News Archive 2026 Apr-Jun
A working party of nine volunteers gathered near Hartley West Farm this morning for another river clearance session, on a fine sunny day – with birds singing and spring flowers blooming.
Storm Dave had done its worst and blown two trees into the river. The first one was just upstream of the waterfall. We couldn’t get the main trunk out, but, after removing branches, we winched it to the side of the river. The river is not all that deep at that point so waders weren’t needed (although wellies were).
Photograph A. River blockage
Photograph B. Clearing blockage
The end result was a couple of big piles of branches and twigs either bank and a clear river.
The second tree had fallen right across the river at the straight section between the lower wooden footbridge and the stepping stones. This one was a big one! Some others had removed the branches across the path, leaving us with little to do.
We removed some of the remaining branches with bowsaws and piled the debris on dry land. The trunk was still in the river, right across its width, but we don’t have access to chainsaws nowadays, so we can’t do much more about that problem.
We’re sometimes asked why we remove timber from the river – “why not let the river be natural, logjams and all?” Well, logjams tend to be litter traps, and we can’t bear to leave lots of litter floating on the river – it’s unsightly and bad for wildlife. We could leave the blockages in place and just remove litter, but that would be prohibitively time-consuming.
Leaving timber in a river works well in up-country rivers, but it doesn’t work so well in the urban-fringe setting, where litter is more of a problem. We are open to suggestions on this dilemma, but meanwhile we feel obliged to keep the river clear.
Anyway, today was a good one for wildlife. The warblers are in from Africa and are singing their heads off! – blackcaps and chiffchaffs in particular. Also singing were robins, wrens, great tits, blue tits and a song thrush. A woodpecker was heard calling; also rooks, jackdaws and a pheasant. And the mallards were very active, flying up and down the river in pairs inspecting our work.
On a sunny spring day all the flowers open out, and today it was the old springtime favourites of celandines, anemones and bluebells, among others.
Spring sunshine greeted the working party this morning (although there had been an overnight frost). Eleven of us met up at the metal gate on the Hartley West Farm road to do some river clearance, sycamore removal and litter picking.
The team co-ordinator and two others set off for the stone bridge where there was a log jammed against the cattle gate (which keeps the cows from wading up the river and into the Dene). Some splashing around in wellies and waders was necessary to get it and other bits of timber out, and the winch had to be deployed to provide extra pulling power.
Photograph A. Clearing under stone bridge
Photograph B. Winching log out
This activity only took part of the morning session, after which the amphibious three joined the other volunteers who had started hunting down and removing sycamores.
Sycamores are a non-native tree species which tends to reproduce prolifically and out-compete the other trees, so we remove seedlings, saplings and the lower branches and twigs of the mature trees – although it is beyond our capabilities to fell the full-grown trees.
In actual fact, we found very few seedlings or saplings and it’s not clear why that is, as sycamore seedlings are coming up in large numbers elsewhere. Perhaps in the Dene seeds are being eaten by voles or squirrels or badgers before germinating; who knows?
We did find lots of litter however, especially along the top of the Dene, near the Hartley-Earsdon road. Along with the usual aluminium cans, plastic packets and bottles, and wine and beer bottles, we found a kiddie’s tricycle! The litter was bagged up and (with the trike) placed next to one of the litter bins for collection.
We couldn’t help noticing in that the spring wildflowers are flourishing in the mixed sunny and showery April weather. It will soon be the turn of the bluebells, which are coming up in masses on the steep slopes on the south side of the Dene between the stone bridge and the lower footbridge.
Cowslips are flowering well at present:
Photograph C. Cowslip
and a comma butterfly was spotted:
Photograph D. Comma butterfly
The working party this morning continued last week’s sycamore removal project, this time on the north side of the Dene. The nine volunteers assembled at the metal gate on the Hartley West Farm road before setting off on their quest.
As I’m sure you know, we control sycamore trees in order to prevent them from taking over from other trees in Holywell Dene. They are notoriously “spready” and not native to Britain. We can’t do anything about the large numbers of mature sycamore trees already in the Dene but we can, and do, remove seedlings and saplings.
So, armed with saws of various types we started out from the meeting place and proceeded as a group, with our wheelbarrows, slowly up the north side. The slopes here are steep and tangled with brambles and other impediments, so it was necessary to move around carefully.
