Haslington Conservation Volunteers

December bonfire and work day

2011-12-04T14:03:00.001Z

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

2011-11-30T20:19:00.001Z

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

2011-11-28T14:17:00.000Z

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

2011-10-23T19:10:00.000+01:00

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

2011-10-02T19:13:00.000+01:00

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

2011-10-01T19:24:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-04T19:35:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-04T19:26:00.001+01:00

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.

September workday 4th Sept

2011-08-31T14:25:00.000+01:00

A message from Colin about this weeks HCV task.

"Dear all,

Just a quick reminder that autumn starts on Thursday (although it feels like we have been in it for a few days!) and Sunday is our next workday.

We will be working at John Cowap's Hall Farm checking and adjusting the tree protection around all the trees we have planted, as well as trimming round the edges so that the trees do not get flailed when the hedge is done. If numbers allow I would also like to check as many nest boxes as possible.

Hope to see you all then

best wishes

Colin"

July workday

2011-07-02T21:47:00.000+01:00

A message from project leader Ron

"Hi everyone,

Hoping to see you all this Sunday for our workday. We will meet up as last time at Waterloo Road car park and walk up to Robert's field where we'll planting an oak tree and providing barrier protection. There will be a dead elder to remove to make a gap for the tree barrier.

Regards,

Ron. "

So see you at 09:00 on the car park.

June Workday

2011-06-04T21:54:00.000+01:00

The June workday starts at 09:00 on June 5th 2011.
A message from Ron

"Just to remind you all that this Sunday is a Volunteers workday. We will be in Robert Leech's field fitting a gate on the footpath. We will meet, as usual, on Waterloo Road car park and walk up to the field. Colin will be picking up the gate and post from Hall o'the Heath and the rest of us will use the handcart and take all the necessary tools to the work site. We will need to remove the existing stile and we can make a start on that while Colin is at Hall o'the Heath.

Hope you can all make it."

See you there.

Bird Boxes 2011

2011-04-10T19:20:00.000+01:00

Bird box making at the Zan Industrial Park with the Haslington Conservation Volunteers, April 2011.

Stage 1 was treating the timber with either green or brown fence preservative. The planks were then cut up into appropriate lengths to form a kit of parts for each box. This all happened prior to the Sunday work day.

Holes of either 30 or 32 mm were drilled in the front panel as the sides, base and front were screwed together onto the back piece. The lids are held in position with short narrow strips of wood, to hold the lid squarely in position.

The boxes will need a quick second coat of preservative and they will be ready for sale on the village fun day.

Workday for April 10th

2011-04-08T09:12:00.000+01:00

A message from Colin.

"A quick reminder that the next workday is this coming Sunday, the second Sunday of the month instead of the usual first. The task is to make 20 nest boxes (or as many as possible in the time) ready for sale at the Village fun day in May. All materials have been delivered to Richard at the Zan Works and he and Dave are planning to do some prep work there beforehand.

Ron will almost certainly not be fit enough to attend and I am doubtful. It seems sensible on this occasion to assemble at the Zan Works directly on Sunday so unless you hear anything else on the topic, please be there around 09-00 or just after. "

I will try and be there to open up for 09:00. Richard

February 2011 Workday

2011-02-05T11:46:00.000Z

Message from Ron

"Hi Everyone,

I hope to see you on our next workday which is 6th February. We will be working on the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field, off Waterloo Road. We will meet, as usual, at the car park at 9.00am and then walk down to the site. Colin and Sarah will not be with us and we will be working without a ranger. Christine Redstone from Alsager should be with us mid-morning to collect the coppiced hazel. Hope you can make it.

Regards,

Ron."

January 2011 Crewe Green Church hedge

2011-01-09T11:35:00.000Z

The hedge alongside the churchyard extension at Crewe Green Church has been a project for the HCV for several years. We have layed the hedge to ensure a strong thick barrier from the adjoining farmers field. This year it was time for a severe trim, leaving selected hedgerow trees with sufficient space to grow into maturity.

