Category: Wenvoe Wildlife Group

The RSPG Big Garden Bird Watch

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

THE RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRD WATCH

The Big Garden Birdwatch is the UK’s largest garden wildlife survey and it is run by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It has been running since 1979, and every year, over half a million people take part. It takes place over the last weekend in January each year. In 2025 the Birdwatch will take place from Friday 24th to Sunday 28th January. It is hoped it will be the biggest Birdwatch yet.

It’s easy to take part – you simply watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour, and record what you see. It is a great activity that you can do either on your own or with family members including children. Don’t worry if you know very little about birds. The RSPB has a guide on their website to show you the different species.

Why is it important?

Big Garden Birdwatch provides a vital snapshot of how the UK’s garden birds are faring, taken over one weekend. This gives a good general impression of birds that are doing well, and the ones that are struggling. As the first Birdwatch took place more than 40 years ago, RSPB now have a wealth of data to look back on. Shockingly, the UK has lost 38 million birds from the UK’s skies in the last 50 years, so it’s crucial we do all we can to look after our bird life. Big Garden Birdwatch helps to monitor how garden birds are faring. We are asking you to share your results with the RSPB and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group so we can get a more accurate picture of the birds that live in our parish.

How do you take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch?

  1. Just count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony, front room or in the local park for one hour over the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend. It doesn’t matter what time of day you do your Birdwatch, but you will see more birds if you do it first thing in the morning.
  1. Only include birds that land, not those flying over. Count the highest number of each species you see at any one time. For example, if you saw four Starlings together, then two Starlings later, your final count will be four (not six). If you see one robin 6 times you only count one robin. If you see very few birds or none at all, that’s also really useful information for RSPB and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group
  1. You may attract more birds to your garden if you regularly feed them. If you have never fed birds in your garden the RSPB website will help you get started.

What to do with your survey results

You can send in your results to the RSPB online. There is a simple form to fill in. Also please send the list of the number and type of birds you have seen to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group; Nigel Billingham (nigelrbillingham@yahoo.co.uk or post to Woodside

Cottage 5 Church Rise CF5 6DE or Bruce McDonald bruce7@btinternet.com or post to 5 Walston Close, CF5 6AS). Please include your postcode as that will enable us to log where the different species of birds are within the parish. The Wildlife Group will publish the results in Wenvoe What’s On as soon as possible.

Remember it only takes one hour to undertake the survey during the weekend 24-26 January. Please put the date in your diary. Thanks for your time

Since the last issue we have had the results of the Tuckers’ Reindeer Sale and were so pleased to receive a substantial sum from Mike and Glenys. Our thanks to all who attended the event, donated raffle prizes, manned stalls, dispensed beverages, baked cakes – you name it! Chiefly, of course, thanks to Mike and Glenys who do so much for the village and without whom these events would not happen.

Following on from our recording project we have been running over the past year, we are currently looking into a funding application to improve nesting habitat for birds within the village. From the data we collect through the project and the garden birdwatch we have been able to identify species that are struggling within the village, and we would like to help them through putting up nest boxes in gardens and the orchards managed by us. In addition, we will be looking to improve our information displays to improve the experience for visitors from the community. An important part of success in this is you – the community. We encourage you to get involved with the Big Garden Birdwatch to help us further understand bird populations within the village which will help increase our chances of success with this project. We would love to get as many people involved as possible, so if you are interested in getting involved with the wildlife group, then please get in touch with us.

Using skills learned earlier in the year on a fruit tree pruning course members have been working on the trees in the Community Orchard. We have heard that two more pruning courses are to be run in the village on Wednesday 29th January and Wednesday 5th February at the Goldsland Orchard and Welsh Orchard (Maes y Felin). To be confirmed which orchard on which day. Check Facebook for booking details. These are free but you must register.

And finally, do you have any Mistletoe berries left from your Christmas decorations? Don’t throw them away but try pressing them against a suitable tree (underside of branch) to see if you can get your own Mistletoe to grow. Suitable trees include Apple, Hawthorn, Acer (Japanese Maple), Poplar. You can try any other tree, but they may not stand much of a chance. The little seed is inside the sticky, pulpy bit. Patience is required as they can take years to get established. Plenty more information online.

