Last week I was away and so missed our weekly meeting, I was keen to see what had happened. Big news – Leo has returned after being made to wear a neck collar for weeks. Everyone was pleased to see him back in the wood amongst friends. Real progress has been made to the pathway that goes from from the east to south and we almost finished that part of the wood today. Ken and David went off with sythes to clear pathways and made some headway in cutting back brambles in Private glade. They have spotted the first dead and dying ash trees here – victims of ash die back – it was only a matter of time. I am now making inquiries as to the best way forward. Neal spotted two young deer walking along the north entrance path and I spotted a woman running along the Sedges pathway in pink lycra – she was very complimentary about our efforts! It was a warm but heavily over cast day today, no wind and an eerie silence hung in the air. A huge white fungi was growing out of a path, Tim will send a photo later, beech nut husks lie around under beech tree canopies.
![welcome back Leo](https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/woodlanders/files/2016/08/Leo-returns-236d4aq-300x225.jpg)
![Ken and David battle through the brambles in Private glade](https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/woodlanders/files/2016/08/Ken-and-David-working-160uhca-300x225.jpg)
![Ken spotted ash die back as he worked in Private glade](https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/woodlanders/files/2016/08/Ken-sything-vrkqzu-300x116.jpg)
![this mornings volunteer group have a well earned break](https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/woodlanders/files/2016/08/tea-coffee-time-2kjehm8-300x99.jpg)