Spring is in the air and Finemere Wood is coming to life. Warming yellows are the first colour to catch the eye: pretty, pale yellow primroses bursting into bloom, lemony-yellow brimstone butterflies flitting effortlessly by. These are such welcome sights after the gloom and colourlessness of the winter months.

The volunteers met in the gentle March sunshine to tidy up their winter mess, dealing with the piles of wood that have accumulated during the recent scrub clearance activities.

A fire was built and potatoes set to bake, a Finemere Wood delicacy. For today we must celebrate Pete (BBOWT's Reserves Officer for North Buckinghamshire), who is leaving us as his career progresses upwards.

The ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) is one of the most common and striking trees in the UK. Living for up to 400 years, and even longer if coppiced,  it may reach a dizzy height of 35 metres. Its pinnate, light-green leaves allow sunlight to reach the ground, thus providing an airy canopy. Flora takes advantage of this, dog violet and dog’s mercury are just two plants that will flourish underneath an ash tree.

Ash trees provide a rich habitat for a variety of wildlife. Birds, such as woodpeckers, owls and nuthatches nest, and bats roost in the cracks and hollows of large mature trees. Bullfinches eat the seeds. Lichens and moss grow on the bark, and the leaves provide a food source for many species of moth.

Sadly, ash dieback, a fungal disease, is now widespread across the country. The fungus is spread by the wind and a large number of ash trees in Finemere Wood are showing considerable damage. The result is structurally unstable trees which present a hazard to the public when they're close to paths, roads and properties.

The deadwood of the trees plays a vital role in the ecosystem of the wood and so wherever possible, the ash trees will be left to die and decay naturally. Because of the danger of falling dead trees and branches, the path to the back of the wood is now closed. See notices at the wood for more information.  

And so the time has come to say goodbye to Pete, who has been a joy and an inspiration to work with. Calm, fun, always supportive, and hugely knowledgeable, he will be sorely missed by all. Thank you, Pete, for all you have done for Finemere Wood and its woodland workers. Come back and visit us one day to appreciate the results of your contribution.

More than 1,700 volunteers help us towards our vision of more nature everywhere, on our nature reserves, at our visitor and education centres, in our offices and more.

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