Conservation Walk

Conservation Walk around Lathkill Dale in the Peak District National Park starting on Sunday 13th May 2012.

April workday

Many of the smaller broken branches from the fallen oak tree were added to the various woodpiles within the wildlife garden at Hall o'the Heath Farm. It may look like a fire, but it will become home for various bugs, beetles and slithery things.

Dave and Chris installing a small stile to provide access into the wet woodland area, to allow monitoring of bird boxes and the other wildlife.  The growing foxglove plants did survive.  The materials were recycled bits of wood from earlier projects.

April Workday

A message from our Chairman ...

"Just a quick reminder that the April workday is this coming Sunday, the 1st April - honest!

 

Various jobs at Hall o'the Heath farm."

See you at 09:00 at Waterloo Road Car Park.

March workday

Message from Colin...

The March workday has had to move to Sunday 11th March.

"The task is to erect two of the large triangular owl nest boxes but fortunately on trees, not on a pole!  I have spoken to a few members and been advised to change the date so, since I am also busy on the previous weekend it will have to go back one week to Sunday 11th March.

 

Hope to see you in the car park as usual then."

 

 

December bonfire and work day

First start a fire using wood from a fallen tree and farmyard rubbish such as coloured binder twine.

Baked potatoes had been prepared by Chris and Dave.  There were options for bacon, cheese and vegetarian, wrapped in foil, cooked at home in the oven, packed into sweet tins (sitting on wire netting).

Then placed into the fire.  The result was excellent crispy bacon wrapped baked potatoes - hot but not burnt.  Add sausage rolls from Alan, Chocolate Fudge from Sarah and lots of cakes from Ron.

Sarah and Ron checking one of the bird boxes next to the Hall o'the Heath orchard. 

The end......

December workday and food

A message from Colin

"Dear all,

I am sure you don't need reminding that it is baked potato Sunday this coming weekend!  I hope we can all attend since there is also a lot of work to do - check all nest boxes + a bit of strimming + a gate post to mend and possibly most important of all I want to take a team photo to help commemorate the winning of the NWIB award.

see you then

Colin"

Hall o'the Heath Pond

During the summer it was noted that the pond at Hall o'the Heath Farm had become overgrown with vegetation to the extent that you could walk across it.  The plan was to dredge half the pond and remove much of the strong growth.  Back in the autumn we had removed a post and wire fence so the cattle should now be able to graze down the the waters edge and keep future growth under control.  During November the pond was cleaned out with an excavator, we are now waiting for more rain to refill to cover the shallow edge of the pond.  In a wet year the water spills over the back edge of the pond through trees and into a drain, these pictures show the lowest level of water for many years after a mild and dry autumn.

HCV North West in Bloom Award

Haslington Conservation Volunteers picked up the Conservation and Environmental Award at the North West in Bloom 2011 in Southport.

Some of the Conservation Volunteers were present at the Haslington Best Kept Garden Awards on Saturday where the award was shared with the village.  [Pete, Ron, Richard, Chris & Dave]

Thanks to Dave for going to the Southport Awards to pick up the trophy.

More of the group with the award during the December work day at Hall o'the Heath Farm.  Colin with the certificate, and Dave Gilbert with the glass. 

Orchard Workday

The October workday took place in the Hall o'the Heath Farm orchard.  Tools provided via Alistair of the Cheshire East Ranger Service.  The plan was to cut back the hedges and overgrown grass and brambles to reduce competition for the fruit trees.  The crop of apples appears to have been quite good this year.

Dave hiding with his hedge trimmer behind one of the very fruitful apple trees.

Fruit on the new apple tree planted this Spring.

Ron gathering the grass and other strimmings to be fed to the waiting cattle.

Julian at work with the brush cutter on the strimmer.

A heavy crop of small apples, most of which will be left for the birds to feed on.

October work and field trip

Message from Ron...

"Hi Everyone,

We have a busy weekend starting with the field trip this Saturday, 1st October.  We'll be heading out to Lathkill Dale to walk the full length of the dale from Moneyash to Haddon and return, a distance of about 8 miles.  Walking boots are recommended.  Please be at Waterloo Road car park for a 9.00am start.

Next day, Sunday, October 2nd is a workday and we'll be at Hall o'the Heath for a general tidy-up of the orchard and hazel copse plus some work on the wildlife garden.  All being well, Alistair will join us.

See you soon,

Ron."

Hazel Tun

The fruit of the hazel ripening.  This forms the symbol for the Haslington Conservation Volunteers and several other Haslington based groups.  The hazel being the probable source of our village name - see the Wikipedia entry for Haslington.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haslington

September workday

The September workday pictures seem to involve members in cages.  First Chris is reducing the undergrowth around an oak tree planted about 15 years ago.  Then Ron ends up in another cage cutting the barbed wire to ensure another oak tree has a chance of a stress free growth for the next 20 plus years. 

Colin and Dave were also busy with a ladder checking on many of the HCV bird boxes nearby - disturbing the odd squirrel.