Work to improve ancient woodland

WORK to enhance an important wildlife habitat in North Solihull took place last month.
Alcott Wood, an ancient woodland which lies between Chapelhouse Road and Moorend Avenue, was the first of four sites in the borough to benefit from the Solihull Habitat and Nature Improvements Project.
Workers spent several weeks thinning trees at the site, as parts of efforts to let more light through the canopy and help flowers such as bluebells to thrive.
The work was funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), following a successful application by Solihull Council last year.
A council spokesman said that detailed surveys had been carried out beforehand to check for the presence of protected and priority species such as bats, badgers and hedgehogs.
"Any disruption caused by the woodland management work will be short-term and the long-term aim of this work is to provide better quality habitat for wildlife."
The work was carried out in January and February to avoid the bird nesting season.
Alcott Wood is a 5.7 hectare site, which was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2002. It is one of the few wooded areas in the locality to have survived the large-scale housing development last century.
The Woodland Trust has noted that the site contains several ancient species including wood anemone, remote sedge and wood sorrel. It is noteworthy that very little non-native vegetation is present.
Work has also been carried out at three other areas of woodland in the borough: Hillfield Park, Dorridge Wood and Elmdon Park.