Photograph A. Removing sycamore saplings
We found that there were swathes of first-year seedlings in some places but very few in most other places – and we are not sure why. However there were plenty of saplings of various ages, right up to larger ones that might be called mini-trees and that needed to be felled with a bowsaw. But, generally, a pruning saw or a pair of loppers was all that was needed.
We must have removed several hundred seedlings, at least, and of the order of a thousand saplings in the session. We also removed side-twigs from established trees.
Photograph B. Removing side-branches/twigs
When we got to the lower wooden footbridge we found that an old hawthorn had fallen across the path so we removed it. Much less litter was encountered this week, but nevertheless we collected it up and removed it.
Oh, and by the way, we also removed some ivy in one or two places to prevent it getting too much of a hold on the trees in the Dene.
Photograph C. Removing ivy from tree
The wildlife scene was very different from how it was only a month ago. There was a distinct sense of the beginnings of the buzz of summer. The small birds
were singing, flowers were blooming and insects were buzzing. We noticed that the bluebells were beginning to flower and they will probably be blooming en masse in a couple of weeks’ time.
The weather was chilly at first, but seemed to warm up considerably as the session continued – party because of the sun rising in the sky and partly because of the warming effect of exercise. The Dene is always sheltered from chilling winds.
The task this morning, for the working party of eight, was the same as last week: removing sycamores – on a rather dull but dry day.
We started where we left off last week – more-or-less at the downstream wooden footbridge – and worked upstream from there on the north side all the way up (almost) to the waterfall.
It was hard going, for two reasons: (1) the terrain was steep and tangled with brambles, and (2) there were lots (and lots) of sycamores – far more than we found on the south side on the 14th.
Most of these were saplings – easily pulled up or cut off at the ground level. Some had obviously been there for several years. Well, it’s several years since we did “sycamore bashing” there. The Dene’s a big place and sycamores can pop anywhere.
Photograph A. Removing sycamore saplings
As usual, we also removed side-growths from mature sycamore trees.
Photograph B. Removing side-growths
The spring wildflowers were in bloom and that somewhat compensated for the difficulty of the task. Here’s a (probably incomplete) list: bluebells, lesser celandines, wood anemones, dog violets, wood sorrel, wild garlic, dandelions, garlic mustard.
The small birds were making their presence felt as well – robin, wren, willow warbler, chiffchaff, great tit, song thrush, blackbird, etc.
The working party of eleven volunteers continued sycamore-bashing this morning, on a dull and slightly chilly day.
The Northumbrian Water pumping station near Holywell was the venue for this morning’s meet-up. We parked the van in the parking space kindly provided by Northumbrian Water and got the tools ready. At the appointed hour of nine o’clock, off we went pushing our wheelbarrows laden with tools as usual.
The destination was a point on the north bank near the waterfall, which is where we left off last week. The work, as last week, consisted of grabbing a pair of loppers or a saw and clambering up the steep slope to find and remove sycamores.
Photograph A. Hunting down sycamore saplings
Photograph B. What we’re looking for
These might be seedlings, small saplings that can be pulled out, or a larger ones that can only be clipped off close to the soil so that they are unlikely to regrow. We also removed sycamore twigs and branches growing from the base of mature sycamore trees.
Sycamores are magnificent trees, but they are non-native and tend to take over in mixed woodland like Holywell Dene. So we try to control their numbers.
Photograph C. A volunteer sycamore-bashing (with a bit of AI enhancement!)
We have now cleared the north side from about the stone bridge to the tunnel. We must have removed thousands.
We think we are winning. Not many sycamores are found that are are intermediate in size between one that can be cut down with a bowsaw and a big mature one, which suggests that, over the years, we have succeeded in preventing saplings growing into mature trees.
We also removed some ivy from trees, by the way – another thing that needs to be kept under control.
We’ve spotted a new invasive foreign weed in the Dene recently, by the way. It’s called few-flowered garlic (Allium paradoxum) and it tends to crowd out the flowers on the woodland floor. Here’s a picture.
Photograph D. Allium paradoxum
We’ll have to learn how to control it.
The wildlife event of the day was the discovery of a mallard duck’s nest half way up the dene slope. We moved away as soon we realised what it was. It has always been a puzzle how mallards can nest in the Dene despite the disturbance caused by people and dogs – by nesting at a distance from paths and in a well-concealed position, apparently.
