a day working out in the open countryside in good company, and giving something back. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month for 9:30 and aim to clear up and finish the day's task by 15:00. The meeting point changes between the lane leading to Mount Fancy Farm or Underhill Lane (worst road now repaired and driveable - with care) leading to Shutes Farmhouse, depending on where the task is located in the reserve. There is of course no toilet or running water provision on site but nature can provide many opportunities if the need arises.
No prior experience or skills required. Simple hand tools will be provided and guidance given as appropriate. The tasks are varied, depending on the habitat, season and weather. The ground is rough, uneven and there are always soft wet areas around, so stout footwear and waterproofs are essential.
No prior experience or skills required. Simple hand tools will be provided and guidance given as appropriate. The tasks are varied, depending on the habitat, season and weather. The ground is rough, uneven and there are always soft wet areas around, so stout footwear and waterproofs are essential.
COming? then join us or email us
If you have not attended before, for insurance reasons, please do fill out the application form with those simple basic details.
To ensure there are tools for you and to enable us to plan out the task do please EMail me at Ian Walker [email protected] and let us know that you plan to attend.
To ensure there are tools for you and to enable us to plan out the task do please EMail me at Ian Walker [email protected] and let us know that you plan to attend.
Our next Tuesday task day is nearly apon us, 11th Nov, where we will meet again at Shutes Farmhouse for 9:30 at very far end of Underhill Lane. Watch out, it is breaking up again and there are a couple of sump buster humps! There will be a stroll through this compartment of the Reserve until we reach a lightly wooded area, still part of the transect.
The task is to clear the low spreading bramble to give the ground flora a chance so our butterflies can feed. Mixed within the bramble will be fallen branches and old 'habitat' piles. Otherwise it should be an easy task for the day!
The task is to clear the low spreading bramble to give the ground flora a chance so our butterflies can feed. Mixed within the bramble will be fallen branches and old 'habitat' piles. Otherwise it should be an easy task for the day!
Our next Tuesday 14th October Fancy Volunteer day is nearly on us. This time we will meet at Mount Fancy Farm itself (W3W: cycled.troll.subsets) for 9:30. We will be there to show you where to park. Now doing our winter work we will be cutting back young willow regrowths. Most will yield easily to loppers, but there might be a few thicker stems, even a heavy branch or two to bow saw. IF the rain holds off it should be reasonably firm underfoot, otherwise it will be wet soft ground - you have been warned! A lot to tackle, more hands the merrier!
Yes tool/tea or coffee/guidance all provided for free.
Yes tool/tea or coffee/guidance all provided for free.
Rushing up the last of our summer work before then switching to winter working. This coming Tuesday 9th Sept we will meet again at Shutes Farmhouse, very top end of Underhill Lane, (watch out for the sump knackers) for 9:30. Still cutting but not bracken but low scrubby mix of bramble birch hazel regrowth. Working around the hazel as best we can to keep the ground cover clear. Loppers, certainly, slashes, maybe scythes and pitchforks to clear. Nice friendly bunch in a great spot, such a shame if you miss the opportunity!
Our next task day on Tuesday the 8th July is nearly on us. We will be meeting at Shutes Farmhouse (far end of Underhill Lane) for 9:30. No Ian again so it will just be me leading the day.
When we will be cutting bracken, probably tangled with bramble, in the Apple field that has not been fully cut before then moving onto the Dragon field which has already had a cut this year so should be an easy finish! We ought to be raking the cuttings into windrows if there are enough of us. Do come along, tools, tea/coffee and guidance all provided for free.
Not been before?
Why not give it go and see what is all about, a great day out in the fresh air and a glorious setting.
When we will be cutting bracken, probably tangled with bramble, in the Apple field that has not been fully cut before then moving onto the Dragon field which has already had a cut this year so should be an easy finish! We ought to be raking the cuttings into windrows if there are enough of us. Do come along, tools, tea/coffee and guidance all provided for free.
Not been before?
Why not give it go and see what is all about, a great day out in the fresh air and a glorious setting.
