December Update - 

• Lots of tidying up needed which should have been undertaken by site users. To paraphrase the words of our founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell "please leave the site with no trace that you have used it."
• Gate post repaired 
• Go kart repaired
• Leaf raking and brushing undertaken
  
• Restocked and tidied wood store and wood pile near the camp fire

November Update - 

With Glenny Wood in constant use, along with the autumn and winter weather / time of the year there is always plenty to do on site. So some of the maintenance activities include

• Cleared lodge gutter of leaves, 
• Re did veranda post tops, 
• First section of hedge on track trimmed, 
• Cleared the the brambles in trees by grass sledge, 
• Cleared broken branch in pond area 
• One group had a fantastic time with their pumpkins, although decided to throw them over into next doors field. What a message which is not on. Thanks to the Glenny team for clearing this up unnecessary mess!
• Trimmed branches off the one on plateaus.  
• Repaired post in the lane after the bin lorry knocked it down
• Wobbly bridge uprights strengthened and solid, wobbles in the right places now!!
• Midland forestry arrived and undertook a number of woodland clearance issues
• Finished the hedge cutting with the chipped up clippings back in to the hedgerow as mulch for new growth.
• Set about the fallen trees on the bank. 
• Team took control of the absolute monster shredder and tidied up all of the fallen wood near sycamore on the bank. Collecting the wood chip for use around the young trees.
• Cleared most of the cherry and pine from the bank
• The fallen big oak up on the bank was cut, and shifted back into its hole, the hole has been filled in with the smaller branches and re-fenced. 
• The large branch of the Cherry on Spruce plateau was logged and smaller brush chipped into bag for mulching saplings etc.
• Oh, and inflated the blue tractor tyres.
• Weekly checks and small maintenance jobs undertaken, these are essential to the safe running of the site
• Cleaning team attacked the loos and made a great difference.

October Update - 

October has been another busy month, maintaining and improving our special Campsite..... Some of the work undertaken this month includes

• Strimming around the site
• Tidying the areas around the Tunnels activitiy
• Replacing the barrell on the confidence course
• Replacement Altar fire installed on the patio.
• Commencement and ongoing development of perimeter trail
• Repairs to the confidence course
• Resetting of tree perimeter posts
• Clearing the washed down stones / gravel filling the stream pipe to the Wetlands area.
• Weekly site checks and works as a result of these continue through the year and October was no exception.....
• Also - Recently a team from Lloyds Bank, led by Caroline H, was welcomed back to Glenny again. After much hard work and supported by the team much was achieved. Many thanks to the team for all their hard work on the day. We much appreciate your support and welcome other organisations to volunteer on site. During the day they achieved -
  • The removal of the large old rotten sleeper bridge by the tunnels
  • Help with the new perimeter trail building / digging out..
  • Painting work - Fences, Shed and retaining wood wall for the bouldering wall

September Update - 

So whats been happening on site during September? Its been a busy month and the volunteering activities include- 

• A new path around the site commenced, a long term site development.
• Revamped Peddle Karts Course - Thanks to 2nd Portishead Scouts
  
• Significant amounts of maintenance work undertaken including
  • Weeding around the new trees
  • Repairs to the Confidence Course and other activities
  • Wood Collection
  • Camp Fire edging replaced
  • Brushing away the Autumnal falls
    
  • Wetlands dug out
  • Grass & Hedge cutting
  • And many more minor repairs on site
• The Wetlands has dried up over this Summer This area is now closed and we hope to reopen in January 23.

Update - changes to the team at Glenny Wood and the way we are managing the site - 

Over the summer months of 2022, we have seen changes in the site management with the revised organisation being introduced.

Phil W, who has been Chairman / Warden for more than 15 years, has been very keen to get other people involved in running the site, as it is more than a one person task. So this summer's successful recruitment campaign, which he initiated, has seen a big difference in the way the site is managed and who does what.

So what changes have taken place - 

Phil W continues as Volunteer Site Chairman, although no longer having day to day control of all areas of Glenny Wood. He still has overall responsibility for the site, looking at the works requirements, the long term strategy, providing advice, support and direction. Also helping with site maintenance as and when available.

