Busy Despite the Lockdown

Busy Despite the Lockdown

Despite lockdown we have managed to keep very busy.

A very pleasant sunny day in November saw a good number of volunteers out at the top of the Orchid Field with strimmers, shears, secateurs, loppers, saws etc to tackle the ever encroaching brambles, blackthorn, ash and other growth.

Our latest conservation session went well as we cleared brambles and other vegetation under the trees. We are also clearing brambles around some of the trees planted in the last few years including Hornbeam, Elm, Wild Pear, Yew and the Checkers Tree.

Within a couple of hours of work piles of cut material appeared around the field’s perimeter and areas of long hidden ground started to see sunlight once again. Even the robin arrived to inspect the work.

A Tree leaflet has been prepared and will be available from leaflet dispensers once we have finished refurbishing the main notice board. There are 22 tree species on the list and a further 7 will be planted in the coming weeks. Some are easy to identify (e.g. Oak and Ash), others more tricky such as Alder Buckthorn and Wild Pear.

 

The working group meeting is planned for Wednesday 16th December from 9.30am. All are welcome to join us in the task of clearing, please bring your own tools and gloves.


We have received another donated bench which has been refurbished and will be sited at the Goldsland Orchard. Yet another has been offered which will make 4 donated in the last few months. So for us Christmas came early but we know they are much appreciated by visitors to our sites. Work continues at the Bee Loud Glade where we have planted a hedgerow with over 100 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust. Plantings of flora good for pollinators include Bulbs (Daffodils, Camassia, Scilla, Chionodoxa), Evening Primrose, Caryopteris, Salvia, Wall Germander, Purple Loosestrife. A new leaflet is available from the Bee Loud Glade dispenser listing plants which you can consider for your garden which are good for pollinators.


We are on the hunt for any mouse litter, that is, what you remove when you clear out their cages. Bumblebees often nest in old mice-holes and are believed to be able to pick up the scent so popping some into nest-boxes can often result in the bees moving in. So if you have any spare, do get in touch with a Wildlife Group member.