We’ll be back for more adventures next week!
A party of 11 volunteers met up at the Northumbrian Water pumping station at the end of Holywell Dene Road for more sycamore cutting, ivy bashing and general tidying up.
We were working on both banks behind the pumping station where the kids ride their bikes. The weather was overcast and we were trying to predict if the massive black cloud in the distance was coming our way and if we would get a full session in!
We split into two groups to tackle the jobs using hedge shears, secateurs and bow saws. As stated previously, we prune the sycamores to give the plants underneath a chance of some sunlight so they can flourish.
Photograph A. Sycamore sapling (and volunteers)
Photograph B. What a sycamore leaf looks like
As we go along we also remove any ivy growing up the trunks of trees by cutting a gap about 8 inches long as low as we can get, to kill the ivy and lighten the weight on the tree.
We also gathered up any plastic bottles and aluminium we came across, filling up a couple of bin bags, which we dropped of at the council bin at the end of the lane.
By the way, one of us found and pulled up the first Himalayan balsam of the year.
A party of 8 volunteers gathered at the gas pumping station in Holywell for this morning’s session.
Our main task today was to strim the grass verges along the sides of the path, working all the way from the bench at Dale Top to the bridge behind Concord house. The team did an excellent job getting the path looking tidy and accessible.
In addition to the strimming, we managed to control a lot of sycamore growth and made a great start on clearing the steps of overgrown vegetation to make them safer for walkers.
We also strimmed around a number of oak saplings, which were planted by FoHD, to promote growth.
On a less positive note, we spotted a considerable amount of Japanese knotweed during our session. This invasive species has been reported to Northumberland County Council and they have appointed a contractor to deal with it.
We sometimes come across dens that people have made in the Dene, often abandoned long ago. They are often accompanied by litter which we gather up and take away. Here’s an example seen today.
Photograph A. Den
Finally on the wildlife front, the Dene is buzzing with insect life at this time of year. Here’s a couple of examples.
Photograph B. Bumble bee (possibly a queen)
Photograph C. Daddy-long-legs
Thanks to everyone who turned out to help keep the Dene beautiful!
It was strimming again for the seven volunteers making up the Working Party this morning.
We strimmed the verges from St. Paul’s Church to the path leading down from Millfield – so most of the eastern side of the estuary. We also, as usual, trimmed the trees and bushes at the path edge and the overhead branches. And we picked up litter wherever we found it.
We also strimmed around the silver birches that were planted by local children last autumn to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Friends of Holywell Dene. They are growing well, but are in danger of being shaded out by rapidly-growing plant-life.
Photograph A. Strimming the silver birches area
As always, we set up warning signs on the path at either end of our activities. Walkers and cyclists are advised to be careful when passing us – we don’t want to have any accidents! Dogs should be on a short lead when going past the strimmers. If it’s Tuesday morning and you hear a buzz when walking in the Dene, watch out for the strimmers!
Photograph B. Warning sign
The weather was sunny but a bit chilly at first, but around mid-morning some spots of rain started. It more-or-less held off until 12:30 when we were packing up and then had a turn for the worse in the afternoon – but that was after we had gone home.
It would be difficult to tell you about the wildlife scene because we were making noise with our strimmers most of the time, but one thing was noteworthy: the salt-marsh of the estuary was covered in pink flowers – sea thrift (Armeria maritima). These are a native species, common in coastal areas. (I thought they were sea asters at first, but these flower later in the summer.)
Photograph C. Sea thrift on salt-marsh
At the end of the session, we trudged back to the van with our equipment, cleaned it down, loaded it into the van and then departed our various ways for lunch and an afternoon rest.
The 2026 strimming project continued this morning at the west side of the estuary. Eight volunteers assembled near Dene Cottage at the harbour end of the estuary: four with strimmers and four with rakes.
It took us the whole session to clear the verges from the Dene Cottage end to the footbridge at the head of the estuary. This included the high path that runs through the trees above the estuary-level path.
Photograph A. Strimming
We also, as always, trimmed the overhead branches and pathside bushes. Warning triangles were placed at either end of the section of path we were working on. All this is necessary to keep the paths open in the face of rampantly-growing vegetation in the high growing season of June and July.
Among the birds seen were black-headed gulls, a heron and mallard ducks, and wren, chaffinch, chiffchaff and other small birds were heard.
