RETURN TO . . . Site
Index
*****************************************
WORK,
SURVEYS, VISITS AND EVENTS - 2007
This page
contains a selection of reports and photos from group
workdays, conservation work and surveys on Brook Meadow,
plus school visits and various other events organised by
the Brook Meadow Conservation Group.
The
photos have been compressed and reduced in size to make
them suitable for downloading, with a 100KB limit.
The events are arranged in reverse chronological order,
ie the most recent ones are at the top.
To see
the photos click the blue
underlined links below
and use your back button to get back to this
page.
. . .
Work
session Sunday 16 December 2007 -
report by
Frances Jannaway
It was a lovely sunny
morning for the nine volunteers (Frances, Wally, Pam,
Jennifer, Dave, Penny, Jil, Barbara and Jenny) who turned
up for the last workday of the year.
The main task of the
morning was to cut and clear the Seagull Lane patch,
cutting back the Bramble hedge and giving the Oak tree
and young native hedge some TLC.
Wally used the power
scythe to cut the rank vegetation while the rest of the
group raked off the arisings bagging it up and taking it
to a sacrificial area along the fence adjoining the
Seagull Lane footpath. Wally then gave careful
instructions to Jenny who was keen to have a go at using
the power scythe. Jenny soon mastered the power tool and
with her help we managed to cut and clear most of the
area. Wally also tried out the recently acquired
attachment for the brushcutter to cut back some of the
Bramble which is starting to invade this area.
Finds for the day
included a harvest mouse nest in the long grasses and a
large amount of broken pottery from a very large pot
which had been dumped in the undergrowth.
A successful morning's
work was rewarded with mulled wine and home made mince
pies kindly provided by Penny and Ted Aylett. It's a pity
Christmas only comes but once a year!!
Photos by Brian
Fellows
The
ladies line up for a group photo at the start of the work
session - 16.12.07
Jennifer
fixing the small pedestrian gate at the Lumley entrance -
16.12.07
Volunteers
working on clearing the Seagull Lane patch -
16.12.07
Jennifer
and Dave hauling bag of cuttings -
16.12.07
Penny
in happy mood during the work session -
16.12.07
Harvest
Mouse nest discovered during the clearance of dense
vegetation on Brook Meadow - 16.12.07
Work
session - Sunday 18 November 2007
- Report by Pat
Walsgrove
Wally, Barbara, Jennifer
plus her daughter Caroline and Granddaughter Martha,
Jenny, Jill, Leslie, Pam, Pat, Penny, Dave, Graham with
Brian taking photos attended the Work Day this morning.
This was a marvellous turn out and very much appreciated.
The weather started reasonably dry, but, after an hour at
refreshment break, it deteriorated rapidly with heavy
rain and strong winds. Nevertheless a lot was achieved
and a large swathe of the Lumley area was cut using the
power scythe, raked up and deposited on the cuttings
heap. Thank you to all who helped and for the enthusiasm
and obvious enjoyment and good spirits. A special thanks
to young Martha for her performance, she thought the best
bit was the biscuits!
Next work sessions:
Thursday 6th and Sunday 16th December
Photos by Brian
Fellows
Wally
doing the risk assessment for work session on Brook
Meadow - 18.11.07
Group
photo of workday volunteers on Brook Meadow -
18.11.07
Little
Martha helping to bag up the cuttings -
18.11.07
Raking
up the cuttings on Brook Meadow - 18.11.07
Martha
giving a hand in the clearance - 18.11.07
Depositing
the arisings on Brook Meadow - 18.11.07
Martha
and Wally dragging a bag of cuttings -
18.11.07
Dave
using the power scythe to clear vegetation -
18.11.07
Ladies
busy raking up the cuttings during workday on Brook
Meadow - 18.11.07
Pat
and Graham with a heavy bag of cuttings -
18.11.07
Work
session - Thursday 1 November
2007 - report by
Wally Osborne
An excellent turnout of
12 volunteers, included one who was not yet a member but
had seen our details in the last issue of 'The EMS' and
just turned up!
After a dull start, the
weather became sunny and bright and, after Graham (in
waders) had retrieved a car tyre from the river, we all
set about the main task of cutting and clearing the sedge
area of the central meadow. With Tony Wootton on the
power scythe and the rest of us raking, bagging and
hauling for nearly an hour, well over half of the area
was cleared despite the soft underfoot conditions. After
a well-earned drinks break provided by Pat, we changed
over to path cutting and clearing in the south meadow,
and relocating some of the Crack Willow arisings from the
Environment Agency riverbank clearance work. In between
times, all of the signcases were cleaned, thanks to
Jennifer's pack of 'baby wipes'!
Many thanks to Jill,
Gaynor, Barbara, Pam, Jennifer, Lesley, Pat, Frances,
Tony, Graham & Dave who all worked their socks off
and got very hot. Hope to see many of you at the Sunday
18th November workday when 'it's more of the
same'.