Our Cheshire East ranger used his chainsaw to cut back the larger branches, whilst Chris trimmed the thinner growth.

The major task was clearing the cut branches from approx 100m of hedge. The waste was moved the area next to the car park and reduced in volume by careful use of the chainsaw.

The view over the Green Gap towards Haslington.

December 2010 Workday

2010-12-05T11:17:00.000Z

The December workday required the collection and disposal of various lumps of fallen branches as part of a tidy up around the orchard at Hall o'the Heath farm. Chris and Dave had prepared baked potatoes that required heating up ready for an early lunch whilst the frost and snow were still around.

Baked Potatoes cooking on our traditional December bonfire.

Visit to Redstone Willows in Alsager

2010-11-19T19:18:00.000Z

Examples of willow work at the Redstone Willows centre in Alsager, in a range of different coloured varieties. Haslington Conservation Volunteers have planted and maintained a hazel copse in Haslington - we were very pleased to find an outlet for our cut hazels in Redstone Willows.

The examaple of willow weaving chosen for us was a Christmas bell. Take a wooden base and insert 6 similar sized lengths of willow in a circle. Start the weaving process - over one and past the next. The rate of incline is adjusted by the alignment of the active strand, as the work spirals upwards.

At all times ensure that you do not knock your mug of coffee of the worktable.

Use of the bodkin to finish off the loop on top of the
bell.

By adjusting the size and number of loops on the top a winged Christmas angel can be formed.

Preparing for the top loop to be added to the bell.A very personal example.

Rare photo of the blog author.

November Tree Planting and Bird Box Survey

2010-11-08T22:09:00.004Z

On a beautifully bright November Sunday the work day for the Haslington Conservation Volunteers involved two tasks. Firstly replacing a dead tree on Park Road and secondly inspecting various bird boxes in an end of season survey.

A pair of Whitebeam's had been planted about 5 years ago either side of the private road from Park Road to Haslington Hall. Unfortunately flooding caused by a blocked field drain resulted in the Southerly tree drowning. The drains have now been cleared and the tree was given a last chance to regrow this past year but unfortunately a replacement was required.

Dead Whitebeam to the South of the road

The northerly tree had survived the flooding to produce an excellent crop of berries for the winter.

The dead tree is cut down and the roots removed before the fresh tree from Siddington is replanted.

Colin is normally to be seen leaning on a spade but on this occasion its our colleague Sarah.

The new tree is safely enclosed in its animal proof enclosure.

Another section of the Haslington Conservation Volunteers set off with extending ladders to check what use had been made in the past year of some of the many bird boxes installed by the group.

Sarah is cleaning out box 34 in an oak tree near to Haslington Hall. As can be seen below the box was stuffed full of grass and root material together with a large quantity of dry dusty soil.

Colin shows the contents of a second box which appears to include chicken feathers in the matrix. The actual egg laying area was tunneled into the nesting material, complete with maggots.

The morning sunshine brought out many walkers including the webmaster of the Haslington Parish website who reports on our activities here. http://www.haslington.org/news/local-news/new-tree-planting.html

Crocus Planting in Haslington

2010-10-10T21:07:00.000+01:00

Haslington Conservation Volunteers helped the Rotary Club of Haslington to plant 400 crocus bulbs on a sunny Sunday morning. The bulb planting is part of the Rotary Polio Eradication project, the purple crocus flowers in the Spring symbolise the little fingers of children who have just received the polio vaccination [a little finger is dipped in purple dye to prove they have been vaccinated]. The picture shows Jan Lewis from the Rotary Club of Haslington along with Haslington Conservation Volunteers Dave Griffen.
The bulbs were planted next to the trees provided by the Haslington Guides last Autumn behind Shelburne Drive. All but two of the trees appear to have had a good year.

Workday Sunday 3rd October 2010

2010-10-02T19:48:00.001+01:00

A message from Ron

"This Sunday is our workday and we will meet as usual at Waterloo Road car park at 9.00am. From there we're going up to Hall o'the Heath. We hope to cut and rake the wildflower meadow but if Dave is unable to cut the meadow for us, we will do some tree planting instead."

