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The woodlanders, those that inhabit woods, returned again in force this week to Dockey Wood, clearing up ready for next Spring and the expected mass of visitors. It does not seem that long ago when the wood was a carpet of blue, admired by hundreds or was it thousands of visitors? After the foresters had left with their heavy machinery, having thinned out the northern end of the plantation, the resulting brushwood needed to be dealt with – enter the volunteers. They did not disappoint, with another record turnout. It needed a large number of people to cut up and prepare the brushwood, and then build the “protective” shield around the now famous bluebells. It is hoped that a series of low dead-hedges will remind the visitors to – “Keep off the bluebells” Ashridge don’t like too many signs. A few of the volunteers put their creative skills to good use by building brushwood pyramids which will be used next year to protect rare “wood” orchids from predation by the deer.