Blackberry picking in Troserch Woods.

Thought you might like to see this video of one of our dogs, Rebus, Blackberry picking..... I wonder if I can get him to volunteer to do some Litter Picking in Troserch Woods instead!!

All the best!
Karin.

Next Working Party - Saturday 31st January 9.30 to 12.30. Why not come along?

Troserch Woods Society will be holding a working party to focus on clearing windblown trees and litter picking. Some tools and equipment will be available, but if possible please bring: gloves, chainsaw** (50:1 2 stroke petrol will be available for use). Everyone is welcome as there is always plenty to be done. Meet in the car park next to Graig Fach. Sturdy footwear is essential due to the nature of the terrain in the woods. Children are welcome, but must be kept under close supervision as powered equipment will be in use.

** If you have a chainsaw you must bring your own PPE  (head, face & ear protection / chainsaw gloves / chainsaw boots / chainsaw trousers). You must bring along a LANTRA or NPTC certificate of competence.  As a failure to do so will result in our insurance being invalid.

A Lovely Display of Fly Agarics

I spotted this fine display of Fly Agaric toadstools last week near the top picnic site. They are really quite toxic to us, but are beneficial to the host tree by improving their root's ability to absorb water.

Fungus Foray at Troserch Woods

Following on from a successful Fungus Foray the day before at Pembrey, hopes were high that it would be another productive afternoon at the foray at Troserch Woods, Llangennech, organised by Llanelli Naturalists. But alas it was not to be, as the weather had turned wet and there were very few fungi to find in what is usually a very good fungus site.

However the 7 people who had braved the bad weather were treated to another of Dr. Jones' amusing and enthusiastic talks on the magical world of mushrooms, and amongst the few fungi that we collected there turned out to be some quite interesting specimens. So nobody was disappointed.

 Among the fungi that were found were A grey Elfin Saddle (Helvella lacunosa) and a Tarzetta species, very probably T. scotica.

Woods eastern entrance-way cleared.

Many thanks to all those volunteers who turned up last week-end to help clear the eastern route into our woods. Our thanks also to Tyr Eglwys Farm who gave us the permission to do it. Gradually over the years, birch and bramble scrub had slowly encroached, leaving the path almost impassable in places and some parts had become uncomfortably muddy.

The woods are now once again accessible from Llangennech along either bank of the Morlais river. Unfortunately for our volunteers it seems the route will need to be managed annually to keep the access clear for everyone.

 Can you volunteer to help with this and the other management projects we have in our community woodland, as we are almost totally dependent on the members of our society to keep things going. If you are unable to help in the woods please consider joining our society by clicking here.

Good news! there's mice in our Dormouse Boxes.

Two years ago we found a dormouse asleep in one of our bird boxes and another asleep in an old bedraggled dormouse tube put up many years ago. After which, the then Countryside Council for Wales arranged for 50 new wooden Dormouse boxes to be placed strategically around the woods to encourage them.  The good news is that most of these boxes are still up and about 6 of them have mice living in them. The bad news however, is that they are not Dormice but Wood mice - very cute but hardly an endangered species. Hopes were raised when one box had a nutshell in it, with a nice neat hole that seemed it could have been a dormouse - but expert examination again showed this to be yet another wood mouse, only one that was a tidier eater.

Another wood mouse!

Wood mouse hiding! - can you see it?

Lion in Woods!!!

As you can see I've suddenly discovered how to add Blogs...thanks Colin!!!

As requested by Greg...I'm adding photo of the Mystery Lion who appeared on a boulder at Pont Morlais.....more popularly known as Pont Sion Rhydderch!!  Mystery Lion disappeared as suddenly as he arrived!!