Sadly the workday was postponed due to the very heavy rain.

Orchard work Sept 5th

2010-10-02T19:44:00.000+01:00

The orchard at Hall o'the Heath farm developed by the Haslington Conservation Volunteers. ready for its yearly tidy.

The grass and brambles were cut back from the whole area and thrown into the neighbouring fields for the cattle to feast upon.

The volunteer workforce taking a food break of essential biscuits and coffee.

The volunteers with Cheshire East Ranger Alistair.

September Work Day - Sunday 5th

2010-09-02T21:42:00.000+01:00

A message from Ron....
"Just a reminder that this Sunday we'll be back up to Hall o'the Heath to do some tidying up work (strimming and hedge cutting) in the orchard. This will be our first workday with the new ranger, Alistair, and I'm sure we will all make him welcome."

August Work Day at Hazel Copse

2010-08-01T13:14:00.000+01:00

Hazel Copse August 2010. The undergrowth and Hazel have shot up after the recent rain and warm weather. Some more of the Hazel should be ready for coppicing this winter.

Replacement and extra fence posts were required to keep the cattle out of the copse. Dave and Julian use the post driver while Colin in his Dickies work trousers pulls the barbed wire out of the way.

Ron concentrated on reinforcing one of the corner posts that the cattle love to use for scratching.

Chris working on straightening up the leaning posts. The area should now be secure from sheep and cattle ready for the winter.

August Workday - invitation from Ron

2010-07-31T21:09:00.000+01:00

The usual invitation from Ron
"A short note to remind you that this Sunday, 1st August is a workday and we will be repairing the fence round the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field.
Colin and myself had a meeting with the ranger on Tuesday at Hall o'the Heath and we also had a look at the hedge at Crewe Green Church. Colin will fill you in with the details of what was discussed on Sunday.
Hope to see you all at 9.00am on the car park."

HCV Summer Outing 2010 part 2

2010-07-03T23:01:00.001+01:00

Following the visit to Wilmslow, it was then a quick trip over to Teggs Nose Country Park just off the Macclesfield to Buxton Road.

A circular walk from the visitor centre led down towards the lower slopes and back up to the quarry where we regrouped.

Old Quarry machinery.

June work day - Sunday 6th June

2010-06-04T20:28:00.000+01:00

A message from Ron

"We meet again this Sunday when we'll be repairing the fence around the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field. Colin won't be with us due to a prior arrangement with SECOS. Hope you can make it and hope the rain keeps off!

I'd also like to add a plug for my walk on the following Sunday, 13th June, starting at 10.30am from Waterloo Road car park."

May Work Day - Bird Boxes

2010-04-29T22:06:00.003+01:00

A message from Ron

A reminder that this Sunday, 2nd May we will be making bird boxes at Zan. Haslington folk will meet at Waterloo Road car park at 9.00am as usual, people from the Sandbach area meet at Zan for 9.15am.

Let's hope it's a fine day so we can work outside. Look forward to seeing you all.

April work Day - Coppicing

2010-03-28T22:34:00.000+01:00

The April work day took place on 28th March to avoid Easter. Finishing the coppicing work in the Hazel Copse that was started back in February.

The copse was planted about 10 years ago with the intention of coppicing the Hazels on a 10 year rotation. Given how fast they have grown we may now move to a 4 year rotation.

The intention is to leave nice clean cuts near the ground that will produce re-growth during the coming year. We were a little late in the year fininshing the cutting, with sap running from the cuts.

The hazels cut back a couple of years ago are regrowing well.

The coppiced wood was divided into three, larger pieces with interesting shapes will be used for garden furniture, smaller pieces will be used in hazel hurdles, and the remainder was used to reinforce the hedge to keep out the sheep.

The copse after we had finished for the day.

Transport to the willow weavers of Alsager.