Wildlife Observations:
The warm sunny weather has brought out Red Admirals and
Common Darter Dragonflies which were seen in the South
Meadow during the workday. Tony Wootton stood for over
half an hour on the Lumley footbridge watching a 'pair'
of Kingfishers chasing each other up and down the Lumley
Stream but did not manage to get a photograph of them.
Tasks for future work
sessions include:
Removing logs near the
North bridge to create log piles on the other side of the
meadow. Cutting areas such as Lumley wet area, Seagull
Lane patch, and SE corner of South Meadow,
Next work sessions:
Sunday 18 November, Thursday 6 and Sunday 16
December
Photos by Frances
Jannaway
Volunteers
enjoying a break during workday - 01.11.07
Volunteers
having a break during workday - 01.11.07
Volunteers
at work on Brook Meadow - 01.11.07
Volunteers
at work on Brook Meadow - 01.11.07
Volunteer
at work on Brook Maedow - 01.11.07
Work
session Sunday 21 October 2007
It was a gorgeous sunny
morning just right for the 8 volunteers (Frances, Pam,
Dave, Pat, Graham, Barbara and Penny) who turned up.
Pam, Penny, Jenny,
Barbara and Frances raked and removed the rest of the
arisings cut by the Environment Agency at the end of
September. They also removed two large piles of in-stream
vegetation left by the EA, one on the riverbank near the
sluice and the other near the railway embankment. The
arisings were taken to our designated sacrificial areas
to reduce the fertility of the riverbank.
Graham and Dave kitted
out with waders and walking upstream collected litter
which had found its way into the River Ems, including
rope, bottles, cans and a tennis racket. Pat who was
waiting on the riverbank filled 2 large sacks. They also
moved a number of large logs into the undergrowth near
the South Bridge.
Volunteers
clearing the river banks during work session -
21.10.07
Volunteer
clearing the river bank during work session -
21.10.07
Report and photos by
Frances Jannaway
Water
Vole Survey - 19 October 2007
Andy Rothwell, a Water
Vole and Otter consultant who works all over the SE of
England, carried out a survey of both the River Ems and
Lumley Stream to determine the state of the Water Vole
population in Brook Meadow and the surrounding area. Andy
found a lot of signs of Water Vole activity, such as
recent burrows, latrines and larders. He located two hot
spots. One on either side of the channel where the Lumley
Stream flows into Peter Pond and the other one near the
dry sluice and amongst the bulrushes and reeds on the
River Ems. The signs of Water Vole activity Andy found
were more numerous on the River Ems. The larders showed
that the Water Voles on the River Ems are eating
vegetation such as Soft Rush and Reed Canary Grass
whereas on Peter Pond their diet consisted of Phragmites
(Common Reed).
On the River Ems, the
area where Water Vole activity is the highest is between
the two WV notices, which is where most sightings have
been. There were few signs either south of the sluice or
north of the North bridge. Andy said that it would be
better to open up more of the riverbank to let more light
in and also reduce the amount of Nettles on the riverbank
and encourage grasses and herbs such as Comfrey to grow.
He also recorded at least two pairs of Kingfishers one on
the Lumley Stream and one on the River Ems chasing each
other up and downstream. Andy will write a report of his
findings and we will get a copy which will be put on our
website. Many thanks to Graham Roberts of HWT for
organising and funding this survey.
Andy
Rothwell Water Vole Survey - 19.10.07
Andy
Rothwell Water Vole Survey - 19.10.07
Andy
Rothwell Water Vole Survey - 19.10.07
Report and photos by
Frances Jannaway
Annual
Cut of Brook Meadow 2nd Phase by Martin Cull -
08.10.07
Work
Session Thursday 4
October - report
by Frances Jannaway
It was a beautiful, sunny
morning for the 9 volunteers (Frances, Wally, Jennifer,
Pam, Jil, Tony Wootton, Beryl, Lesley, and a new member
Stephen). I met Stephen at the Woodland Festival at Park
Wood last Sunday. He is on an NVQ course in Environmental
Conservation and wants to get some practical conservation
experience. It is good to have him onboard.
The group completed the
following tasks:
· Raked and removed
the arisings cut by the Environment Agency last week
along the eastern riverbank between the sluice and just
short of the North bridge. This consisted of mainly
Stinging Nettles and Bramble. The arisings were taken to
the sacrificial areas to reduce the fertility of the
riverbank.
· Repaired a section
of Willow hurdle along the riverbank using branches cut
by the Environment Agency cut last week.
· Strimmed 20
circles each of about 1 square metre in the central part
of the North Meadow, roughed up the soil with rakes and
our boots to expose the soil and sowed Yellow Rattle
seeds. Yellow Rattle is semi-parasitic on grass roots and
when established will help reduce the dominance of the
coarse grasses.
