Enhancing the Valley for wildlife and informal recreation
Another full programme from Mark Webster that has four opportunities for improving the ecology of the Valley. On Tuesday 5th and Monday 11th the team will be removing ragwort from the areas grazed by horses in Bowthorpe Southern Park. On the Fridays of the 22nd and 29th the team will be improving conditions for wildflower growth at the Eaton Burial Ground.
The full programme is here.
No tasks in the Yare Valley this month, but a chance to see some other beautiful hidden riversides while balsam pulling. At some locations, where facilities are limited, there will be the opportunity to try out a portable loo that is being trialled. The full programme is here.
Mike Webster writes:
Some MUCH needed rain is falling as I write this, but we won’t let that dampen our spirits as summer ends and spring begins, or so it seems!
Many thanks to all who worked so hard on the construction projects* over the last couple of months: the waymarking trail and handrail at Queen’s Hills are things everyone can all be proud of. I am also glad so many of our volunteers were able to enjoy the jolly trips in May (and we’ve already got ideas for next year lined up!)
Special thanks to all our Easton students this month, it’s been great having them all with us. I know many of you will be leaving us shortly as you courses come to an end, but I understand that some of you might stay for the summer, and some of you may be back next autumn. If you are heading off to new challenges, we all wish you the best of luck for your future careers.
So, looking forward now, it’s that invasive species time of year, as we race against time to stop bracken and Himalayan Balsam from smothering everything in sight (or should that be that everything on site) which gives us the chance to visit some beautiful areas in their prime: balsam is growing all along the lovely Wensum Valley from its upper tributaries to the centre of Norwich, and it’s up to us to stop it from invading the Broads downstream. No less than THREE new sites to explore this month where we will be both hunting balsam and cutting back along pathways so that more people can enjoy these sites (even if they are walking arm-in-arm in flip-flops). Meanwhile bracken is growing all over fascinating heathlands like East Ruston and Mousehold… so keep sending people our way please folks.
The full June Programme is here.
Nothing scheduled for the Yare Valley this month, but plenty of opportunities to volunteer elsewhere with the first shots being fired in the Himalayan Balsam campaign.
Mark Webster writes:
“Well the May blossom (hawthorn flowers) is already out, and now so is your May programme! Given the already-VERY-warm-and-dry weather you may well have cast your clout* already, but there are usually spare waterproofs on the minibus just in case!
Some of you may be surprised (delighted?) by the relative absence of Himalayan Balsam pulling this month, but don’t worry, there will be more of that in June, now that the funding to control this invasive weed has been confirmed for another year: hooray! It’s a job that keeps us off the streets – and onto some lovely stretches of riverside. Instead this month we have waymarker posts to install ( a good task for those of your who want to leave your mark on the landscape, as the recycled plaswood posts are likely to be pretty much eternal). We have also got a lovely long trip to lovely quiet Barmer (a good one for fans of Norfolk’s famous round tower churches), the chance to discover hidden garden heritage in Lowestoft, a free café lunch at the always interesting Blue Boar Lane, plus continuing our stately progress across the superb hidden wetland at Flordon, and a brand new site at Poringland Woods (although some of you may remember it from such courses as our woodland training day a couple of years back).
Oh, and not forgetting our ever-popular Jolly Trips for Volunteers – 5 fun days out as a reward for everyone’s hard work! People don’t have to have been out with us every week to attend, but please don’t make these the first time that anyone comes out with us! Booking is required for these days, either by emailing mark.webster@tcv.org.uk or texting 07740 899 691.
I do hope to some of your clients this coming month.
Mark.
*Ne’er cast your clout till may is out = don’t leave your winter clothes off until the Hawthorn (aka the May Tree) is in bloom.
Join us whenever you can, we do not require any regular commitment to attend.“
The full May Programme is here.
This month is unusual for having no work for the volunteers scheduled in the Valley. What is on offer is free bus travel to other places on the programme. Next month there will be some “jolly trips” for volunteers. Ideas so far include a boat trip, Blickling/Felbrigg, and Sheringham / the North Norfolk Railway, but more ideas are welcome for the usual 5 days of fun. Keith’s monthly letter and programme are here.
The conservation volunteers will be again in the Valley on the Marsh at UEA this month, on Friday 21st. Other work near to the Valley will be at Bunkers Hill on Friday 7th. Bunkers Hill forms part of a green finger that reaches out from the Bowthorpe Marsh in the Valley and in to the developing Bowthorpe residential area, and so has a contribution to make to the ecological network.
Mark usual pun full newsletter and programme is here. Free bus travel to the conservation sites is on offer for Mondays of this month.
Matthew Davies, the Norwich Fringe Project Officer, is warning of a temporary closure of one of the paths on Marston Marsh. It is close to the point known locally as “the golf crossing” Matt writes:
“We will be pollarding some willow trees on Marston Marshes:
The trees are located at the kissing gate which leads onto the hoggin path at the Eaton end of Marston Marshes. what3words /// The simplest way to talk about location”
Signs have been put up locally:
The Conservation Volunteers reach out to some new sites this month, together with no less than three SSSI sites. In the Yare Valley they will be cutting and raking in the UEA reedbeds on Monday the 24th February. A letter from the team Leader, Mark Webster, and the full programme of activities is here.
The conservation volunteers spread their wings still further with half a dozen new sites added to their programme this month. No work planned for the Yare Valley, but plenty of opportunities to become involved elsewhere. The organiser Mark Webster writes: “While the birds are having a rest from breeding, for us it’s full tilt on habitat improvement works over the winter, with a focus on ponds, woodlands and heaths, including three designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) at East Ruston, Swannington Upgate, and Flordon.” His full letter to Volunteers together with the this month’s Programme is here.
All are welcome to come along and get active!
The new Biodiversity Officer and Volunteer Coordinator at the University of East Anglia, Nadia El-Fakhri, is putting together a list of people who would be interested in helping out on conservation work parties at UEA. Her role is new at UEA. It was created to implement the University’s Green Infrastructure Strategy. UEA’s aim is to conserve and improve ecologically important areas on campus for biodiversity and to involve the community in the process.
Nadia says:
“We’ll be working on a few different sites across campus including areas closed to the public such as Bluebell Marsh and Lusty Hills. Tasks this winter will be things like gorse and scrub clearing, tree removal and reed cutting. In the warmer months we’re hoping to do some river bank restoration, ragwort pulling (so we can continue to make hay!) and biodiversity monitoring. All training and equipment is provided and there will of course be hot drinks, treats and socials down the line when we have regular groups established. I’ll be sending an email out with details soon so if anyone would like to be on the contact list please fill in this form.”
Nadia is experienced in conservation work and was previously one of the Yare Valley Meadow Makers (YVMM). If you are interested in giving practical help to improve the ecology of the UEA area of the Yare Valley Green Corridor, please sign up with the UEA Biodiversity Heroes here.
All equipment, PPE and training will be provided and there will be hot drinks, treats and socials down the line when some regular groups are established.
If you have any questions you can email Nadia at n.el-fakhri@uea.ac.uk.