Our next work party is rushing up on Tuesday 10th June. We will meet up for 9:30 at the Mount Fancy Farm with a short walk to the high point in the reserve. Where young soft bracken is waiting to be cut. Great location, fabulous views and an easy task. We dont even have to rake, this time around. As always guidance given if needed and tools, tea/coffee provided. At the moment the ground is firm and dry, wear long trousers, bring gloves if you want to hand pull the bracken.ere to edit.
Just checked and the bracken at the selected site at Mount Fancy is barely showing and not at a stage to be cut anywhere else. Possibly because we have brought this one task Tuesday forward by a week aggravated by the very dry conditions.
Instead we can have a very easy and relaxed day this coming Tuesday building protective pyramids (protecting new shoots from deer grazing) around the hazel stools which have now be trimmed close to ground. Finding, or cutting, straight long stems, driving three thick ones with tapered ends into the now dry ground (we have a plan!) then weaving in some thinner stems. Simple easy task, great for any one thinking of giving us a try out.
Contrary to the earlier EMail notice we will still meet at Shutes Farmhouse for 9:30. Tools, tea/coffee and guidance provided as always for free but you might like to bring along your secateurs.Just remember it is NOT Mount Fancy on this Tuesday!
Instead we can have a very easy and relaxed day this coming Tuesday building protective pyramids (protecting new shoots from deer grazing) around the hazel stools which have now be trimmed close to ground. Finding, or cutting, straight long stems, driving three thick ones with tapered ends into the now dry ground (we have a plan!) then weaving in some thinner stems. Simple easy task, great for any one thinking of giving us a try out.
Contrary to the earlier EMail notice we will still meet at Shutes Farmhouse for 9:30. Tools, tea/coffee and guidance provided as always for free but you might like to bring along your secateurs.Just remember it is NOT Mount Fancy on this Tuesday!
Advance Notice - neither Ian nor I can make the next Task Day due on Tuesday 13th May but we can offer you Tuesday 6th May instead. So make a note now in your diary and come along. Task details and meet-up point to be posted shortly.
With the new arrangements now inhand working on Forestry England land, we now be leading a working party on Wednesdays 23rd April and 28th May which you are welcome to come along to as well. Same rules, please book in beforehand.
With the new arrangements now inhand working on Forestry England land, we now be leading a working party on Wednesdays 23rd April and 28th May which you are welcome to come along to as well. Same rules, please book in beforehand.
Our next task day is rushing up on us, Tuesday 8th April. We will meet again at Shutes Farmhouse, top far end of Underhill Lane - take care parts of it are in VERY bad condition.
This time we will be cutting down a couple of hazel stools to open a corridor between two adjacent open meadows. Some butterflies, including the ones we want back, are lazy flies and cant or wont fly over trees! So we will be making a worthwhile difference.
Do come along and give us a hand. Tools, tea/coffee and guidance all given for free. See you there?
This time we will be cutting down a couple of hazel stools to open a corridor between two adjacent open meadows. Some butterflies, including the ones we want back, are lazy flies and cant or wont fly over trees! So we will be making a worthwhile difference.
Do come along and give us a hand. Tools, tea/coffee and guidance all given for free. See you there?
After a lot of agonising tooing and froing, with conflicting leave days for key people, we will have a signed agreement between Butterfly Conservation and Forestry England so that Tuesday's 11th March planned Task Day can continue. We meet at Shutes Farmhouse the very top end of Underhill Lane (Staple Fitzpaine) for 9:30 when we will be cutting back some old overgrown Blackthorn and stacking to the side. All to encourage the Brown Hairstreak butterfly. As always handtools, tea/coffee, guidance as necessary all provided. Just bring your enthusiasm, stout footwear and join in the good company having a rewarding day out in the open making a difference.
Unfortunately neither Ian nor myself are available to lead the scheduled Task Day on the Tuesday 11th. We are very sorry. life priorities got in the way. Apologises for the late notice but we do hope to see you next time.
Lets start off 2025 with a Green Gym day, working off all the exuberances of the past weeks. What better than to come along on Tuesday 14th Jan and get stuck in clearing bramble bracken undergrowth around hazel stools, maybe burning some old cuttings and even a little bit of coppicing. Great easy and varied task day just using handtools, loppers, scythes, slashers, all provided, with guidance given as needed. Give yourself that da out in the open, glorious landscape and views, good company, doing what you can for as long as you can. Brilliant!