Photos by Brian
Fellows
Volunteers
at work on Brook Meadow - 04.10.07
Volunteers
- group workday photo - 04.10.07
Volunteers
clearing the river bank - 04.10.07
Volunteers
clearing the river bank - 04.10.07
Volunteer
sowing Yellow Rattle seeds -
04.10.07 - Photo
by Frances Jannaway
Work
Session Sunday 23 September
- Report by
Jennifer Rye
A dry, warm but cloudy
morning saw five volunteers at work, Jennifer, Pam, Dave,
Barbara and Caroline. After Jennifer gave a briefing and
safety talk, the group cleared all the heavy growth
around the hawthorn hedge, mainly nettles and bindweed,
and trimmed off the tops to encourage the plants to bush
out lower down. After a much needed coffee break, the
latter 3 repeated the same clearance job for the single
oak tree near the sacrificial dump site in the north
meadow, where we had been putting all the cleared
vegetation. Pam and Jennifer did a minor "siding up" job
along the bramble path in the south meadow. It was heavy
work with such a small work party, using only hand tools
as we did not have the necessary experienced volunteers
to use the power scythe. However we all felt a warm glow
of satisfaction with the sight of what we had done.
Caroline's husband came along to take photos of her at
work to put in her portfolio of conservation work needed
for her degree course at Sparsholt.
Release
of Slow Worms - Wednesday September 12
Clive Yeomans, an
ex-neighbour from Westbourne Avenue, phoned me yesterday
to say a friend of his in Bosham had lots of Slow-worms
in her garden. Clive wondered if we could give them a
good home on Brook Meadow. This was an opportunity to
establish a colony of these delightful creatures on the
meadow, where the lush vegetation provided an ideal
habitat for them to prosper. So this morning I met Clive,
who had collected about 20 Slow-worms in 2 plastic
dustbins. We went over to Brook Meadow where we released
them in the dense vegetation on the far side of the pile
of cuttings just north of the Willow line.
Clive
Yeomans releasing Slow Worms onto Brook Meadow -
12.09.07
Slow
Worms being released onto Brook Meadow -
12.09.07
Work
session Thursday 6
September-
report by Frances Jannaway
It was a very hot sunny
morning more like mid summer than early September for the
twelve volunteers (Frances, Wally, Pam, Lyle, Dave,
Richard, Beryl, Gaynor, Penny, Jil, Barbara, Tony
Wootton) who turned up for the Thursday work session.
After Frances gave brief instructions and a risk
assessment, Brian Fellows showed the volunteers a large
patch of Pepper Saxifrage in the Lumley wet area. This
old meadow indicator is late flowering and so this area
will not be cut until it has set seed.
The main task of the work
session was to cut the central area of the North Meadow
where Yellow Rattle and three species of Orchid are
growing. The reason for the group cutting this area, is
that we use the power scythe and then rake up the
arisings to allow any seeds to drop. The arisings are
then removed in large bags to the sacrificial area on the
eastern side of the meadow. In addition, the power scythe
has reciprocating blades and is therefore less harmful to
wildlife. In fact, Tony Wootton found at least three
large frogs and several small ones which he put carefully
in the damp grass. Patches of Fleabane which competes
well with grasses and Hemp Agrimony were left uncut
because they were still flowering.
This area has been cut as
the first step in preparing to sow Yellow Rattle which we
hope to do at the next work session. Yellow Rattle is
parasitic on grass roots and so helps to reduce the
vigour of the coarse grasses and thereby encouraging more
delicate wildflowers to flourish. The seeds of Yellow
Rattle which is an annual need to be sown as quickly as
possible since they deteriorate rapidly. The other task
we completed was to put up a second Water Vole sign near
the North bridge asking dog owners to keep their dogs out
of the river between the two bridges.
Photos by Brian
Fellows
Workday1
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday2
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday3
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday4
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday5
- 06.09.07
. . .
Workday6
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday7
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday8
- 06.09.07
. . . Workday9
- 06.09.07
. . .Workday10
- 06.09.07
Araneus
Quadratus spider discovered during the cutting on Brook
Meadow - 06.09.07.jpg
Work
session - Thursday 2
August -
report by Frances Jannaway
Eight volunteers
(Frances, Pam, Jill, Barbara, Gaynor, Beryl, Tony
Wootton, Tony Wilkinson) turned up on a cloudy but warm
morning. The main tasks included cutting back the nettles
and brambles falong the main paths in the north meadow,
finishing off cutting, raking and removing vegetation
(mainly bindweed) from around the Rowans in the north
meadow started by the Cub Scouts the day before, cutting
a narrow path round the Lumley wet area and repairing a
willow hurdle on the riverbank.
