Category: Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Orchard Noticeboards Refurbished

Despite lockdown a number of Wildlife Group members have been working on our sites either as individuals or couples.

The main focus has been on the noticeboards of which we have 6 large ones, one small and two more due to be erected soon. After a trial we have opted to repaint them Sage-coloured which blends in more with the countryside and is distinctive to the parish. The Welsh and Elizabethan Orchards have been completed and the notices re-affixed. The Community Orchard has been repainted and notices are back up. We shall move on to the Wild Orchard next. These play an important role in communicating what we are doing and why with visitors, many of whom are from outside the village.

Other work involves clearing vegetation and strimming paths, trimming willow, planting in our raised beds and cleaning the benches and other furniture which is as popular with wildlife as humans but with the inevitable consequence in terms of ‘bird poo’. A new bench has been installed at the top of the Upper Orchid Field in memory of the Kennetts who lived in Barry but were supportive of the Wildlife Group.

We continue to receive regular photos from residents either notifying us of plants and animals spotted or asking for help in identifying them. These are added to the wildlife recording database for South East Wales (SEWBREC) which ensures the records are properly logged and retained. Species recently include Dwarf Spurge (plant), Shaggy Ink Cap (fungus) and Pied Hoverfly. These and many more can be seen on our Facebook pages.

When working in the orchards, we often meet people who say that they were not previously aware of them. So each month we shall refer to one of them.

The Community Orchard is closest to the centre of Wenvoe and on the Playing Fields. To get there take the footbridge over the by-pass and continue down Station Road. After 100 metres turn right into the Playing Fields and the orchard is at the very far end hidden behind a hedgerow. You can also take the tunnel from Vennwood Close and follow the path.

 

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Enjoy The Outdoors And Stay Safe

It has been great to see so many people out visiting the orchards and other wildlife sites. Please remember that the sites have largely been created by and are managed by the Wildlife Group in the village. All members are volunteers and we receive no official funding. All sites are there only because the landowners, whether the Vale of Glamorgan Council or local farmers, have supported the projects and allowed the space to be used. If anyone, whether adults on their own or families, would like to help, do get in touch.

Of course, access to the countryside brings with it the responsibility to look after it and whilst many will be aware of the Highway Code, how many of you know the Countryside Code? Here it is as a reminder, this version taken from the Welsh Government website.
Respect other people. Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors. Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available.
Protect the natural environment. Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home. Keep dogs under effective control.
Enjoy the outdoors and stay safe. Plan ahead and be prepared. Follow advice and local signs.
You will find more detail in leaflets and on websites. These thoughts are often summed up as:
Take only photographs – leave only footprints.

 

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The Noticeboard and Bee Hotel has been re-erected

Visitors to the Community Orchard on the Playing Fields will have been delighted to see that the Noticeboard and Bee Hotel has been re-erected after it collapsed some weeks ago as the main posts had rotted. Our thanks to Mike Tucker for managing this – we had assumed a small army would have been needed to get it upright. Mike used branches from the nearby oak which has also come down to provide additional support. Our other noticeboards are being stripped of their notices in preparation for treating the timbers with preservative and the Welsh Orchard structure is already a subtle shade of sable. Many group members have been taking the opportunity when on their once a day exercise excursion to spend a few minutes carrying out maintenance work on our nature reserves. Fruit tree supports are being removed where they are no longer needed, beds weeded, willow screens and tunnels trimmed, and trees mulched.

A combination of good weather and the lock-down has encouraged many more people to get out and about in our local countryside and to enjoy visiting our orchards and nature reserves. Unfortunately a small minority of landowners have taken the opportunity to try to keep out members of the public who are using legitimate rights of way. Notices have been put up on our noticeboard in the Upper Orchid Field asking people not to use stiles or gates to protect farm workers. We stress that these notices were not put up by the Wildlife Group and we can see no reason why people should not continue to exercise themselves and their dogs whilst observing social distancing and sensible hygiene precautions. Dogs, of course, should always be kept under control particularly when near fields with sheep and lambs.

 

 

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Woodland Trust is donating over 100 saplings

We were pleased to hear that the Woodland Trust is donating over 100 saplings for our new hedgerow at The Bee Loud Glade. These will be delivered in the Autumn. A number of people have expressed an interest in the best plants for pollinating insects and we hope to have a handout prepared in the next couple of months on which ones to consider. So far we have planted the Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium daniellii), Buddleia, Gipsywort, Lavender and Purple Loosestrife. Salvias will be going in during March. We were not successful in getting RHS funding for this project but will be carrying on regardless.

The pond at the Farm Orchard is in and very quickly became full of water. It has several aquatic plants placed in it including Iris and Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups). Wildlife cameras left in the orchard recorded the usual suspects; rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, fox and song birds but also field mice and voles. A Conference pear has been planted along with numerous wild primroses.

The Great British Spring Clean has been postponed until 11th September but we will continue to pick up litter on our sites in the meantime. Hopefully we will see more village-wide litter-picking activities as there is no shortage of waste material to be found once you start looking

 

 

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We had a bit of a shock when we found our noticeboard and bee hotel at the Community Orchard flat on the ground. This happened before storms Ciara and Dennis and it is clear that the very damp conditions on this site have rotted the posts. The structure itself is still more or less intact and our plan is to re-erect it and position the remaining posts in Metposts. The big challenge will be lifting it up as it weighs a lot.

