Work Party January 23rd 2011

dynamic, Work Parties and Meeting Dates - By fosh_admin on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 21:43

January Work Party

We had a lot of work to do on Sunday 23^rd January!

The paths through the Wood were very muddy and so Chrissie, Sarah and Zdena set to, spreading some of the woodchip pile at the South end of the spinal path and along the worst bits of the Western path.  It was a very busy day for walkers including those with dogs as it was relatively mild.

The guys were making borders for the main spinal path at its southern end in order to define the Right of Way whilst leaving room for the Notts Wildlife vehicles when they need to come into the Wood.  Defining Rights of Way is an essential part of the work to encourage walkers not to trample the parts of the Wood which wildlife needs to thrive. Since our last work party there has been some felling of medium size sycamores – this is necessary to allow other tree species – oak, ash and beech – to thrive as no native sycamore does tend to thrive and block out light to the ground. The felled sycamores make good path borders.  It’s important to carry out these tasks in the winter months, as during the nesting season we don’t disturb the trees and bushes. 

At long last we managed to post some information in the new notice board, mainly information about how to take care of the Nature Reserve – one unpleasant thing that is happening more and more is that some dog walkers are taking plastic bags up for their dogs’ poo – then leaving it beside the path!  Who they think is going to remove it we can’t imagine!  There is a dog poo bin at the Peveril Drive path entrance.  However most dog walkers are very responsible and the dogs are under control and well behaved.

We are still talking to people about what they think of the improvements we have made to the Wood and what they would (or would not) like to see happen.  We are completing questionnaires with them, and these will be carefully scrutinised so that we carry out work that generally pleases people whilst still protecting the Wildlife, which is the main concern when you take responsibility for looking after a Nature Reserve to conserve it for our kids.

If you would like to help in any way (and this can include desk based work) please let us know on the website.

Helpers today were: -

Rod Jones, Bill Logan, Phil Miller, Sarah Jamieson, Sarah Crutchley, John Elwell, Chrissie Wells and Zdena Parish

23^rd January 2011.