The Wildlife Group Thank All

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

The Wildlife Group Thank All

By the time you read this the Tuckers Reindeer Sale will have taken place and, again, we would like to thank all those who have supported the event and, not least, Mike and Glenys for arranging the occasion and giving so much support to the Wildlife Group. We get no other financial help and this is invaluable in enabling us to maintain our 7 Green Flag sites. During November we have had strimmers and brushcutters in to clear the rampant vegetation at the Goldsland Watercress beds and the St Lythans Wild Orchard. On behalf of the Wildlife Group we would like thank all of you who have supported us through the year and wish you a Very Happy Christmas.

 

Products Have Only Travelled 10 Miles

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Products Have Only Travelled 10 Miles

There are not many products you can buy which have only travelled 10 miles from source to point of sale. But if you bought some of the preserves and conserves from Daisy Graze at the first Wenvoe Farmers Market that is exactly what would have happened. With fruit from our orchards such as crab-apple and bullace, over to Dinas Powys for preparation and back to Wenvoe for sale. Delighted to see Wild Orchard Bullace jam with this uncommon fruit around here picked in the orchard at St Lythans. To buy from Daisy Graze either try Farmer’s Markets or call in at Janine’s house 22 Greenfield Avenue, Dinas Powys, CF64 4BW.

We would like to thank the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Local Nature Partnership team for cutting the Goldlsand and Community Orchards. This year has seen rampant growth of the vegetation, and we have struggled to keep it under control so help like this is most welcome.

We have renewed the Licence we have with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to look after the Upper Orchid Field so this now runs for another 10 years.

Successful Orchard Pruning Course

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Successful Orchard Pruning Course

A successful Orchard Pruning course was organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Nature Partnership group and held at the Community Orchard. Enabling this to happen was a great team effort. The Church Hall was hired for discussions and refreshments and Mike Tucker and members of the Environment Team turned out at the weekend to clear the footpath from Vennwood Close to the Playing Fields. The Council arranged for the Orchard to be cut and the Wildlife Group had the noticeboard repainted. Three members of the Wildlife Group attended the course which covered summer pruning techniques, tool usage and safety. We hope further courses will be organised in the future.

We were delighted to receive a donation of £200 from the new Care Home – Glenburnie Lodge. This followed a nomination by Mike and Glenys Tucker as their chosen local charity. We continue to receive occasional donations from local residents, and we would like to extend our thanks to them for their continued support.

The wildlife cameras are recording some fascinating wildlife including Tawny Owls, Weasels and Badgers

 

Successful Orchard Pruning

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Successful Orchard Pruning

 

A successful Orchard Pruning course was organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Nature Partnership group and held at the Community Orchard. Enabling this to happen was a great team effort. The Church Hall was hired for discussions and refreshments and Mike Tucker and members of the Environment Team turned out at the weekend to clear the footpath from Vennwood Close to the Playing Fields. The Council arranged for the Orchard to be cut and the Wildlife Group had the noticeboard repainted. Three members of the Wildlife Group attended the course which covered summer pruning techniques, tool usage and safety. We hope further courses will be organised in the future.

We were delighted to receive a donation of £200 from the new Care Home – Glenburnie Lodge. This followed a nomination by Mike and Glenys Tucker as their chosen local charity. We continue to receive occasional donations from local residents, and we would like to extend our thanks to them for their continued support.

The wildlife cameras are recording some fascinating wildlife including Tawny Owls, Weasels and Badgers

Another Great Day At The Plant Sale

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Another Great Day At The Plant Sale

 

Another great day at the Plant Sale which generated over £1,600 for the Wildlife Group. Our thanks to Mike and Glenys Tucker for continuing to organise these events which not only raise funds but act as a social gathering for both residents and visitors. Shirley, Judith and Sian manned the Wildlife Group table so we are grateful to them along with all those who donated plants. Our appreciation to all of you who turned up on the day, bought plants and raffle tickets, donated raffle prizes and purchased the delectable cakes on offer. And well done, Geraint, for his great idea of having a bring and buy table for garden tools and pots with all proceeds to the Wildlife Group. We have had a big programme of noticeboard refurbishment in our orchards and the photo shows the completely rebuilt noticeboard in the Welsh Orchard

 

Thanks for The Photos of the Wildlife Sightings

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Photos of the Wildlife Sightings

Our thanks to all residents who have sent in photos of their wildlife sightings including Bee Flies (see photo), Brimstone butterfly, Bumblebees and wildflowers Ivy -leaved Toadflax, Wild Arum, Lungwort and the rare Herb Paris. With the help of our wildlife cameras we have recorded 20 bird species and 5 mammals. These are all recorded on the South Wales Biodiversity database which can help to inform planning decisions and designate nature protection areas.