When weather permits we have continued to plant the new hedgerow at Goldsland Farm and our thanks to residents who have donated saplings. The small pond has been installed and one benefit of the rain has been the speed at which the pond has filled up. We have another small pond to install at the Bee Loud Glade and then a large replacement pond at the Welsh Orchard. We shall by then have installed 5 ponds as well as keeping an eye on the Holland Pond and Watercress Beds.

We have been monitoring which plants appear to be good for pollinators so that they can be planted at the Bee Loud Glade. During January Mahonia was frequently visited by bees – mainly Queen Bumblebees which are on the wing during warmer sunnier spells. In February Hellebores tended to be the most popular as pollen and nectar sources, particularly the large, white-flowered varieties not just for bees but some of the larger hoverflies.

We are always on the look-out for help whether volunteering time or surplus benches, tools or stakes.

 

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More Trees and Shrubs Planted

Despite the wet weather we have continued to plant trees and shrubs both Damsons and hedgerow whips which have been donated by residents. We have applied for 7 Green Flag awards for 2020, the Bee Loud Glade being this year’s newest addition. Brushcutting at the Goldsland Farm orchard has carried on between showers and holes for the new ponds are being dug – at least they will benefit from a few heavy downpours once in place. The Community Orchard was the location for a meeting with the Chair of St George’s Community Council who would like to get some wildlife initiatives off the ground and wanted to see what can be achieved.

We were invited to visit and give some advice on the newish orchard at Llandough Hospital and will continue to be involved with this project during the year. Few know of its existence but this large field of several acres immediately adjoins the hospital and will provide a welcome retreat for patients and visitors. It consists partly of meadow but with a traditional orchard at the higher end of the field. Although planted up with 67 apple trees two years ago, more than half of the trees have perished due it is thought to late planting and the hot summer. We remember the summer well as we spent many hours watering the newly-planted fruit trees at the Goldsland Farm orchard but we had the benefit of cattle drinking troughs a short distance from the trees and lost only one of our 36 trees. A new round of planting will take place in the next couple of months at Llandough and this time they will be molly-coddled! Robert Reader who farms at Burdons Farm has generously agreed to cut the field which has become tussocky in places and with Blackthorn sprouting all over.

For any readers who have either been treated at the hospital or know others who have and would like to give something back, here is your opportunity! Just contact us and we can put you in touch with Hester Adams who is running the project for the Health Board. We shall be reporting progress in future issues of What’s On.

 

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Raffle At The Reindeer Cafe

We were delighted to receive over £400 from the raffle at the Reindeer Cafe organised by Mike and Glenys Tucker. A portion will go towards the purchase of a battery-operated brushcutter as we are finding that as the orchards and other sites get established it is brushcutting and strimming that take up much of our time. An improvement in the weather would be welcome with many of our sites boggy although not flooded. It does mean that working on the sites is not only unpleasant with all the rain but can cause damage to the soil. A local house clearance has resulted in the donation of a wheelbarrow, some timber and tools – these are always welcome. We have applied for funding from the RHS for the purchase of trees, shrubs and plants that are good for pollinators at the Bee Loud Glade and would hope to hear in January if we have been successful. Bright days and sharp frosts can create great photo opportunities as this photo from the Upper Orchid Field from a few years ago shows. Why not get out and enjoy your countryside!

 

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The odd dry day has allowed us to get out and potter in the orchards. Even in mid-November we were picking apples in the Welsh Orchard. However, the main activities were pruning the fruit trees, strimming and re-locating plants in the herb garden that were becoming invasive, such as Comfrey. The hedgerow in the Community Orchard has had a good trim and we have continued to plant apple, plum and damson trees down at Goldsland.

Whilst the heavy rain has caused it to be a bit wet in parts of the Community Orchard, think back to how things were before we planted the orchard. The photo shows the whole area where the orchard is now, under water up to the nearby goalpost, during the winter before we started planting.

 

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Upper Orchid Field

Visitors to the Upper Orchid Field will have noticed that the field has been cut and the cuttings removed which is essential to keep the meadow in the best condition for wildflowers to flourish. It is just over 10 years since some residents expressed concern that the field was becoming overgrown and was half-way to becoming woodland. The Wenvoe Wildlife Group was formed and we have been keeping an eye on it as best we can. The Vale of Glamorgan Council, who own the field, agreed to carry out an annual cut but 5 years ago they decided they could no longer afford to do this. The field is now cut by a local contractor with the costs shared between the Wildlife Group and the Wenvoe Community Council. This is one of less than a handful of wildflower meadows left in or near Cardiff but no funding is received from any public body to help to maintain it. The weather has not been conducive to conservation work but we shall continue to plant hedgerow saplings and clear vegetation if and when the sun shines. Our thanks to residents who have donated a Bay tree and 2 Damsons; the latter seem to do well locally. Our harvest of apples continues to go well with the Medlars just waiting for the first frosts. This year’s revelation has been Bullace* which is relatively uncommon in local hedgerows. We have planted it in the Wild Orchard near St Lythans where it has cropped well this year and has proved great for jams and pies

 

*The Bullace is a variety of plum. It bears edible fruit similar to those of the damson, and like the damson is considered to be a strain of the insititia subspecies of Prunus domestica

 

 

 

 

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