Spring Trees

2010-03-27T22:36:00.001Z

Spring Trees in bright sunshine at Hall o'the Heath Farm, Haslington March 2010

March Work Day - Tree Guards March 2010

2010-03-27T22:29:00.001Z

The March task required the construction of a large tree guard around various trees planted at the Hall o'the Heath farm in Haslington. It was a very bright clear morning, with the sun rapidly melting the frozen surface of the fields.

February Work Task 7th Feb 2010

2010-02-03T20:38:00.001Z

Coppicing

A message from Ron

"Just a reminder that Haslington Conservation Volunteers meet this Sunday at 9.00am on Waterloo Road car park. We will not have a ranger with us, Brian having retired, so we will use our own tools. (Please remember to bring gloves). It will be more convenient to walk to Robert Leech's field.

Let coppicing commence, hopefully without too much rain. See you on Sunday."

January 3rd 2010 Work Day

2010-01-01T22:28:00.000Z

Message from Ron regarding this months work day...

"I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. Our first meeting of 2010 is this Sunday - gathering, as usual, at Waterloo Road car park before heading off to Crewe Green Church where we'll be cutting the hedge. This will be our last workday with Brian who is due to retire on the 29th of this month. I know we would like to wish him all the best for the future and thank him for all his help and advice."

This is work on the hedge between the graveyard extension and the open fields that we have worked on in the past. We need to ensure that the trees within the hedge are safely established.

December work day 6th December.

2009-12-02T20:59:00.001Z

A message from Ron.
Hi and an early Merry Christmas to you all,

Don't forget this Sunday we'll be at Hall o' the Heath tidying the hedge and area around the pond. Our resident fire lighter will, hopefully, produce enough hot embers to roast a few potatoes and there should be enough coffee and mince pies to complete the 'feast'. Let's hope the weather is better than last month's!

A nice warm fire from December 2007.

Tree Planting with Haslington Guides

2009-11-26T23:20:00.000Z

On Sunday 22 November the Haslington Conservation Volunteers were joined by the 1st Haslington Guides and their Senior Section to plant a variety of trees.
During a break in the rain we managed to plant three locally grown oak trees together with a pack of 30 smaller specimens to develop a small copse close to Fowle Brook.
The trees included Hazel, Holly, Dogwood, Hawthorne and Dog rose.
Tree warden Colin Lythgoe identifies the small oak, surrounded by the tree planters. If we come back in a few dozen years it might look like the slightly larger specimen growing on Shukers farm behind the group.
The instructions from Ron required us to remove a small area of grass, two spades by two spades, dig over the ground that was uncovered. Then the tree "plug" was popped into a hole in the loosened soil, firmed in and a stake knocked in alongside - missing the roots. Apparently many bare rooted saplings are killed off by exposing the roots to icy or drying winds, so they need to be kept in the plastic bag until the moment of planting. A tree shelter made from corrugated plastic was then placed over the small tree and tied to the stake. The tree shelter stops attacks by rabbits or other small creatures, but also provides an excellent miniature greenhouse environment to encourage growth. Finally the grass that was dug out is placed face down around the tree - this provides some nutrient but also reduces competition with the tree until its roots are re-established.

Guide Leader Joy Hitchen had obtained the 30 small specimens. The tree shelters were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Haslington. Thanks also to Brian from the Cheshire East Rangers and the parents of the Guides.

Winterley Pool Panorama

2009-11-26T23:00:00.000Z

Winterley Pool Interpretative Panel

2009-11-26T22:53:00.003Z

The interpretative panel was the subject of some vandalism during October, this required some minor repair work from Ron and Colin. The panel is now back in a safe condition, but the group are progressing plans to create an new display using more modern printing technology in the near future.

Autumn at Winterley Pool.

October Work Day

2009-10-01T21:24:00.004+01:00

Sunday 4th October 2009.
The October work day for the Haslington Conservation Volunteers will be building bird boxes. If you can meet on the Waterloo Road Car Park at 09:00 or 09:10 at Zan Industrial Park. The work will involve assembling bird box kits that Julie has obtained for us. We will be working in a unit at the Zan Industrial Park in Wheelock.