Volunteers
at work on Brook Meadow - 02.08.07
Volunteers
at work on Brook Meadow - 02.08.07
Visit
by Cub Scouts - Wednesday August 1st:
We welcomed 15 cub
scouts, with Akela and 2 other leaders, to the meadow for
a morning of conservation activities as part of the local
celebrations of the centenary of the scouting movement.
Their first task was to litter pick in Palmers' Road
copse, which they tackled with enthusiasm, litter pickers
and yellow rubber gloves. Then they joined Jennifer, Pat,
Graham, Pam, Dave Lee, Lyle and Penny in the area of the
north meadow around the rowan trees, where they helped to
rake, bag and stack the arisings from the cutting of the
heavy undergrowth there.
After a welcome
refreshment break, much needed on a very hot and sunny
day, 2 groups of 4 carried out butterfly transects under
the instructions of Pat and Pam; this was a popular and
productive activity, about 25 very varied butterflies
being spotted, identified and recorded by each group.
Meanwhile the rest of the troup completed the former
task, and about half the area was successfully
cleared.
The district commissioner
paid us a flying visit to commend their dedication, and
we were very grateful for the extra pairs of hands on the
meadow. The boys worked very hard, were enthusiastic as
well as very well behaved, and we hope they enjoyed the
morning. Hopefully we shall welcome some of them back as
regular recruits in due course!
Report by Jennifer Rye
Annual
Cut of Brook Meadow - 19 July 2007
Martin Cull completed the
first stage of the annual cut of Brook Meadow.
Martin
Cull doing the annual cut of Brook Meadow -
19.07.07
The
north meadow after the annual cut -
19.07.07
The
centre meadow after the annual cut -
19.07.07
Work
session Sunday 15 July -
report by Frances Jannaway
The weather was dry but
very humid for the seven volunteers (Frances, Wally,
Dave, Richard, Pam, Graham and a new volunteer Caroline
French) who turned up for the Sunday work session. The
following tasks were completed:
Pam cut back Nettles and
Brambles along the main paths and also cut back the Hedge
Mustard dominating the newly planted hedge along Seagull
Lane. Wally cut back overhanging branches and strimmed
Nettles around the Lumley entrance in preparation for the
annual cut. He also strimmed the area around the Alder
Buckthorns and Rowans. Richard used the power scythe to
cut back Bindweed on the edges of the Lumley wet area and
also cut all the paths in the South Meadow. The recently
identified Pink Water Speedwell has been marked with a
stick. Graham, Dave, Caroline and Frances raked up and
removed the cuttings.
Other jobs included
cutting a path to the Aspen which Caroline did very well
after a short training session by Richard; cutting round
the Oak and Yew trees, and marking out the areas to be
cut by Martin Cull hopefully next week.
Tasks for future work
sessions to include:
Cutting back Bindweed in
the North Meadow south of the Rowan plantation
Cutting and removing
excess vegetation from the Rowan plantation
Cutting back branches
overhanging the riverbanks and creating another Willow
hurdle to prevent dogs from gaining access to the river.
Ems
Valley Walks - Sunday 8 July
These two walks were part
of Hampshire Water Festival. The morning walk, led by
Brian Fellows, was attended by two people and the
afternoon walk led by Frances Jannaway, by six people.
The low numbers were probably due to several major
sporting events held on the same day. Both walks were
very enjoyable and were appreciated by those taking part.
Water
Festival Walk - afternoon session -
08.07.07
Work
session Thursday 5 July
2007 - report by
Frances Jannaway
It was a cloudy but dry
morning for the nine volunteers (Frances, Jennifer, Lyle,
David, Pam, Jil, Barbara, Gaynor, Leslie) who turned up
for Thursday's work session.
The main task was to
clear the enormous growth of vegetation, especially
bindweed, from around young trees such as Alder
Buckthorns, Black Poplars, Osiers, Aspen and Rowans. The
next main task was to cut back the large Willow branch
which had fallen over the river and onto the riverbank
about a week ago. The cut branches were used to repair
the Willow hurdle to restrict access to the river. Other
tasks included cutting back Stinging Nettles along the
path and around the Water Vole fence and the Deep Water
sign in Palmers Road copse. Butterbur and Nettles
overhanging the main path were cut back near the central
seat on the causeway and the Lumley gate. And finally,
temporary repairs were made to the Water Vole notice
which has been damaged. A proper repair will be done in
the next few days.
Photos
by Brian Fellows
workday-bm-05.07.07
(1)
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(2)
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(3)
.
workday-bm-05.07.07
(4)
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(5).
