Category: Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Many Tributes to The Late Ian Moody

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Many Tributes to The Late Ian Moody

There were many tributes to the late Ian Moody in the last issue of What’s On but he also played a major role in the Wenvoe Wildlife Group. A founder member, it was Ian who started the ball rolling by suggesting we formed a group to start maintaining the Upper Orchid Field. Ian was closely involved with the planting of the orchards, the design and construction of the Bee Hotels, excavation and stocking of the ponds and clearance of vegetation. Ian also instigated and ran the monthly conservation sessions on the Upper Orchid Field. One of the activities Ian participated in was the recording of Ancient and Veteran trees. These receive no special protection and only by recording them on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Register can we reduce the risk that they will be cut down. Ian and Bruce recorded these whenever they came across them on their walks around South Wales. On one occasion Ian spotted a large Oak near Tretower.

The tree was measured and photographed, and it turned out to have been unrecorded up to that point. An Ancient, pollarded Oak proved to be one of the oldest in Wales. A WWG member subsequently mentioned reading a book called Running for the Hills by Horatio Clare in which he describes growing up on a farm near Tretower where there was a massive Oak. It turned out to be the same tree, so it had appeared in literature but had never been officially located and described. At over 9 metres in girth and many hundreds of years old, it was thanks to Ian’s eagle eyes that the tree was registered and celebrated.

So, the legacy is there. Orchards that should be good for 100 years and a tree that could have witnessed the times of Owen Glendower.

We shall be covering the topic of funding and what we spend it on in the next issue but meantime our grateful thanks to Glenys and Mike and everyone else who supported the event for raising the amazing sum of over £1,200 for WWG at the Village Show

Busy Installing And Refurbishing Structures

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Busy Installing And Refurbishing Structures

A number of residents have been busy installing and refurbishing structures in the orchards. Steve Jenkins has placed two new benches in the Community Orchard made of recycled materials which should last for several years. Martin Thomas and Bernard Jenkins have designed and constructed a nice new noticeboard for the same orchard after the vandalising of our previous noticeboard. Lenn Morris from Barry has refurbished an anonymously donated bench in the Goldsland Orchard. Your efforts are very much appreciated!

Our final junior workshop took place in the Elizabethan Orchard – again fully booked with a waiting list. Our thanks to Angela Peterken and Claire Newland for organising and running these very popular events. These workshops have been made possible through funding from the Tuckers’ Plant and Reindeer sales.

It is encouraging to see more and more residents posting images of wildlife seen locally on Facebook. Some are common – some less so like the dramatic-looking Wasp Spider seen in the photo – you do need colour to see it at its best. These records are registered with SEWBREC and will be available for consulting in the event of planning applications.

Wenvoe Community Orchid Field

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Wenvoe Community Orchid Field

Once known as the Sledging Field, this meadow is now a Community Nature reserve with over 300 species of flowers, grasses, insects and birds. It is managed as a traditional meadow with an annual mowing to encourage the sort of wildflowers that are fast disappearing from our landscape.

The 5 acre field is surrounded by hedgerows and woodland and there are fine views from the higher points across the valley. On a clear day you can see Penarth and beyond that England across the Bristol Channel. There are several benches around the field, some in the sun, others in shade.

Mature trees enclose the site including Oak and Sweet Chestnut. A public right of way runs through the bottom of the meadow but you can follow any of the paths that meander around the field. An information sign near the entrance shows the different routes you can take.

In Winter look out for Ravens, Buzzards and Wood-peckers with Bullfinches patrolling the hedgerows. The bright red berries of Black Bryony still trail over the shrubs whilst rabbits and moles are in evidence.

With Spring comes masses of yellow – Primroses and Cowslips carpet the field.

From late Spring to early Autumn you can see seven different species of Orchid but the best time is June when the field is covered in several thousand Common Spotted Orchids.

Unusual plants include Herb Paris and the Spiked Star of Bethlehem. Shrews and Field Voles will be lurking in the undergrowth and Slowworms are common. Ringlet butterflies are on the field and Holly Blues on the hedges. Summer also sees a profusion of insects from small ladybirds and froghoppers through lacewings and scorpion flies to the larger burying beetles.

The Elephant Hawk Moth enjoys the big clumps of Rosebay Willowherb. Hoverflies roam
around the Brambles and pose on Fleabane.To find out more about insects and to get ideas on building homes for them visit Insectopia at the top of the field.

From late Summer the Black Knapweed which covers the meadow is host to large numbers of bees. On wet days, wander up to Molluscopolis where many of the secrets of slugs and snails are revealed. As they love damper weather you should find several different species.

How to find us.

Entering Wenvoe from the A4050 by the Walston Castle Premier Inn.