Mecca

2009-09-18T10:11:00.011+01:00

The second location in Macclesfield to be visited by the Haslington Conservation Volunteers was the private woodland of Mr Raymond Maddock. The area known as Mecca, a former equestrian centre contained trees in a variety of settings.
Hornbeam to provide shelter for sheep in a small pit left over from clay extraction. Colin points to a young example of Hornbeam.

Ray discussed the practical aspects of maintaining woodland, cycles of thinning out young trees - which were then used as fuel for his wood burning stove. Having identified the trees to be removed, all the branches up to head height would be removed and the brash cleared away. This would leave the ground clear when the trees were then felled and cut up, if a tree falls in the wrong direction it is quicker and safer if the ground is clear. In areas where the thinning has taken place the undergrowth rapidly moves in again, providing a cycle of habitats within the wood. Small glades have been left within the woodland to provide light and access - a favourite area to see butterflies, or resting members of the HCV.

Ray had been able to buy many of his thousands of trees from sales at Chelford Market, he became the buyer of last resort where sellers did not want to take their stock home again; this has resulted in a very mixed selection of specimens.
The woodland runs down of reclaimed land towards the Macclesfield canal. This pond full of rushes and reeds is fed from the wood and spills over into the canal.

Teggs Nose Country Park

2009-09-18T09:53:00.009+01:00

The Haslington Conservation Volunteers 2009 educational visits took us to two locations near Macclesfield. The first was to Teggs Nose Country Park to look at the variety of trees around the reservoir.

The old Hornbeam with its twisted trunk and branches may be made up from more than one tree. In times past owners sometimes planted more than one tree in the same hole to act as boundary markers for their land.

Teggs Nose has been the site of a quarry, the overburden and waste was pushed over the top of the hill forming scree slopes and areas of deeper soil - attracting varying plant life.

September workday

2009-09-04T03:58:00.002+01:00

Ron's monthly message....
"Here we are at the start of another month. This Sunday we will be working at Hall o'the Heath replacing damaged tree barriers and, if time allows, removing some ragwort from the wildflower area. I would also like to remind you of the forthcoming trip on Sunday, 13th September. We will finalise the details this Sunday.

Let's hope the weather has improved by the weekend. Look forward to seeing you at the usual time on Sunday morning."
Sunday 6th September 09:00

August Workday

2009-07-29T10:40:00.003+01:00

A message from Ron....
Another month has passed and we have a workday this Sunday. We will be putting up a barn owl box at Hall o'the Heath. Unfortunately, Brian will not be able to join us. We might have a replacement ranger but I am sure we can cope on our own if necessary.

The Barn Owl Box came pre-assembled, but needed to be firmly bracketed to the top of a reclaimed telegraph pole. Farmer Dave Gilbert appeared to have a selection of poles in stock so we chose one that would leave the box about 5m above ground level.

The box and pole was taken from the assembly yard using the farm mucking out tractor down to a site between two fields. This is the second large owl box that the HCV have installed on the Hall o'the Heath farm; the first being in the wildlife garden near the pond. The new box will be visible from the Haslington Circular Walk route.

Haslington Hall and the Women’s Institute

2009-07-12T22:26:00.006+01:00

Haslington Hall and the Women’s Institute

Whilst Colin Lythgoe was compiling the Haslington Walks leaflet produced by Haslington Conservation Volunteers in 2008 he noticed what seemed likely to be an error in the association between Haslington Hall and the founding of the Women’s Institute - this had been repeated in many leaflets and guides about Haslington. Reasearch by Colin and his sister should now provide a definitive response.

HASLINGTON HALL AND THE WI: CORRECTING A POPULAR ERROR

There is a popular misconception concerning Haslington Hall and the founding of the Women’s Institute Movement. This is that the founder of the WIs was Mrs Watts, the wife of Colonel Humphrey Watts who lived at Haslington Hall. This is not correct.

The Women’s Institute movement was founded in Britain in 1915 by Mrs Margaret Rose “Madge” Watt. The first President and founding member of Haslington and Crewe Green WI in 1944 was Mrs Lillian Watts.