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(6)
workday-bm-05.07.07
(7)
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(8)
. . . workday-bm-05.07.07
(9)
White
Plume Moth spotted by Jil Meesom during the work session
on Brook Meadow - 05.07.07
Quadrat
Survey Friday 22 June
Frances
and David conducting a quadrat survey on Brook Meadow -
22.06.07
Work
session Sunday 17 June
- report by Wally Osborne
Ten volunteers turned out
on a morning which became drier and warmer than expected
after early morning rain. They were Beryl (who
unfortunately became unwell and had to go home at about
10.45), Pam, Pat, Barbara, Jill, Frances, Graham,
Richard, Dave and Wally. Brian Fellows also came along
carrying the 2 Southern Marsh Orchid plants donated by
Nigel Johnson who had grown them from seed taken from the
population at South Moor. Brian suggested that we plant
the new species of orchid close to where two other
species of orchid have been found this year. He witnessed
the 'ceremonial' planting by Frances and Dave.
The
Planting of two Southern Marsh Orchids on Brook Meadow -
17.06.07 (photo
by Brian Fellows)
Richard did a sterling
job mowing the community area ready for the Northern
Parade School visit on 29th June and also cutting some of
the occasional paths.
The other volunteers used
hand tools to cut around the various sapling trees which
we have planted, the Holly and Hawthorn saplings on the
new Lumley Path fence, Alder Buckthorns and Horse
Chestnuts in the South Meadow and the native hedge of Dog
Rose, Dogwood and Field Maple along the Seagull Lane
fence. Pam also cut a path to the memorial Oak tree on
the Seagull lane patch and helped Frances to put down a
mulch of wood chippings around the young hedge plants at
Seagull Lane. And finally, Bramble and Stinging Nettles
were cut back where they were overhanging paths
especially along the Bramble path in South Meadow and
riverbank path in North Meadow.
As usual, everyone work
very hard and produced a fair amount of heat and
perspiration. Thanks to all for a sterling effort and we
all hope that Beryl recovers speedily.
Next work sessions:
Thursday 5 and Sunday 15 July
Work
session Thursday 7 June
2007 - report by
Frances Jannaway
It was a mild but
slightly cloudy morning just right for the 13 volunteers
who turned up for the Thursday work session. With a
surprise visit from Tony Wilkinson as well as our regular
group of conservation volunteers, we were able to
complete the following tasks:
· Trimmed back
overhanging branches around Lumley gate and along the
Lumley Path and footbridge over the Lumley
Stream.
· Removed flowering
shoots from Hemlock Waterdropwort in Lumley wet
area
· Removed
overhanging branch near south entrance.
· Cleared round
Alder Buckthorns, Osiers, Oak and Aspen, for which we
also cut a path to make watering easier.
· Cut and raked
community area.
· Removed
overhanging Bramble and Stinging Nettles from occasional
paths in South Meadow and main riverbank path in North
Meadow.
· Cut and raked
designated area for new Wishing Tree and Memorial
Seat.
· Strimmed steps,
seat, sign cases and bins.
Photos by Brian
Fellows
Volunteers
clearing the community area - 07.06.07
Wally
mowing the community area - 07.06.07
Volunteer
at work clearing the community area-
07.06.07
Trimming
the nettles along the river path -
07.06.07
Volunteers
taking a break during workday - 07.06.07
Tony
and Frances off to work on Brook Meadow -
07.06.07
David
and Dave hauling a load of cuttings -
07.06.07
Lyle
cutting the flower heaeds off the Hemlock Water-dropwort
- 07.06.07
Jil
Meesom having found the first flowering Meadowsweet of
the year on Brook Meadow - 07.06.07
Meadow
Healing - a Herb Walk through Brook Meadow - 24 May
2007
Report by Frances
Jannaway
Herb
Walk May 24 2007
- Photo by Roger Mills
It was a lovely sunny
evening on Thursday 24 May for the 19 people who came on
the 'Meadow Healing' herb walk led by Steve Taylor of the
Medicine Garden during Herbal Medicine Awareness week. Of
the 19 people on the herb walk, 8 were current members
and 9 signed up as new members. Steve started his walk by
talking about the value of natural areas such as Brook
Meadow and how important it is to protect this
ever-diminishing natural resource for future
generations.
By means of anecdotes,
research findings, personal experience and folklore told
by older people he had met, Steve went on to describe the
uses of several common herbs found in Brook Meadow,
starting with Common Nettle. This plant grows in wet,
fertile soil but was not as common 300 years ago as it is
today because of the dramatic rise in soil fertility due
mainly to the increased use of artificial fertilisers.
Common Nettle has many uses, for example as a fibre (to
make twine and thread), as a food (rich in Vitamin C,
iron and trace elements) in teas, soups and savoury
puddings, and as a medicine as a spring tonic, diuretic,
detoxifier and blood purifier. The roots can be used to
treat prostrate cancer and the seeds help to regenerate
the kidneys.
Other plants found in
Brook Meadow included, Elderflower which is the best herb
for treating hay fever due to its anti inflammatory
properties. Willow contains 17 salicitic compounds
(salicitic acid is the main component of aspirin) and all
parts of the plant (bark, leaves, roots) can be used.
