The Glade

"at last, I stood beneath a steep hillside
Which closed that valley's wandering maze

Then I looked up, and saw the morning rays
Mantle its shoulder from that planet bright
Which guides men's feet aright
On all their ways"

Emerging  from the wood into the glade you will be struck by the sudden openness and clear sky. 

Open spaces are an important part of a healthy and bio-diverse woodland habitat.  The glade would once have been kept open by grazing cattle but that is no longer a practical option. It is becoming overgrown by brambles, nettles, thistles and bracken. We have started a programme of biannual scything that is starting to show benefit. Scything Day is a wonderful event, hard work but satisfying.  We are so grateful to the expert scythers for giving their time to the Copse. There is work for those who are not trained to use a scythe as it is necessary  to rake up the cuttings. We generally finish with hot drinks, cake and a chat back at base camp.