Matt D has joined us as the Volunteer Site Operations Manager (Warden). This roles looks after the day to day maintenance, both planned and unforeseen, safety checks, ensuring the site is always avaible, as well as setting, reviewing and updating the maintenance plan.

Angus W has now fully taken on the role of Volunteer Projects Manager, leading on the programme of works which includes tasks and challenges for Firms / Groups wishing to volunteer on site. Angus continues to help with site maintenance as and when available.

Alison S has recently joined the team as our Volunteer Booking Secretary Managing the bookings process, ensuring payments received and the site users have the information to help them plan their visits

Phil S we welcome to the team as our Volunteer Finance Manager Managing the finances and seeking ways to increase our income via grants, donations.... etc

We continue to recognise the contributions made by Jill D, our Volunteer Site Treasurer and Tony T, supporting the site maintanance & project activities.

August Update - 

As with most summeer months August see a lot of maintenance and vegetation management activities, this is mainly due to the numbers using the site and the sunshine.

Annual safety checks - 

• The annual Fire Extinguishers checks have been completed by Phil of Chubb and 4 replacement Extinguishers purchased

• The annual Tractor, Grass Cutter and log splitter service has been completed.
• Also the annual Boiler Service has been undertaken.

Maintenance - 

• Tunnel floor repairs completed and area weeded
• Bounce test on the Pioneering Poles to ensure all were fit for purpose
• Brakes on grass sledges checked and 4 replaced
• Weeded around the new apple trees.
• Gate to Wetlands repaired as post leaning.
• Grass sledge fence replaced all rotten posts and reconnected the fencing.
• Spruce sign on new post
• Repaired the plateaus sign as at 45° angle.
• Site tree review completed and new number tags added to trees where missing.
• New Squirrel Trail laid out and ready to use
• Lots of Grass Cutting & Strimming, on 24th, in the rain for some of the time! Site is looking green and really good.
• Sheds and Fencing opposite the loos repainted, due to graffiti issues.
  

House keeping! - 

• Site Codes changed. Details provided with your booking emails.
• Site fees for 2023 set and on OSM

July Update - 

• Again this month will see a lot of maintenance and vegetation management activities, this is mainly due to the numbers using the site and rain and then sunshine.
• Its great to see Glenny Wood again very busy again this year and lots and lots of happy Young People, Parents and Leaders....
• Works undertaken this month so far - 
  
  • Repairs to the up n over on the confidence course
  • Repairs the front gate

  • Decking board replacement on Veranda

  • Check and tighten Bouldering Wall Hand holds
  • Standard Safety checks undertaken.

• Oli Frost Arboriculture specialist survey undertaken and results being reviewed

• We have re roofed the Pole Store
• New signs have been added to Glenny naming areas and help find your way around
• During the month we welcomed BT Openreach who joined us for a volunteering day and what a fabulous amount of work was completed by them A massive THANK YOU..... So they....

  • Wood tidy completed for the large amounts near to the lodge and close to the front gate. The site looks so much better with this done

  • The wood store was built near to the Rowan Campfire Area, supported by Angus

  • Wetlands decking area was rebuilt and made available to use, supported by Matt

  • The new planting of Saplings desperately needed weeding and this was completed during the day as well will help from Jill and Tony

June Update - 

• This month has been a key maintenance and vegetation management time with the following key activities undertaken
  
  • Repairing the Wetlands decking structure
  • Lots of weeding around the newly planted trees
  • Mega amount of strimming
  • Grass Cutting
  • Wood collection
  • Repairs to the confidence course
  • Weekly and monthly checks undertaken
  • Significant cleaning in the loos
• The Aerial Runway is back being used with two Groups enjoying the FUN of the runway
• Its been great to see the new bouldering wall in use as well.

May Update - 

• We have just installed a defibrillator, on site attached to the lodge wall in a cabinet. To access the defibrillator dial 999 for the ambulance service, confirm the location and you will then get the code. We all hope this new equipment addition is something none of us have a need to use.