Butterbur which is not found very often nowadays,
stimulates the immune system. Blackberry (and Raspberry)
leaves help with pregnancy and childbirth. Mugwort has a
bitter taste and stimulates liver function. Burdock roots
stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation and
long-term skin conditions. Meadowsweet also contains
salicates and is used as an anti inflammatory and
astringent to treat diarrhoea and headaches. Common
Spotted Orchid is not used in herbal medicine any more
but was much used in the past to increase fertility and
potency.
Steve stressed that
Herbal Medicine is not a weaker version of pharmaceutical
medicine but a different kind of medicine since the sum
of the whole plant is more than its component parts. He
also talked about the 'Doctrine of Signatures' which is
the concept that the character of the plant tells us how
to use it. For example, the soft leaves of Mallow are
used to treat skin complaints.
The walk ended with a
question and answer session about the preparation of herb
teas. Steve is running a workshop on making herb teas and
tonics in August this year.
Work
session Sunday 20 May - report by Wally Osborne.
Bright sunshine and high
scattered clouds - perfect weather for the eleven
volunteers: Beryl, Jill, Penny, Jenny, Barbara, Pat,
Graham, Dave, David, Richard & Wally.
The following tasks were
completed:
* Remove Hemlock
Water-dropwort plants and flower-heads
* Cut back plum tree and
gorse overhanging causeway path. Cut back some willow
saplings.
* Cut around Alder
Buckthorn and Horse Chestnut saplings.
* Cut paths on N and S
meadows with power scythe and remove most arisings, also
cut path to Aspen
* Cut community area and
arisings removed ready for Northern Parade Junior School
visit on 29 June.
* Strimmed steps, seat
area and Lumley gate area.
* Litter picked in
Palmers Road copse.
Tasks for the next work
sessions include:
* trimming back
overhanging branches along Lumley Path and weed Hawthorns
and Holly saplings
* clearing around Oak and
Osier saplings
* cutting and raking
designated area for memorial seat in North Meadow
* cutting and raking
community area. litter picking
Work
session Thursday 3 May
Eleven volunteers
(Frances, Pam, Lyle, Jennifer, Dave, Richard, Penny,
Gaynor, Jill, Barbara and Beryl) turned up on a bright
sunny morning for the first work session of May. The main
tasks included:
· final attempt at
digging up Hemlock Water-Dropwort roots; filling at least
7 bags with roots which were later removed to the tip and
cutting down the rest of the plants in the Lumley wet
area.
· tying the Rowans
to their stakes with specially purchased soft ties and
cutting excess vegetation from around the base
· watering the young
Osiers, Aspen and Oak trees
· removing excess
vegetation from around the newly planted hedge along the
Seagull Lane fence, loosening the compacted soil,
mulching and watering.
The volunteers were
rewarded for their sterling work with a double
celebratory tea party in the meadow - Lyle made Linda
Baker his bride on 1 May and he also celebrated his 70th
birthday the following Sunday. On behalf of the Brook
Meadow Conservation Group, I would like to wish Mr and
Mrs Mark every happiness.
Lyle's
tea party - 03.05.07
Root
removal - 03-05-07
Tying
Rowans - 03.05.07
Report and photos by
Frances Jannaway
Work
session - Sunday 15 April
It was a lovely sunny
morning with 9 volunteers (Wally, Pam, Dave, Pat,
Barbara, Jill, Debbie, Jenny and Graham). Tasks completed
included:
Building a dead hedge behind the industrial estate near
the gasholder utilising arisings already present.
Digging up roots of 5 large Hemlock Water-dropwort plants
and filling holes with earth. Wally removed roots to
tip.
General litter pick
Clearing vegetation around young trees, such as Alder
Buckthorns, Blackthorns and Horse Chestnuts.
Strimming the area around the seat, steps, bins and
signcases.
The group worked very hard and in the heat it was truly
appreciated
Report by Pat
Walsgrove
Work
session - Thursday 5 April 2007
It was a glorious sunny
morning for the ten volunteers (Frances, Pam, Dave, Pat,
Graham, Jennifer, Lyle, Jil, Barbara and Gaynor). The
group successfully completed the following tasks: Gaynor
and Barbara did a litter pick in Palmers Road copse
collecting two large bags of rubbish. Pam, Jil and Dave
erected a dead hedge to the north of the Water Vole
signcase as well as at the end of the fence to restrict
access to the riverbank. Jennifer and Pat did a litter
pick along the riverbank and river starting at the south
bridge but were unable to finish the job because of the
large amount of litter, including two very large
cardboard boxes and an amount of paper found behind the
AD Williams industrial unit on Palmers Road. It seems
that employees of this company are throwing their bottles
and packaging over onto the land at the back of their car
park. A letter will have to be written to the managing
director expressing our concern at this lack of
responsibility by some of their staff. Finally, Graham,
Lyle and Frances started to dig up the roots of Hemlock
Water-dropwort in the Lumley wet area in an experiment to
try to prevent this plant from dominating the whole area.
