The post-Christmas slump hit me hard this year, my warm cosy bed far more enticing than the eternal greyness and bone aching bitter cold outside. And so it was that I dragged myself out to Finemere Wood for the first work party of the year.

Volunteers were dropping like flies, with shoulder and knee injuries (clearly they had had a far more active festive season than I did). Some had coughs and colds and others needed time to plan trips to sunnier climes, to escape the bleak British months. Despite this, a hardy bunch appeared, shivering in their boots, wondering if, with the temperature hovering around zero, we might call it a half day.

But soon these thoughts were gone as loppers and saws were propelled into action. Layers of clothing were discarded as warmth spread through the woodland workers. Scrub was cleared and trees were felled, opening new areas up to the light. Cut wood was piled high, where it will decay slowly, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Birds and mammals will find food and homes amongst the tangle of branches, and an amazing array of fungi will flourish.

Lichens catch my eye at this time of the year, when there is little colour in the woods. Xantharia parietina - common orange lichen is a leafy yellow/orange lichen, with small round disc-like fruiting bodies. It is a pollution-tolerant, highly adaptable pioneer species colonising bare rock, walls and bark. and thus is widespread. Typical of lichens, which are influenced greatly by environmental conditions,  it will grow only a few millimetres a year. In times gone by it was used as a treatment for jaundice due to its yellow colour.

Much work was done - the freezing temperatures shorten break times as there is little desire to lounge around over tea and cake. Volunteers were keen to keep moving and not one begged to knock off early. I for one felt the benefit of a day out in icy January in my favourite wood. I have certainly been given a kick-start out of my slump and am ready to embrace whatever 2025 may bring.

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