We have been mentoring Rosie Robyns who lives in the village and is doing the Welsh Baccalaureate. To help with one of her assignments she has carried out various activities with the Group and has designed 2 anti-litter posters which are being displayed on our noticeboards. Rosie writes: I had a wonderful experience with Bruce and Judy from the Wenvoe Wildlife Group. They were very kind and willing to help me with my community action project for the Welsh Baccalaureate. I had to complete 15 hours of community action that would benefit my community. Judy helped me gain experience whilst working within the orchards and showed how we can do little things to help keep their habitat clean. Bruce was also very informative and knowledgeable when it came to the orchards. He helped explain to me the types of trees and animals that live in the orchard. Overall they were really kind to give up their time to help me with my project. I would like to thank them for being so kind and welcoming towards me. It has motivated me to try and become more involved with the Wenvoe Wildlife Group in the future.”

Wenvoe Garden Birdwatch 2024

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

WENVOE GARDEN BIRDWATCH 2024

Whilst we were disappointed with only 7 households taking part in our first Wenvoe birdwatch the results are still interesting and give us a small snapshot of the birds in our own community.

Here are the total number of birds seen :

1. Great tit: 15
2. Long Tailed Tit 14
2. Blue tit: 14
2. Wood Pigeon:14
3. Robin :9.
4. Carrion Crow:8
4. Goldfinch :8
5. Blackbird:7
5. Coal tit:7
6. Collared Dove: 6
6. Chaffinch:6
6. Dunnock:6
7. Rook:3.
7. Magpie:3
7. Herring Gull:3
8. Wren:2
8. Pheasant:2

There was one siting of a Nuthatch, Moorhen and Greater Spotted Woodpecker. In total 20 different species of birds were recorded.

In the UK RSPB birdwatch results for 2023 the most seen bird was the House Sparrow but no House Sparrows were spotted in our admittedly limited sur-vey. We know there are House Sparrows in the par-ish but we are aware that nationally since 1966 22 million of them have been lost. The only bird in RSPB’s list not seen in Wenvoe is the Starling.

More analysis is being undertaken of our Wenvoe results to plot where in the village specific birds were seen and these findings will be published later.

If during the year you spot an unusual bird in the parish please try and take a photo and send it in to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group with the date the photo was taken and a postcode or location description.

 

Encouraging Mistletoe To Grow

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Project Balder has involved encouraging Mistletoe to grow on trees in the Village. Currently there are only two clumps of the plant recorded as being alive in the County – one in Dinas Powys and one in Wenvoe. There are several clumps in Cardiff and many more to the north-east and east of the City. Last year we invited residents to contact the Group if they wished to try propagating it and during February berries and instructions were distributed. This involved over 100 berries with an accompanying kit purchased from the English Mistletoe Shop. Mistletoe is notoriously difficult to grow and if we get just a couple of new growths, particularly if one is female it will have been worthwhile. With at least one male and one female we would hope that nature can take over. Our thanks to Chris, Vicar Lyndon, Annette, Shirley and Eleanor who have placed seeds on trees in the Rectory, various Wenvoe gardens, one in Dinas Powys and the Elizabethan Orchard. There are several species of insect, beetle and fungi which are associated with Mistletoe. And Balder was the God of Light in Norse mythology who was associated with Mistletoe although not in a way that he would have appreciated!

Visitors to the Upper Orchid Field will have appreciated the annual cut and clearance of vegetation carried out by John Crockford. We can look forward to a grand display of Spring flowers, particularly Primrose and Cowslip. Rhys has been deploying wildlife cameras around our sites and early footage is revealing the hidden world of wildlife including Field Mice, Birds and Foxes. One particular fox, Stumpy, has no tail but seems healthy enough.

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Despite the weather we have achieved quite a lot in January. Three new picnic tables have been constructed and installed in the orchards by Brian Rees. Sian White has strimmed and cleared vegetation at both the Goldsland Orchard and Goldsland Watercress beds, enabling improved access to both of these popular but quiet sites. Rhys McGowan has started a project of wildlife recording and all residents are encouraged to send any sightings of wildlife to the Wildlife Group from within the Parish. The Group have purchased a replacement Cherry Plum for the one in the village that was uprooted recently and Mike Tucker has arranged its planting. Mike has also cut the hedgerow that the Group planted along the Community Orchard.

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