We filled 5 large bin bags with roots for removal to the
tip and backfilled the holes with soil taken from
Molehills. The roots look a bit like Dahlia tubers.
Tasks for future work
sessions include:
· building a new
dead hedge behind the industrial units to the south of
the gas holder
· continuing digging
up and destroying roots of Hemlock Water-dropwort in
Lumley wet area
· removing
vegetation from around the Alder Buckthorns.
Next work sessions are
on: Sunday 15 April and Thursday 3 May. Meet at the
Lumley gate at 10am.
Work
session - Sunday 18 March 2007
Eight volunteers
(Frances, Pam, Dave, David Search, Penny, Jil, Debi and
Beryl Wright) turned up on a bright but breezy morning
for the Sunday work session.
The first task was to cut
back Bramble in the NE corner of the North Meadow. This
was soon completed by Pam and Jil who then joined the
rest of the group to concentrate on the main task for the
work session. This was to create Willow hurdles along the
riverbank to restrict access by dogs to the river.
Several paths have started to appear down to the river
especially near the S-bend. This area is where the pair
of Water Voles have been seen recently. Two very
attractive and hopefully useful Willow hurdles were
created.
Volunteers
making willow hurdle on river bank
18.03.07
Volunteers
making willow hurdle on river bank
18.03.07
Volunteers
making willow hurdle on river bank
18.03.07
Group
of volunteers having completed the willow hurdle
18.03.07
Willow
hurdle complete 18.03.07
Report and photos by
Frances Jannaway
Visit
of the HWT Watch Group - Saturday March 10,
2007
We were very happy to
welcome the Havant Watch Group for a work morning in the
Meadow on Saturday March 10th. Sally and about 11
helpers, children and adults, joined us by 10 in the
morning, and we got straight on with the first activity -
'a habitat study' of an old log pile in the North meadow.
This proved full of life of the woodlice/centipede
variety, and we also spotted no fewer than 7 different
types of fungus.
Then we created new log
piles, using the wood and brushwood left after the recent
felling of willow trees near the north path, hoping that
in 10 years time they will prove equally fascinating for
a new generation of children. It was a big help to have
so many pairs of hands for the job, which was all
finished by noon, in lovely spring sunshine which tempted
out a few bees and a large red admiral.
Report by Jennifer
Rye
Watch
Group at work on Brook Meadow - 10.03.07
Watch
Group at work on Brook Meadow - 10.03.07
Watch
Group bug hunting on Brook Meadow -
10.03.07
Watch
Group looking at lichen on Brook Meadow -
10.03.07
Watch
Group looking at lichen on Brook Meadow -
10.03.07
Photos by Frances
Jannaway
Work
session: Thursday 1st March 2007
Report by
Wally Osborne
A sunny morning and
a chill wind greeted the 11 volunteers who turned out. We
were all keen to get moving to keep ourselves warm with
the two main jobs of the day, finishing off the clearup
of the Seagull Lane patch and creating woodpiles below
the northern river bank, parallel to railway line. All of
this work resulted from the 'arisings' of the recent HBC
tree surgery work on the riverside Crack Willow Trees.
The woodpiles will provide habitats for various
invertebrates and contribute to our overall 'Management
Plan' for the meadow. Much more remains to be done and we
also made preparations for the forthcoming morning work
session of the 'Havant Watch Group' of the HWT. The
woodpiles are being protected by bramble debris,
harvested from various sites on the meadow as we seek to
control its spread. It is very gratifying to have a
regular volunteer force of more that 10 persons but we
would welcome some more new faces.
Next session is on Sunday
18th March.
Photos by
Brian Fellows
Workday:
risk assessment - 01.03.07
Workday:
risk assessment - 01.03.07
Workday:
Volunteers clearing Bramble - 01.03.07
Workday:
Graham clearing bramble - 01.03.07
Workday:
Graham and Pat clearing Bramble - 01.03.07
Workday:
volunteers discussing what to do with Willow cuttings -
01.03.07
Workday:
volunteers considering heavy log -
01.03.07
Workday:
volunteers moving heavy log - 01.03.07
Workday:
Pat enjoying her work - 01.03.07
Report
on work session Sunday 18 February
It was a mild but cloudy
morning for the 10 volunteers (Frances, Pam, Jill, Debi,
Leslie, Barbara, Beryl, Jenny (a new volunteer), Penny
and Richard) for the Sunday work session in February. The
main task was to clear the brushwood produced as a result
of tree work carried out by tree surgeons over the last
week on a group of Crack Willows on the western riverbank
next to the Seagull Lane patch. In just over an hour and
a half, all the brushwood had been skilfully woven to
create two dead hedges along the fence down the side of
the Seagull Lane footpath. In addition, several large
branches were removed from the river since they were
causing an obstruction and collecting litter.
