Home...1.
Burton Pits: A
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. We cleared paths, did some
dead hedging and created kingfisher nesting sites. 2.
St. Giles Wildlife Garden is
an area of hedgerows, streams, grassland and marsh all in a small garden
adjoining the church on the St Giles Estate and run by a small group of
the local residents. The
group has helped the residents with fencing, a herb garden, a bridge and
shrub planting. 3.
Hobblers Hole is
an area of grassland with a pond surrounded by hawthorn scrub.
Our work here has included pond restoration, hedgerow management
and dead hedging. 4.
Greetwell Hollow Quarry: Lincoln’s
newest nature reserve, off Outer Circle Road. We cleared debris from the
stream running through the middle of the site. 5.
Roman Herb Garden: A
slightly different form of conservation, working with the Lincoln Herb
Society to maintain the Herb Garden on Westgate, with a range of herbs
typical of the historical Roman influence of Lindum Colonium (the Roman
name for Lincoln). 6.
Liquorice Park Millennium Green: The
wildest allotments in Lincoln where fantastic views over the city are
guaranteed, featuring fruit bushes, orchard and arena all just a few
steps from the historic city centre. 7.
West Common Pond
is a Victorian ornamental pond with trees and shrubs surrounding it.
Our work here has included clearance of reeds that were choking
up the open water, and native shrub planting to act as bird cover. 8.
An oasis of calm, just minutes away from the centre of Lincoln, Boultham
Mere is the perfect place for scrub clearance, tree felling or any
other conservation work. 9.
Boultham Moor Wood:
Working with Groundwork, we removed some young sycamore trees to favour
native species. 10.
Washingborough Cycle Path: Part
of the National Cycle Network. We cut back overhanging vegetation and
painted gates and signs. 11.
Hartsholme Country Park
is the best park in Lincoln! We’ve helped rebuild Black Bridge,
created hidden glades in the woods and protected Hartsholme Lake with
natural, living willow fencing. 12.
Some people love the pink blooms of rhododendrons but at Hospital
Plantation they just cause problems by shading out the woodland
flora. So we got destructive and have removed as many as possible. 13.
Branston Jungle:
Clearing footpaths to maintain access for visitors to this lovely little
reserve. July 2000/June 2001. 14.
Whisby Nature Park is
a large reserve owned and managed by The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
It has a rich mosaic of wetland wildlife habitats, restored from
old gravel workings. Our
work here has included reclaiming grassland from encroaching willow
scrub, tree planting and maintaining the footpaths on the site. …and
away...
15.
Thornton Watlass: An
away weekend on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, where we were working
with BTCV, to protect a footpath from an eroding river bank and also
plant up a hill side with native trees. 16.
Madhyamaka Centre, Kilnwick Percy Hall, nr. Pocklington, Yorkshire: One
of the most peaceful places for a working weekend away helping with the
extensive and lovely gardens and enjoying the hospitality of the
Buddhists who live there. 17.
The Far Ings Nature Reserve
is owned by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and is located on the
southern banks of the Humber near Barton on Humber.
A site for weekend residentials, we have carried out a range of
tasks here including footpath repair, scrub management and even foot rot
control on the resident sheep! 18.
Spurn Point National Nature Reserve
is desolate in winter but clearing spiky sea buckthorn keeps you warm.
The Lincoln Conservation Group have also helped save Spurn Point from
being washed into the sea by constructing wonderful sand dune defences! 19.
Making a new home for an otter gives you a warm glow inside. Our first
otter holt construction task was near Epworth and more are
planned for the near future… 20.
Beneath the dramatic gritstone edge of
Stanage, we constructed
dry stone walls. It may sound simple but dry stone walling is like
putting together a 3-d jigsaw, in which the pieces never quite fit. 21.
Welton Hedge Laying:
An away weekend, although rather close to home it made an excellent
excuse for socialising. We
were working with BTCV to lay a length of hawthorn and blackthorn hedge. 22.
Rainow: An
away weekend in the Peak District staying at the Peak Park Authority
station at Grindleford. We
were working with the Peak Park Rangers to repair an ancient stone built
field drainage system that provides good conditions for a rich
wildflower meadow. A very
muddy but enjoyable job. Lots
of good food too. 23.
Peak District, Derbyshire: A
snowy away weekend
based at the Peak Park Centre at Grindleford. Saturday, clearing
hawthorn from a sloping site near Thornhill to encourage the return of
orchids. Sunday, working at the beautiful Deepdale valley, clearing
hawthorn again, to improve access for the grazing cattle which ensure
perfect conditions for the many wild flowers which grow here. 24.
Clumber Park: We
spent Bonfire weekend at this National Trust site, first helping clear
up after the display, then removing unwanted saplings encroaching on an
open grassland area. We also had an atmospheric walk in the dark to a
local bonfire, and a stroll around the grounds on Sunday afternoon. 25.
Snakeholme Pit: A
butterfly conservation nature reserve with a meadow, pond and areas of
scrub. We were involved in haymaking and step building. 26.
Chambers Farm Wood: A
National Nature Reserve, SSSI and Forest Enterprise Wood. We coppiced
hedges to benefit the Brown Hairstreak butterfly, plus tidying work in
the butterfly garden. 27.
Skellingthorpe Wood: A
regular task site over the years. We carried out the traditional art of
coppicing in this ancient woodland and cleared the bridlepaths to
maintain access. 28.
Skellingthorpe Cycle Track: Part
of the National Cycle Network. We coppiced willows alongside ditches and
ponds. 29.
Besthorpe Nature Reserve:
Working for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust by the River Trent,
coppicing willows to open up and improve the area for Marsh Orchids.
January 2001. 30.
At Kirkstead Mill we’ve cleared scrub, created new pathways and
planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs, but it’s probably the delicious
food provided by the owners of this site that ensures the success of
these tasks. 31.Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve is a
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. It has an extensive range of sand
dunes and salt marshes, and is renown for its bird life. The group has had an away weekend here clearing sea buckthorn
scrub from the sand dunes and has also taken part in national beach
clearance days which involves surveying and clearing up items washed up
on the beach. 32. Digby Corner Nature Reserve: A
small oasis for grassland wildlife within an intensive arable farming
area. We cleared scrub and were involved in grassland management and
haymaking. 33.
Waterhouses, Signal Crayfish Survey:
As part of an away weekend, staying on the western side of the Peak
District. We were working
with the Peak Park Rangers and English Nature to monitor the extent of
an invasion of American crayfish that is causing the loss of our own
native species of crayfish. The
American signal crayfish have escaped from farms. 34.
Moor Closes Nature Reserve:
This is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust wet grassland reserve that is
awash with common spotted orchids and early marsh orchids in late
spring. Our work here was
to count the number of orchids present to contribute to the long term
monitoring of the site. A lovely job on a nice sunny day. 35.
Nottingham Canal: An
away weekend based at the BTCV centre in Burton Joyce, we spent a
hot summer’s weekend clearing reeds from a disused section of the
canal. This was to make an improved wildlife habitat. |