Meet for 9:30 at Shutes Farmhouse W3W: appendix.responses.exhaled
So there are enough tools for you, it helps if you do book in first.
Meet for 9:30 at Shutes Farmhouse W3W: appendix.responses.exhaled
So there are enough tools for you, it helps if you do book in first.
For the twelfth and last taskday of this year, on Tuesday 10th, we will be taking it easier. A relaxed day of cutting birch saplings and, if the weather permits, burning the brash with a fire. This time we will be meeting up at Mount Fancy Farm (W3W blindfold.cared.blogging) for 9:30, stopping for a chat, drinks and mince pies. If we have fire you might want to bring along a potato wrapped in foil for lunch!. The Reserve is currently very soft underfoot and, if we make good progress, we might begin to work where there is standing water, so bring waterproof footwear. A great opportunity to try out what practical conservation work is like.
This coming Tuesday 12th Nov, (our 11th taskday) we will carry on with what we were rained off last time in October, meeting at Shutes Farmhouse again, very far end of Underhill Lane. Carrying on coppicing hazel stools to clear around a veteran oak. Maybe this time we will get to burn all the brash that arises. So a variety of task to suit all skills, in an interesting spot. Come and enjoy the day out in the open, being physical and able to look back at a job well done and worth doing.
For our 10th Taskday on Tuesday 8th Oct we will meet up at Shutes Farmhouse, the very top end of Underhill Lane at 9:30. This time we will be coppicing hazel stools. Cutting down the stems, trimming off the side branches then creating a pyramid of twigs around the levelled stool to protect the new growth from deer grazing.. It is important to keep cutting these stools on a 10-15yr rotation. If left they get too old then die if then cut. Many wildlife forms evolved to live within the rotational cropping of hazel. The added bonus is that it will release a veteran oak and give it more light to prosper. Plenty of varied work for all skills and abilities.
As usual tea/coffee. tools and guidance as required are proved, just bring stout footwear and your enthusiasm!
As usual tea/coffee. tools and guidance as required are proved, just bring stout footwear and your enthusiasm!
For our ninth taskday, it will be the last bracken cut for this year. A final re-cut at the mound at the top of the site followed by re-cutting a section lower down the slope, by the gate, which has got too leggy. If time permits then we will move on to tackling brush/sapling growth surrounding a soakaway area back near the mound, so a little bit of everything on the day. A mix range of tools and skills using scythes, loppers or slashers, and bowsaws.
Join us at Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30, tools, tea/coffee and guidance if needed are provided. Just bring water, stout waterproof footwear and most of all your enthusiasm!
Join us at Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30, tools, tea/coffee and guidance if needed are provided. Just bring water, stout waterproof footwear and most of all your enthusiasm!
For our eight taskday on Tuesday 13th August we get to do something different. Part of transect route (Section 8) walked weekly had to be abandoned as it had become too wet to walk.
A new route to replace that abandoned part has now been agreed. Our task will be to follow the yellow flags, marking out the route, clearing a 1.5M wide path of undergrowth, saplings (cut as close as possible to the ground to minimise trip hazards), overhanging branches and to remove two horizontal branches blocking the route. So a little bit of everything using loppers, scythes or slashers, bowsaws and supporting Ian with his chainsaw. When it gets cleared then marker posts need to be driven in and there is always plenty more bracken to tackle. So it should be very enjoyable and varied day for all of us.
Jojn us at Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30 and we will provide the tools, tea/coffee and guidance if needed. You need to bring water, stout waterproof footwear (yes it is still a wet area) and most of all your enthusiasm!
A new route to replace that abandoned part has now been agreed. Our task will be to follow the yellow flags, marking out the route, clearing a 1.5M wide path of undergrowth, saplings (cut as close as possible to the ground to minimise trip hazards), overhanging branches and to remove two horizontal branches blocking the route. So a little bit of everything using loppers, scythes or slashers, bowsaws and supporting Ian with his chainsaw. When it gets cleared then marker posts need to be driven in and there is always plenty more bracken to tackle. So it should be very enjoyable and varied day for all of us.