The origin of this error is not known but given the similarity of the names and the connections with the WI it is easy to understand how it could start. It has been repeated many times and is included in several local leaflets on Haslington; in information at a County level e.g. About in North West England: Haslington; “Haslington Hall is … Notable more recent residents include Margaret Rose Watt, who was influential in establishing Women's Institutes, Air Commodore Dame Felicity Peake, the first director of the Women's Royal Air Force … “ and is even included at a national level e.g. Wikipedia “Haslington Hall: … Previous residents include Margaret Rose Watt, who played an important part in setting up Women's Institutes in UK. She was a Canadian who lived in England between 1913 and 1919.”

Margaret Rose Robertson was born in Ontario, Canada, married Dr Alfred Watt and moved to Victoria, British Columbia. She was a leading figure in the local Women’s Institute, a movement which had started in Canada in 1897. When Dr Watt died in 1913 Mrs Watt and her two sons moved to England to provide for their education. With her she took her devotion to the Women's Institute. At the outbreak of World War I, she realized what a benefit a rural women's organization could be to England. With a small group of like-minded women, she interested the Department of Agriculture in London. When the first Women's Institute was established at LlanfairPG, Anglesey on 16th September 1915, it was patterned on the style of the groups in British Columbia. Mrs Watt strongly favoured the idea of having an international body for rural women. She campaigned for this from 1919 until 1933 when the Associated Country Women of the World came into being. She was elected President, a role she fulfilled until 1947. During this time Mrs Watt travelled the world spreading the word about Women’s Institutes. She died in Montreal in 1948.

Stephanie Lillian Clegg was born in Wilmslow in 1905. In 1930 she married Colonel Humphrey Watts, becoming his second wife. When the Haslington and Crewe Green branch of the Women’s Institute was founded on 17th September 1944 Lillian Watts was the first President. Colonel Humphrey Watts was a senior partner in the prosperous family textile firm in Manchester but his real loves were the theatre and the Territorial Army. He served in France with the Cheshire Regiment in the 1914-18 war and in 1930 was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. When he returned from France in 1919 he bought Haslington Hall. He married his first wife, Gladys Ethel Mary Parkes in 1907 and they divorced around 1926. They had two children and the second child was Felicity Hyde Watts. Born on 1st May 1913 at Cheadle Hulme, she spent much of her youth at Haslington Hall. After a distinguished career in World War II, she became the first Director of the Women's Royal Air Force when it was formed in 1949, when she was Air Commodore Dame Felicity Peake.

Colin Lythgoe 01270 Crewe 582642, 11 Waterloo Road, Haslington, CW1 5TF

July work day

2009-07-12T22:05:00.004+01:00

The July workday involved clearing footpaths around the Hall o'the Heath pond and wildflower garden.
Chris Strimming Ron clipping the grass around the exhibits in the wild garden.

Dave clearing grass away.

A surviving teasel in the recently planted area of saplings. All the grass was passed over the fence for the eager cattle to consume.

July workday - 5th July

2009-07-02T09:31:00.001+01:00

Message from Ron

It's coming up to our first Sunday in the month meeting. We will be up at Hall o'the Heath doing various jobs. We need to finish off the two gates, tidy and do some work on the wildlife garden ready for the Brownie group's visit this month. Also, we'll be working along the footpath through the wildflower area and clearing around the kissing gates. So, we will need Brian to provide us with strimmers, two if possible. I will bring a couple of pairs of shears.

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Let's hope it's a bit cooler by then!

Regards,

Ron.

Midsummer Walk

2009-06-21T13:36:00.006+01:00

Ron organised a walk on Midsummer's Day along parts of the Haslington Circular Walk and the Conservation Walk.
Leaving Haslington Hall and heading for the hills.

The end of the road..

Stile entering Stockton Farm

Wildflower meadow at Hall o'the Heath Farm.

Cattle grazing at Hall o'the Heath Farm

New Calves.

