It is a gloriously sunny February day. There is a chill in the air, but the welcome warmth of the sun seeps into our weary winter-weathered bones.

There is just a hint of spring. The birds are singing gently, and the crinkled rosettes of primrose leaves are emerging from the cold soil, signs of new life, it is a heartening time of year.

The volunteers gather along the “New Ride”, armed with their winter weapons. They are eager to slash their way into the undergrowth to create a scallop along the woodland edge.

This work is fun, rewarding, and a whole-body workout. The cake today is a solid creation, packed with dried fruit, calorific, with the sole aim to get as much work out of the woodland workers as possible.

I have worked in Finemere Wood for over 12 years now, and it has been fascinating to be involved in the transformation of this area of the reserve.

In the 1960s, this section of ancient Finemere woodland was cleared, and a Forestry Commission conifer plantation was generated in its place. The winter of 2010 saw BBOWT commencing work to restore this expanse to the broadleaved woodland it once was.

Tree-harvesting machinery moved in and clear-felled conifer trees in tens of thousands. Volunteers advanced and dragged tree debris through the thick, tenacious mud. It was known as “The Somme”, and the work here was hardcore.

For a couple of years, we watched the hesitant beginnings of natural regeneration, and then through a tangle of brambles and birch saplings, armed with brushcutters, we carved out the New Ride. Tree stumps hidden amongst thorny foliage hindering our way.

Sculpting of the ride followed, with diggers to remove the many tree stumps, and a ditch was dug on either side. Each summer thereafter, the ride has been cut, scrub kept in check, grasses and flowers have flourished.

Posts line the side of the ride, and an electric fence can be attached. Cattle can now be moved from the meadows through to Long Close Meadow, in the centre of the wood, for grazing.

We observe as The Somme metamorphoses, astonished at the predictability of secondary succession. Short-lived annual plants become established first, followed by grasses and perennial plants.

Next, shrubs and small trees. Birch quickly colonises this new and open land. Over time the variety of species increases, blackthorn, hawthorn, willow and oak. The miracle of natural regeneration.

Twelve years on, the wood is still young, but it is vigorous and diverse. The first scallops can be carved into the woodland edge of this new ride, enabling sunlight to reach the ground. These sheltered areas of new growth will provide an ideal habitat for a diverse array of invertebrates and butterflies.

The cake did the trick. The volunteers work at a frightening speed. A 30m x 10m section of the woodland edge was cleared of vegetation in a matter of hours. These woodland workers never fail to amaze me.

The “New Ride” is evolving. Year after year it matures, becoming more diverse and more beautiful. Working alongside nature, to enable this, is a truly wonderful experience.

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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