Workday:
Barbara and Beryl at work - 18.02.07
Workday:
building a deadhedge - 18.02.07
Workday:
building a deadhedge - 18.02.07
Report and photos by
Frances Jannaway.
Report
on work session Thursday 1 February 2007
Another lovely sunny
workday on February 1st saw 12 volunteers on the meadow;
some people even complained that it was almost too hot to
work! Temperatures were actually up to 15 degrees.
Richard did sterling work with the cutter, first
enlarging the area in the north meadow where the yellow
rattle has been planted, for a further sowing. He then
lent automated strength to the team of Dave, Lesley,
Gaynor and Caroline Fisk ( a welcome new recruit from the
Chichester Harbour Conservancy Education team) who
cleared a lot of brambles from the rougher patch of the
north meadow east of the rowan plantation.
Workday
01.02.07 clearing-bramble
Workday
01.02.07 cutting-raking
Jill and Pam did a
similar job around the Lumley gate, making access much
easier for pushchairs and wheelbarrows as well as
walkers, safe now from overhanging hedges and brambles.
Graham and Pat, with later help from Jennifer and Penny,
more or less cleared the very overgrown brambles from
around the thorn tree next to the steps down into the
meadow near the Seagull Lane bridge, by the sign case.
Frances, Gaynor, Jennifer and Caroline moved a new log
pile created by the Environment Agency in trimming fallen
willows over the Ems south of the bridge: they had been
left neatly stacked close to the river, where experience
suggests that they would shortly be sent sailing
downstream to create an inevitable blockage further down.
A nice new habitat log pile has been made right over near
the eastern boundary of the meadow, well away from
tempting streams.
After a chocolate cake
celebration with tea and coffee for Jennifer's (and
Dave's) birthday, the ground was further raked and
scarified, and the yellow rattle seeds sown. More attacks
on encroaching brambles will have to be made in future
work sessions. We are not trying to clear the meadow of
brambles, which provide useful habitat for some species.
It's just that without control measures they will take
over and crowd out other plants which will reduce
diversity in the long run. Management always has to tread
a narrow line between encouragement and control, you
cannot just let nature take its course.
Workday
01.02.07 birthday
Workday
01.02.07 birthday
Signs of the use of metal
detectors in the north meadow were all too evident, with
at least 10 holes dug and some finds scattered. This is,
of course, most unwelcome activity in a conservation
area.
Report by Jennifer
Rye
Photos by Frances
Jannaway
Report
on work session Sunday 21 January
It was a lovely sunny
morning for the 10 volunteers who turned up for today's
work session. This was to be a special work session in
that three of this workforce (Graham, Lyle and Jennifer)
came along especially to tools maintenance work in Pam's
garage.
Workday-07.01.21.tool-maintenance
The other seven of us
(Dave, Frances, Pat, Pam, Barbara, Beryl Young and Brenda
Payne) completed a variety of tasks including: removing
the cut branches from the Crack Willow which had fallen
across the river near the north bridge some weeks ago;
formative pruning of young trees such as Ash, Oak and
Black Poplars; planting a young Oak tree donated by
Brenda Payne; staking and mulching the 3 Osier saplings;
removing excess vegetation from around Blackthorns in NE
corner; locating log piles for the Emsworth Primary
school visit; identifying possible location for seat in
memory of Eric Young; cutting down the Laurel and litter
picking in Palmers Road copse.
Workday-07.01.21.digging
Workday-07.01.21.work-group
Photos by Frances
Jannaway
Report
on work session 4 January 2007
An amazing 12 volunteers
turned up on a cloudy but mild morning for the first work
session of 2007. With this many people, we managed to
complete a variety of tasks. Pat and Dave did a thorough
litter pick of Palmers Road copse, the main meadow and
Seagull Lane patch. Jennifer, Gaynor, Graham and Tony cut
down the ailing Crack Willow in the North Meadow removing
the branches to the eastern edge to rot down or for use
as dead hedging material. This group also cut back some
branches of a Willow overhanging the northern riverbank
path. Wally used the strimmer to tidy up round all the
bins, steps, signcases and seat. Pam, Lyle, Penny and
Frances mulched the Alder Buckthorns, Weeping Willow,
Horse Chestnuts and Black Poplars. Pam, Gaynor and Lyle
planted 3 Osier saplings near the Willow which had just
been cut down. Jil did a magnificent job making safe the
steps near the North bridge, as they had become very
muddy. Finally, Wally and Jennifer used the cut Willow
twigs to extend the hurdle fence near the sluice to
restrict access to the riverbank and river.
Workday
- Dave litter picking in Palmer's Road Copse -
04.01.07
Workday
- Penny, Pam, Lyle and Frances mulching the Alder
Buckthorns - 04.01.07
Workday
- volunteers taking a coffee break -
04.01.07
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