Turn right and then immediately left and follow the narrow lane to the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entering Wenvoe from the A4050 near the church.
Turn left by the church in to Walston Road, follow the road to the far end. Parking is on the road; take care not to cause an obstruction for local residents. Follow the marked footpath through the old quarry to the Orchid Field.

 

 

 

 

Want to know more?

The Upper Orchid Field is a meadow owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and managed by the Wenvoe Wildlife Group. If you need more information or would like to help with conservation, contact us at The Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Interested in bringing a group to the field?

We have hosted visits from younger age groups such as Beavers and Cubs and can help with school visits. Students and specialists should be able to find suitable topics for research. Species lists can be found on the main noticeboard on the field.

There are no facilities on site but there are two pubs nearby, the Horse and Jockey at Twyn-yr-Odyn and the Walston Castle in Wenvoe. Wenvoe has a village shop and Post Office

 

The Sites Are In Tip-Top Condition.

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

The Sites Are In Tip-Top Condition.

Activities this month included strimming the Welsh Orchard, continuing to clear the Upper Orchid Field and working on the Community Orchard. We attended the Playing Fields Open Day but had very few visitors to the Community Orchard – not surprising as the weather was pretty miserable. The willows on the Community Orchard are due to be cut back at the end of the month but they will continue to provide a screen at the northern end of the orchard. Most of the fruit seems to be doing well and the Shepherds Bullace is already being harvested by enthusiastic jam-makers. We still get asked where the orchards are so you can pick up a leaflet showing their locations from the Tuckers’ noticeboard dispenser outside 29 Vennwood Close.

We were delighted to hear that our 7 sites had all passed the Green Flag assessment. Another independent vote of confidence in the quality and accessibility of the nature reserves. Thanks are due to the members of the group, landowners and residents who aim to keep the sites in tip-top condition.

 

Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Successful Junior Wildlife Workshop

A successful second Junior Wildlife workshop took place at the Elizabethan Orchard in June. Fully booked again and all who had booked turned up. The children made floral headbands, hunted for mini-beasts and enjoyed a picnic on a fine day. They found the Common Green Capsid bug and a Goatsbeard plant, both interesting discoveries. Our thanks to course organisers and leaders Angela Peterken and Claire Newland helped by Zak on the day, to the Reader family for providing facilities and Mike and Glynys Tucker for raising funds through their events. The final workshop for this year will take place in August – date to be advised.

A number of Swift nesting boxes have been installed on the farm buildings at Goldsland farm by Rhys, Lee, Lydia and Lee Burrows. Rhys will next be setting up the sound system which emits Swift calls to encourage them to investigate the boxes and to be installing some Swallow boxes.

Zak has been working with the group as part of his Duke of Edinburgh assessment. He has been doing jobs in the Community Orchard, making up wildflower seed packs and joining the Junior Wildlife workshop. Last year we helped a student doing the Baccalaureate to register her volunteering hours.

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

After an incredibly successful Plant Sale run by Glenys and Mike Tucker, the Group benefited from a donation of £2,132. Our thanks to all who supported the event, bought raffle tickets or plants and other produce, donated takings from their tables or just had a cup of tea. This helps to ensure we have sufficient funds to purchase benches, plant trees, refurbish noticeboards and sponsor youth workshops and school projects. We are most grateful.

Most people will have heard that vandals burned down the noticeboard/bee hotel on the Community Orchard. We shall be replacing it, but this will take a few months of planning and design. Meanwhile we shall be installing a smaller noticeboard near the planters, thanks to Martin Thomas.

Green Flag judging took place in May, and the judge was shown round by Sue Hoddell and Nicola Harmer. Fingers crossed for a good result.

The second Junior Wildlife Workshop takes place on 8th June. These tend to be heavily oversubscribed but a third will be planned for August.

If you are walking around the Orchid field meadow you might notice that a small area has been cleared of bracken. Please help us by stamping on and pulling any bracken you see at the side of the path. Even better come and help our small team next month. Thank you.

Wenvoe Wildlife Group Summer Birdwatch

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

WENVOE WILDLIFE GROUP SUMMER BIRDWATCH

SUNDAY 18TH – SATURDAY 24TH MAY

Many What’s On readers will recall that they took part in the RSPB Birdwatch in January this year and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group were given people’s findings to assist us in learning about birds in the parish. The results were published earlier this year in What’s On.

We are now planning to hold our first Wenvoe Summer Birdwatch from Sunday 18th to Sunday 25th May and we really do need your involvement! You only need to give up one hour of your time during the seven days. The aim of the summer birdwatch is for us to gather more information on the birds that are in the parish and compare our summer and winter findings. This time we will be ‘going it alone’ as the RSPB organise just one UK birdwatch each year. One difference this time is that you can record any bird you see whether on the ground or in the air. This will enable us to include all our birds rather than just those that settle.