Jojn us at Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30 and we will provide the tools, tea/coffee and guidance if needed. You need to bring water, stout waterproof footwear (yes it is still a wet area) and most of all your enthusiasm!
After a shaky start we are good to go on Tuesday 9th July with our seventh Task Day. A clash of coincidences had left us short but now a first aider has been found to attend. So do come along to Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30 where you will shown where to park.
Then enjoy the day in a wonderful setting, doing as much or as little as you can manage doing the pleasant relaxed task of cutting bracken. What better excuse is needed than to spend a day in the open air, doing something worthwhile and in good company? Tools, tea/coffee and guidance where needed all provide for free.
Then enjoy the day in a wonderful setting, doing as much or as little as you can manage doing the pleasant relaxed task of cutting bracken. What better excuse is needed than to spend a day in the open air, doing something worthwhile and in good company? Tools, tea/coffee and guidance where needed all provide for free.
This Tuesday 11th June, our sixth Task Day, will be the first of the easy summer jobs, cutting young bracken. We will be working at the top end of Mount Fancy, so glorious views, weather promises to be good and the work is easy. Best done by using a scythe, which we can help you to master, but anyway you like so long as the bracken stem is broken. Such an important task to help keep our wonderful grass and flower meadows open. do come along and give it a try, Tools, tea/coffee and company all provided for free. Join us at Mount Fancy Farm for 9:30, it does help if you let us know that you are coming!
Tuesday 14th taskday has been CANCELLED
The fifth taskday of this year, Tuesday 14th May, will be the last of the winter work tasks. Meeting again at Mount Fancy Farm itself, I'll be there to guide where to park, for 9:30. We will be working within an area known as 'soakaways', these are wet grassland areas which gather water before it runs-off. As you can imagine they are wet, often soft under-foot and beloved by willows. We will be cutting down these young growths so those very special wet loving grasses and plants can thrive. If we are lucky the willow can be dragged to where there will be a fire, otherwise we have to be sure to stack any willow off the ground to stop it re-rooting. Usual handtools, loppers, bowsaws, pruning saws, pitchfork and maybe a scythe to clear the undergrowth. Recent dry days have firmed up the ground within the reserve to a welcomed and noticeable degree, but, we will be working in a known wet area!
For the fourth task of 2004 we will be meeting at Mount Fancy Farm again at 9.30am, working until 3.00pm. We will be continuing with the task which we started on our March work party, tackling an area of birch and willow saplings and undergrowth below the bog/pond at Mount Fancy. If we clear that area and have sufficient time left we will then move on to an area where hazel coppicing has been started, and continue with more coppicing, and covering the cut stumps with the previously cut brash, to give some protection to new growth from the resident deer population.
Bow saws and loppers will be the order of the day, with perhaps a little scything once we have an area cleared of saplings.
Bow saws and loppers will be the order of the day, with perhaps a little scything once we have an area cleared of saplings.
Our third task day of 2024 will be on Tuesday 12th March and this time we will meet at the Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30. Ian will be there to guide you where to park. The primary task is to rake up the bracken windrows formed last year, or the cut bracken (not the fallen bracken) and take to one heap. There are two separate areas to be raked but you will be shown where. This is a first time, so very much an experiment to see how it goes, it should be a doodle. As we only have two rakes and pitchforks, the rest of us will be cutting down more young saplings and stacking nearby. We will be cutting in a wet area and because of the recent rain, it will be very wet and soft, so wellies would be a good choice. As always there will be some bramble mixed in with the saplings, so gloves are essential. Tools, apart from the rake/pitchfork, bow saws. loppers, pruning saws and a slasher or scythe to clear the undergrowth. A good mix of work for all skills then.
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The second task day of 2024 will be on Tuesday February 13th. This time we will be meeting and parking in Shutes Farmhouse for 9:30. We will be taking down young stems to clear a path for the ponies so they do not use the bridge. Then haloing a splendid veteran old tree or two. Nice easy work. Tools mainly bowsaws, pruning saws, loppers and slasher or scythe to clear the undergrowth. We will be stacking any arisings. If there is a good turn out, these initial task get completed then we can move on, to another patch where we have worked before, and extend cutting the saplings there.
