A TEAM of ten boarding pupils visited Stover Country Park near Newton Abbot in Devon to continue their 
voluntary conservation work.
Following their successful work on the marshland which has contributed to ‘uncountable’ populations of snipe this winter, the team worked in the lower woodland clearing rhododendron trees from the indigenous oak wood.
The area had been largely unmanaged for some years and the alien rhododendrons, which have little ecological value, had grown to strangle large areas of woodland.
Our boarders worked extremely hard from ten through until four o’clock cutting down the trees to be burned on large bonfires. This is regarded by the park rangers as the better method of disposing of the large amount of material.
During the day we used bow saws and loppers to clear a huge area of woodland, exposing the floor to the sun for the first time in years and encouraging, therefore, the growth of our native woodland species. This will enrich the habitat and restore it to its original glory.
The park ranger commented that chain saws have their benefit but you can’t beat a mob-handed approach. Our boarders worked closely with other volunteers and were fine ambassadors for Taunton School.
The tea and flapjacks made it all worthwhile at the end of the day – and we were back in time for Chapel!
Thanks to all involved – great fun.