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Tuesday, 17th January 2012 Four volunteers turned up for the January work party to find Rangers Mark and Gary and three assistants already at work, continuing the widening of the Woodland Path so that a tractor and cutting equipment will be able to gain access to the East Meadow. Despite the sunshine, frost was visible on the grass and the ponds were iced over, but there was hardly any wind so the temperature was fairly mild for a mid-January day There was plenty of litter to be picked up, probably because there'd been no work party since November, and some work was needed cutting back encroaching side growth and overhanging branches along the paths. Willow Pond and Fox Pond were both little more than large puddles though Puckles Pond was full. Not much wildlife was seen, but there was planty of birdsong to be heard including blue tits and a bullfinch. Tuesday, 21st February 2012 Lots of activity took place on a nice sunny day, though it was a bit cold, but with hardly any wind. Ranger Mark and two assistants supervised the replacement of the old bench opposite the bird-table with another bench in memory of Betty Haynes, one of the Nature Reserve Society's founder members, and for most of its existence its most stalwart supporter. Two reporters turned up. The one from the Echo interviewed a couple of the Committee members, and photographed the digging in of the new bench. The other reporter, from the Yellow Advertiser, posed this month's three volunteers with litter-pickers and black refuse bags. After the photoshoot we went into the woodland area behind the houses to clear away some of the young brambles and blackthorn so as to help create small glades to encourage the diversity of woodland flowers. Mark's assistants did the litter-pick! Meanwhile Gary and an assistant continuing widening the Woodland Path. This is now wide enough to get a large tractor down to Fox Pond, but the use of a mechanical flail to remove the sidegrowth has left the paths looking very ugly with the light brown and white of the ragged broken branches standing out against the bare grey winter hedgerows. There was not much wildlife to be seen apart from blue tits, wood pigeons, the occasional blackbird and robin and a pair of mallards swimming in Willow Pond, which is still very low (like most of the ponds except Puckles, which is reasonably full). Fox Pond looks a bit sad - there's some debris in it which needs removing, and the bench hasn't yet been replaced, though the edges have now been cleared, so it's possible to walk right round it. Tuesday, 20th March 2012 It was a lovely Spring day, sunny with just a slight breeze, and we had an excellent turnout of nine volunteers (including our two local community support officers). Ranger Mark was on hand as usual to organise everyone. A couple of us did the monthly litter-pick, while others finished clearing the entrance to the far meadow. The work on the Woodland Path has now been completed and it's wide enough for a tractor and cutting equipment to get to the Eastern side of the Reserve). There was some debate over whether we'd have to remove the primroses and daffodils (when in flower, one of our prettiest sights). We decided that it was up to Ranger Gary, as he was the one most likely to be driving the tractor. Meanwhile Ranger Mark and others went off to do some work on the steps, as well as investigating the possible replacment of the bench at Fox Pond, and checking what new signage is needed. There were plenty of birds about (making lots of noise) including long-tailed tits, chiffchaffs and a green woodpecker. We also saw a couple of early butterflies, some red-tailed bumblebees and a large number of bee flies. During the last month contractors have been in to deepen Rosebay Pond and Willow Pond. The former (just on the left, coming into the Reserve via the Eastfield Road entrance) is looking quite barren, but it shouldn't be too long before the surrounding vegetation regrows. Now that the willow trees which were growing in the middle of the pond have been removed we're hoping it will no longer dry up during the summer months. Things to look out for if you're visiting the Reserve during the next few weeks: catkins on the willow trees (in various shapes, sizes and colours), purple violets along the left (east) side of Plotlands Way (entering the Reserve via Eastfield Road), clumps of daffodils in the East Meadow, and very early white thorn blossom along the High Ridge. Tuesday, 17th April 2012 The weather was unsettled and there was a cold wind, which probably accounted for only two volunteers turning up. However the sun came out for a while before some rain fell, and then it was sunny again. Ranger Mark organised the repair of a broken slat on the Spanish Steps, and there was the usual litter pick. Meanwhile Ranger Gary and his assistant cut down the remaining tree which had been blocking tractor access to the far meadow. We heard plenty of bird song, and there are many Spring flowers appearing, including greater stitchwort and garlic mustard, but there's no sign of any amphibians yet. Some of the ponds still look ugly as a result of being deepened. The mud around the sides has been severely impacted, and looks more like clay than soil, but at last the first signs of new vegetation are beginning to appear. Tuesday, 15th May 2012 [cancelled - Ranger Mark was off work having hurt his back] Tuesday, 19th June 2012 Ranger Mark was still off work with his bad back but Rangers Gary and Ashley stood in for him. They'd brought along two assistants who set to work strimming and clearing the paths of all the new sidegrowth, which there was plenty of after all the rain last month. Seven volunteers turned up, and the usual jobs got done. There was more rubbish than usual because of there being no May work party. The sun came out for a short while and a few butterflies were seen (including a holly blue, small skipper and speckled wood), but it doesn't seem to be a good year for them. The ponds are now starting to recover after the work done on them earlier in the year! Tuesday, 17th July 2012 The weather was pleasant and there were five volunteers to help Rangers Mark and Gary and their two assistants with the usual work of keeping the paths free of overhanging branches and sidegrowth. There were lots of flowers in blossom, and Jim Bishop oversaw a plant survey along Plotland Way and in the main Meadow area. The sun was warm emough to bring out the insects and among those we identified were speckled cricket, dark cricket, field grasshopper, meadow grasshoppper, large skipper, ringlet, red admiral, meadow brown, blue-tailed damselfly, azure damselfly and common darter. Not many birds were seen, but two or three blackcaps could be heard. The croaking of a water frog was heard by Fox Pond ("water frog" being the general name for a member of the Marsh-Edible-Pool frog complex). All the ponds are now looking good, and Rosebay is benefitting from the taking down of some of the willows which were threatening to overwhelm it. We spotted a few newt tadpoles in Willow Pond and the yellow flag around the edge is again providing food for the iris saw beetle larvae. Puckles Pond is currently very full with the water half covering the dipping platform (which has now been mended, the slightly burned planks from last year's vandalism having beeen replaced. Tuesday, 21st August 2012 Nine volunteers turned up this month to help out Ranger Gary and two assistants (Andy and Sam). We did the usual litter pick and clearing the paths. Sam drove the tractor up to the East Meadow and did an excellent job of cutting the grass there, though a small copse was left in the centre, which may need to be cleared at another time. Tuesday, 18th September 2012 Another good turn out, with eight volunteers on hand to help out. Ranger Mark and three of his assistants cleared the paths using strimmers and hedge cutters, with some of us lending a hand to gather up the cuttings. We also did a litter-pick, weeded the Spanish Steps (where a couple of boards need replacing because of fungal rot), and cleared some low branches hanging along the High Ridge. |