Today was the day of the chainsaw and its labouring whine resonated around the woodland. We have been clearing an area of sycamore trees to let in sunlight and allow smaller lime, wild maple and oak trees to grow straight with balanced canopies. Its a long term project to protect the growing trees from over crowding and also to encourage wild flower growth in the spring time. We are also hoping the exposed area will help to dry out a particularly wet stretch of the west pathway which has now been constructed with our edging and wood chip method. John very skillfully managed the felling and I immediately pounced on the timber for a new seat to be placed in the Lime grove area in the north end. Splitting the trunk with steel wedges was an amazing task, it was so simple and yet so effective. It revealed a beautifully figured grain structure within, making John and myself wonder about planking the rest to use in other projects.