• I am pleased to confirm Alison Salter has now taken over as Booking Secretary at Glenny Wood campsite.

• Involvement day was help on the 22nd May - very limited support, although a lot of wood was moved. Many thanks to those who helped
• The Aerial Runway is being set up for use after the 18th June
  
• Recruitment adverts are in the local newspaper seeking volunteers

• Bouldering Wall is now finished with three coloured courses available. Factsheets and draft Risk Assessments available in the H&S section of this website. A big thank you to the team for making this activity available on site and especially Angus who led on the planning and building the wall.

April Update - 

• Near the end of April our recruitment campaign has commenced with letters from myself via Gordano GSLs and our DC to all leaders, helpers and parents, explaining our need to increase the team to maintain and develop Glenny Wood and retain the current high standards. This information has also been place on many Facebook pages across our area. We already have had positive interest….

  Our vacancies we have will suit a wide range of interests. To see please go to our volunteer page.

What has been going on in April at Glenny Wood??

• This month has been focused on the bouldering wall and getting this ready for opening in mid May. Great progress has been made and the wall is looking great and on target to be completed to time.
• We welcomed Rita Warry and family on site to see the bench they commissioned in memory of Colin. Colin was a much loved and highly respected Scouter in Gordano and a former Site Warden, who sadly passed away last year.
• The large amount of Tree works on site, for safety reasons, mainly due to Ash Dieback, have now been completed. Many thanks to Tom and team. The task now is to collect up the wood and tidy the site, hence the involvement day on the 22nd May...
• The first grass cut for the year has taken place
• Various maintenance jobs have been completed around the site.

• We have at the end of the month had our annual water test, for safety reasons, against Legionaries disease and bacteria. We now await the results.

• With the sun out, the bluebells and other wild plants looking fabulious plus the tree works below is a series of photos Kath took recently on the site

March Update - 

• The tree planting is now completed, a significant number of new trees and saplings now planted over the past 3 months
• We were joined by Lloyds Bank for one of the work days... And did it rain! Lots of logs collected, Logs split and our last two benches built
• Following recent storms lots of branches and twigs down and collected
• Toilet block revert back to Boys / Girls / Adult loo rooms.
• Additional signage put up
• We welcome Tamsyn who has now taken on the challenge as our cleaner for the loos / showwers / lodge.
• Glenny Wood revised organisation and approach now set and will be deployed over the next couple of months

March Pictures

Friday 18th March was a lovely day so I (Phil) went for a walk around and below are some of the pictures taken..

February Update - 

This months focus has been on Tree Planting

We gave planted the following mature trees of around 1.5 - 2 metres tall

3 x Oak Trees

2 x Purple Beech 

2 x Common Beech 

3 x Sweet Chestnut 

2 x Small Leaved Lime 

APPLE TREES

2 x Apple - Bramley Seedings

2 x Apple - Coxs Orage Pippens 

2 x Apple - Russet

2 x Apple - Scrumptious 

50 Hedge UK natural plants

Via the The Oakupy Project 2021 we have received and planted 30 Oak Whips of around 50 cms in length in a nursery area to further plant out.

So when you add together the 113 trees and whips, along the 300 Fencing trees from Decembers planting we have over the last three month added over 400 trees to Glenny Wood natural habitat. This is all part of our long term suitable Woodlands plan for Glenny Wood and leaves a strong legacy for future users to enjoy.

As you can see from the pictures below the trees are well protected from wildlife and give plenty of room to grow.

January Update - 

This is a month for basic maintenance.... all the exciting jobs. Below is a small selection - 

• Weekly site reviews and checks made
• Redo Codes
• Fence from Lodge to loos now grown so rotting wood fencing removed
• Clear Stream Blockage
• Lights to loos cable repaired and put up the pole
  
• Screw pole up by altar fires
• Cut up and remove branches blocking to track.
• Trees above Loos trimmed
• Cleared campfire areas – ash / Wood tire back to grass sledge course!
• Recent storm damaged trees logged and massive roots are which was out of the ground now put back.