There is still a dramatic pink haze over the salt-marsh at present, caused by thrift flowering en masse. Here are some of the other flowers seen:
Photograph B. Northern marsh orchid
Photograph C. Yellow flag iris
Photograph D. Red campion
Others flowering today: wild mustard, hemlock water dropwort, ox-eye daisy, silverweed, etc.
Strimming and balsam-bashing were the tasks awaiting the 7-person working party on this hot and sweltery morning.
We met up at the Hartley Lane carpark at the usual time of nine o'clock. After getting the strimmers and other tools out of the van and ready we marched down the footpath to the head of the estuary. At this point the two strimming teams (one person strimming, the other raking) hitched up their strimmers and rakes and started trimming the path verges.
They proceeded upstream from the bridge at the head of the estuary upstream, reaching the carpark by the end of the session. Strimming in these hot conditions is not an easy option: the heavy kit and the need to wear protective clothing, including helmet with ear defenders, makes for hot and tiring work. It's a job we have to do every summer – the growing season is also the hot season.
Meanwhile two of the three volunteers who had been assigned the job of tracking down and removing Himalayan balsam got into the river, wearing waders, at a point near the willow barrier at the seat upstream of the Pipe Bridge. The third person stayed on the bank and was tasked with looking out for the two in the river, spotting balsam plants and carrying litter.
Photograph A. Seeking Himalayan balsam
For more info on Himalayan balsam, take a look at the Himalayan Balsam Guide which will be appearing on the home page of our website shortly.
We found and removed about 100 plants today, 68 of which were in one little colony near the stone bridge. Those will probably all have come from the seed of just one balsam plant growing at that spot last year, which just goes to show how invasive this weed is.
As a side activity, we picked up all the litter we could find and binned it. The balsam squad also came across a disposable-barbecue site in amongst the bushes, accompanied by litter (which we removed). They also unpicked a minor logjam in the river.
Photograph B. Litter haul
Photograph C. Logjam
We were joined at refreshment break by a couple of our friends at Northumberland County Council. They were able to tell us that it has been decided that we can resume use of a chainsaw but the chainsaw operator has to be accompanied by someone with trauma training. The Council is willing to pay for trauma training and first aid training. They want us to do risk assessments in future.
On the wildlife front there were several interesting things to note:
- A mother mallard with five chicks got disturbed by us while we were searching the burn for Himalayan balsam, but mother and chicks were reunited after a bit of a kerfuffle.
- The heronry between the estuary and the carpark was still populated with at least four herons. They flew off when we turned up, but I'm sure they've settled down now.
- The birdsong was good today, and we heard the songs of blackcap, whitethroat, goldfinch and blackbird. The calls of rooks, jackdaws and, of course, gulls were also heard.
- Butterflies are flourishing at this time of the year, and spotted wood and red admiral butterflies were seen.
We'll be back next week to do more of the same. Here's hoping it's a bit cooler.
A group of nine volunteers met up at the metal gate by Hartley West Farm Road this morning for another productive session in the Dene.
We were treated to a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures reaching a comfortable 19°C. Thankfully, the thick canopy of trees provided plenty of welcome shade while we worked.
To tackle the morning's agenda efficiently, we split into two separate teams.
The first team—our dedicated "Balsam Bashers"—headed upstream to continue our ongoing fight against invasive species. They managed to pull up approximately 200 Himalayan balsam plants this session. With the balsam now beginning to enter its flowering stage, it is crucial that we pull them now before they start to set seed and spread further.
In addition to their conservation work, the upstream team filled two large black bags with rubbish. They also reported a significant accumulation of litter over by the bike jumps that will need tackling soon, alongside two benches that have unfortunately been vandalised.
Meanwhile, the second team focused on path maintenance. They were hard at work strimming the grass verges along the paths and trimming back overhanging tree branches to keep the routes safe and clear for walkers and horse riders alike. This team also did a quick sweep for litter, though thankfully they only found a small amount along their route.
Photograph A. Strimming verges
We also took a moment today to upgrade our gear! We are pleased to report that our health and safety procedures have been strengthened with the introduction of new safety whistles for our volunteers. Furthermore, we've all been kitted out with brand-new sun hats, which were very generously provided thanks to the Fishing Club.
Photograph B. Whistle
Photograph C. Sun hat
We’ll be back for more adventures next week!
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