Midsummer Walk with Ron

2009-06-20T11:18:00.003+01:00

Ron sends a reminder that he is leading a Midsummer's walk on the Haslington Circular Walk route on Sunday, 21st starting at 10.30am from Waterloo Road car park. The walk is featured in the Cheshire East Open Air programme. The route is 4miles/6km and should be back at Waterloo Road for 13:00.
Some cycle parking available at the start of the walk.

Gates installed at Hall o'the Heath

2009-06-13T07:39:00.007+01:00

The June work day required the installation of three gates at the Hall o'the Heath farm. The gates will provide us with access to the Wildlife Garden and new area of trees for maintenance.

Expert use of the spoons.

Daily Green Tip

2009-06-13T07:24:00.001+01:00

A site with daily Green Tips....

http://www.squidoo.com/GreenTip

June Work Day

2009-06-05T09:53:00.002+01:00

Sunday 7th June 09:00 starting from the Waterloo Road car park.

A quick note from Ron highlighting this Sunday's Conservation Volunteers work day

"We will be back at Hall o'the Heath to fit two small wooden gates and to tidy up the fencing and gate on the hazel coppice.

Look forward to seeing you, come rain or come shine."

Winterley Pool - Display Board

2009-05-25T19:10:00.006+01:00

Ron and Colin have been busy performing their annual refurbishment of the Winterley Pool interpretive panel. This year in addition to the repainting of the woodwork a replacement plastic sheet has been installed - resulting in a much clearer view of the details of "Dawn to Dusk at Winterley Pool".

Following the Bank Holiday weekend feeding there were one or two wildfowl still able to float.

Village Day 2009

2009-05-18T19:44:00.004+01:00

The Haslington Conservation Volunteers had their usual stand on the village green on Saturday. Sheltering under a gazebo that was tied to a tree shelter due to the strong winds. The display included leaflets for the groups circular walk and the Open Air guide 2009 from the Cheshire East Rangers. Bird identification charts were available that would cover most of the common local feathered wildlife.
Ron had also provided a couple of bird boxes – if you would like one they are available for £8 – you can install them at home or we can fix them up in either the nature area on Primrose Avenue or on the circular walk route.

New Kissing Gate onto Holmshaw Lane

2009-05-03T12:03:00.014+01:00

To Install a Kissing Gate
Start with a wobbly wooden stile, this one is where the Haslington Circular Walk meets Holmshaw Lane. The stile was not that old but appeared to have been hit by a vehicle and was unstable.

The kissing gate is made from galvanised steel and arrives in three pieces on the back of Brian’s trailer.

Having removed the stile, the gap in the hedge needed to be widened slightly.

The ground needed levelling and holes digging for the three deep supports and the crossbar under the gate opening. The ground was mainly sandy apart from one hole into clay that required the crow bar to loosen the ground up.

Once the frame is considered level, the holes can then be filled and the ground compacted.

The team from Haslington Conservation Volunteers, with Brian from the Cheshire East Ranger Service.

The finished gate, ready to find the way back home?

Dates for work days

2009-04-13T20:09:00.002+01:00

Dates for work days are displayed in the notice board on the side of the Red Cross building on Waterloo Road car park.
Generally meetings start at 09:00 on the first Sunday of each month.

Summer at the Hall o'the Heath Pond

2009-04-11T10:15:00.005+01:00

Early Summer
July 2009

July 2004

Springtime at Hall o'the Heath Pond

2009-04-11T10:09:00.007+01:00

As Winter moves into Spring, plants start to revive and the first flowers arrive.
March 2004
April 2009

May 2008

Hall o'the Heath Pond

2009-04-11T09:13:00.009+01:00

One of the most important habitats that the HCV have worked with is the pond at the Hall o'the Heath Farm. I have taken pictures there at various times through the year.

Starting with Winter in November 2003.

December 2003

January 2008

February 2009

Hall o'the Heath Farm

2009-04-10T21:53:00.004+01:00

Much of work undertaken by the HCV is around the Hall o'the Heath farm off Holmshaw Lane in Haslington. This can be reached by using parish footpaths 4, 5 or 35.