We have spread the birdwatch over a whole week to give people the best opportunity to undertake the birdwatch and avoid any days where bad weather is forecast. Many of you will recall the January weekend was terrible weather-wise. In addition, it does not get dark in mid-May until about 9.00pm so plenty of time in the evenings to carry out your birdwatch!

All you need to do is to spend one hour recording the birds you see in your garden. You record the number of each species of birds you see. So, for example, if you saw one blackbird on its own five times that counts as one. If you saw two blackbirds together at the same time that counts as two and so on.

Then please send your results to nigelrbillingham @yahoo.co.uk.or bruce7@ btinternet.com as soon as you can including your postcode and the date you carried out the birdwatch. The postcode helps us log what type of birds are in the different areas of Wenvoe. Don’t worry if your bird knowledge is limited there are plenty of identification guides online.

If you want to do more, you could carry out a second birdwatch in one of the eight Wildlife group’s sites which are listed below. This could be carried out on your own or in a small group on a day of your choosing within the above dates. Why not take a picnic whilst counting the birds? This will be the first time we have carried out a bird watch in most of our sites. If you would like to do this, please let us know which site you are interested in and we will ‘book you in’ to avoid duplication

We are delighted to say that the village school will also have one class taking part during the week.

The eight Wenvoe Wildlife group sites are:

Upper Orchid Field
Community Orchard
Elizabethan Orchard
Wild Orchard
Welsh Orchard
Goldsland Orchard
Watercress Beds
Bee Loud Glade

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And if you want to brush up on your bird identification skills why not join the Bird Walk on Saturday 3rd May at Goldsland Farm led by Rob and Linda Nottage and setting off at 9.30am.

Wildlife Junior Workshop A Great Success

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Wildlife Junior Workshop A Great Success

Our first Wildlife Junior Workshop for 7-11 year olds was a great success. Held at the Elizabethan Orchard, it was fully booked and all who booked turned up and enjoyed a sunny session, labelling the fruit trees, painting pebbles and toasting marshmallows. Our thanks to the organisers for making it happen and to Robert Reader who owns the land for facilitating it. Forest School leaders Angela Peterken and Claire Newland of Wild Thymes thoroughly enjoyed working with the local children, helping them to connect with all the natural wonders in the Orchard. For more ideas on connecting children to our natural world take a look at their Facebook page, Wild Thymes. Our second workshop takes place on 8th June.

If you fancy brushing up on your skills at identifying birds why not join our Bird Walk which takes place at Goldsland Farm on Saturday 3rd May starting at 9.30am. Led by bird and wildlife experts Rob and Linda Nottage, the walk will cover 2-3 miles and take in a variety of habitats including fields, orchard and Watercress Beds. Accompanied children welcome as long as they can walk a few miles. No dogs please as we shall be going into sensitive areas, and this is a working dairy farm.

Visitors to the Community Orchard on the Playing Fields will have been dismayed to find our noticeboard and bee hotel have been burnt to the ground by vandals. A police report has been made with the incident number 2500116669. If you saw anything suspicious on the evening of Friday 11th April at the Playing Fields please contact the South Wales Police

 

 

Working With Forest School

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Working With Forest School

The Group are delighted to be working with Forest School to hold a series of three junior workshops for those aged 7- 11. The first takes place on April 6th at one of our orchards and runs for three hours with a variety of different activities. Places are limited and must be booked with further information on our Facebook page. Further workshops are planned to take place in June and August. The project is funded with money raised at the Tucker’s Plant and Reindeer events.

After the Upper Orchid Field was cut by John Crockford members have been working to clear invasive Bramble and Blackthorn around the perimeter of the site. If you see some old-fashioned hay ricks around the field, Annie and Nicola have been raking up the dead grasses and there was a great turnout on Ian’s working party session including Ian, Pat, Roger, Judy, V’iain, Jane, Carys and Debbie.

Following the donation of £100 by the Wildlife Group to the School for books, Nigel and Jude met with the children to hear which books they had chosen and why.. It was great to hear their enthusiasm over their selections.

 

 

 

Orchard Maintenance Courses

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Orchard Maintenance Courses

Two successful Orchard Maintenance courses have been held; one at Goldsland and the other at the Welsh Orchard, Maes y Felin. A number of our members attended but there were also plenty of keen orchard enthusiasts from elsewhere. The courses are run by the local Nature Partnership team, and we benefit as many of our fruit trees are pruned in the process. Mike Tucker ‘laid’ the hedgerow around the Goldsland Orchard in the traditional manner and although only planted a few years ago it is already supplying the local wildlife with berries and fruit.

February included Nestbox Week. We erected, around 12 boxes, mainly thanks again to Mike Tucker. Of these, several were Owl boxes.

Sian has strimmed and brushcut the Wild Orchard and with the trees steadily maturing, are hopeful of good crops of Cherry, Crabapple, Bullace, Wild Pear, Cherry Plum and Chequers.

 

 

 

 

 

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