The first task day of 2024 will be Tuesday 9th January when we will return to the same place as last time to finish clearing the area. Once again meeting at Mount Fancy Farm itself for 9:30 where we will be there to direct the parking. The worst of the bramble has been tackled, just a few outlier clumps to cut and then the mounds of old grass/sedges, which are easy to cut. In addition the two twin stemmed sliver birches to take down and process. If the weather holds we can burn the brash again. A mixed bag then, more scythe work, log saws, loppers to clear and pitchfork to carry to fire site. Work for all abilties then.
Task Day 006 will be Tuesday 12th December. Access this time will be the next lane along towards Mount Fancy Farm itself. At the crossroads with Taunton behind you, head on, towards the A303, and take the very next righthand turn. Watch out, the signpost and the junction are concealed by the hedgerows. Once again follow it all the way to the very top where we will be there to guide you where to park. The task this time is easy, so it should be a relaxed day. Plenty of time to take in the splendid setting and to nibble a mince-pie or two. The low-lying bramble clumps are spreading and needs to be cut back and then carted off to where we can have a bonefire (wind permitting). If you can manage loppers or a fork this is the chance to give it a go. Working out in the open doing something worthwhile whilst enjoying the company, taking in the rich wildlife around and the satisfaction of completing the task together.
Task Day 005 will be Tuesday 14th November with access again from Underhill Lane. Take the lane opposite the Greyhound Pub then bear left after 200M and follow it to the very top. Parking will be in Shute Farmhouse where we will be there to greet you for 9:30. This task initially looks daunting, but with willing hands and little snips here and there, it will succumb to our attentions easily. We will be tackling a large overgrown Blackthorn tree which is tangled up with bramble. So gloves are essential! You might want to bring along eye-protection. Our Brown Hairstreak butterfly, which we need to encourage, prefers new second year Blackthorn growth closer to the ground and free of bramble. This overgrown tree provides no benefit but will send up many new growths for later years. It is expected to burn nearby anything we cut off. Come along, give it a try and take the opportunity to see other parts of our Reserve.
Task Day 004 will be 10th October with access from Underhill Lane. Take the lane opposite the Greyhound Pub then bear left after 200M and follow to the very top. Parking will be in Shute Farmhouse where we will be there to greet you for 9:30. The task this time is to clear the ground of bramble and sapling regrowth. Mainly loppers or some slasher/scythe work. It is in a hazel coppice area, so we will cut back any birch but leave to hazel stools, protecting them with twig pyramids. It should be any easy day, but rewarding if we can keep this special area open. .
Task Day 003 will be 12th September and will be further bracken management, but now the second young growth so it should be an easy task. If time allows and you are up for it there will still be plenty of old bracken left to cut and rake!
Access will be from Parsonage Lane, the very next crossroad on from Staple Fitzpaine (arriving from Taunton direction), easily missed. Follow this to the very end, do not take the left fork. I will meet you at the farmhouse, W3W:What3Words: ///spill.ruler.clays) and show you where to park.
This is an easy task day so do come along and see how you get on!
Access will be from Parsonage Lane, the very next crossroad on from Staple Fitzpaine (arriving from Taunton direction), easily missed. Follow this to the very end, do not take the left fork. I will meet you at the farmhouse, W3W:What3Words: ///spill.ruler.clays) and show you where to park.
This is an easy task day so do come along and see how you get on!
Task Day 002 will be 8th August and it is now confirmed that there will be further bracken management of cutting and raking. Access to the Reserve will be from Shutes Farmhouse, Underhill Lane, Staple Fitzpaine (W3W: lower.lighters.origin). We will meet up at the farmhouse for 9:30 as usual. Just a few extra hands doing easy simple tasks would make so much difference. Do come along and give it a tryout.
For our first Task Day we will meet up for 9:30 at Shutes Farmhouse, the far end of Underhill Lane. Go to the crossroads in Staple Fitzpaine, then take the lane directly opposite to the Greyhound, branching left within a couple of hundred yards, follow it all the way to the very end. This used to be the worst road in Somerset, but temporary repairs have now been carried out and it now drivable. I look forward to seeing you there.
