Willow structures

Archive for the ‘Willow structures’ Category

Chorlton Water Park’s willow groynes

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Reed beds, Willow structures, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley on March 1, 2020| 1 Comment »

Today we were back at Chorlton Water Park. There was a good crowd of us so we were able to work on a couple of different things, but mainly some maintenance of the willow groynes at the edge of the lake which we have worked on several times over the years. These groynes are important in preventing erosion of the lakeside and in providing a habitat for birds and for spawning fish.

We also cut encroaching saplings from among the reed beds and used some cut willow to strengthen and maintain the arch by the wildflower area.

Volunteers at work

Willow arch in progress

Cut willow

Loaded trailer

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Willow groynes at Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures, tagged Mersey Valley, RSPB on March 3, 2019| 2 Comments »

Only a hardy few volunteers made it out in today’s rather dreary grey weather. We were working at Chorlton Water Park on willow groynes at the edge of the lake. These groynes provide an important wildlife habitat and help to prevent lakeside erosion.

We harvested willow from an existing groyne on one part of the bank and used that to create a couple more small groynes at the far end of the lake. We also had a chance to see how the groyne we worked on a couple of years ago is now looking very established!

Starting work on willow groyne

Work on willow groyne in progress

Completed willow groyne

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Willow and snow at Tittesworth

Posted in Coppicing, Hedgelaying, Ponds and lakes, Residential weekends, Willow structures, tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers on February 4, 2019| 3 Comments »

For our first weekend away of 2019 we were treated to a a beautiful sunny and snowy landscape on the edge of Tittesworth Reservoir! Working with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers, on Saturday we were coppicing willow in an area being managed as an important habitat for willow tit. Then, on Sunday, we returned to the willow hedge that we began in October 2018, and extended it further along the shore. This barrier, created by a combination of dead hedging and the laying of living willow, is to discourage disturbance by walkers and dogs of an area of the shore important for ground-nesting birds.

Our hedge from October

Volunteers at work – coppicing willow

Coppicing willow

Tittesworth Reservoir by night

Extending our October hedge – getting started

Laying of willow in progress

Volunteers hedging

Volunteers at work

Volunteers at work on willow barrier

The extended hedge

Update, May 2019: Back in the area for another weekend, we were pleased to see our hedge thriving and sprouting well!

Sprouting on our previously laid hedge

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Willow hedge and willow tits

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures, Woodland management, tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers on October 15, 2018| 2 Comments »

This past weekend was our final residential weekend of the year, working for the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers. On Saturday we were on the shores of Tittesworth Reservoir, creating a willow hedge to prevent walkers and dogs from disturbing an area using by ground-nesting birds. On a very wet Sunday we were at a different nearby site, this time enhancing the habitat for willow tits by creating standing deadwood. An excellent trip – in spite of the rain and a recalcitrant fire alarm in our accommodation!

Update, February 2019: we returned to our willow hedge during our first weekend away of 2019, and extended it further along the shore.

Gap to be filled with willow hedge

Volunteers at work 1

Volunteers at work 2

Volunteers at work 3

A dog tests the barrier

The completed willow hedge

Creating willow tit habitats

Creating deadwood for willow tits, and habitat pile

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Completing a willow tunnel

Posted in Paths, Willow structures, tagged Longford Park School on March 19, 2017|

Today we were back at Longford Park School to complete the willow tunnel and path which we started helping with last month. Thanks again to LPS for the warm welcome and hospitality – and especially for the home-made cake!

Completed willow arch and path

Update, 8th June 2017:

Nearly three months on, it’s good to see that the tunnel and dome are developing nicely!

Willow tunnel and dome growing well

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Willow arches in a community orchard

Posted in Willow structures, tagged Friends of the Fallowfield Loop on February 20, 2017|

Yesterday SACV members were out with the Friends of the Fallowfield Loop, working in and around one of the community orchards on the Loop, in Levenshulme. We helped with building two willow arches, using willow harvested from the Loop, and some weeding and general maintenance around the orchard trees was also done. Meanwhile, Incredible Edible Levenshulme were also out, working on their raised beds of herbs and fruit. Many thanks to all helpers!

Cutting willow

Preparing holes for willow arch

Constructing willow arch

Volunteers and the raised beds

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A willow tunnel and path

Posted in Paths, Willow structures, tagged Longford Park School on February 5, 2017| 1 Comment »

Today we had a very warm welcome from Longford Park School, where we were helping with a willow tunnel and arch. The willow was planted a couple of years ago, but work was needed to clear the grass around it and through the tunnel, lay a membrane and woodchip along the path, plant some new willow whips to provide more of a lattice supporting structure, and tie the tunnel in place. And throughout all of that, we were sustained with excellent home-made cake and tea!

The grassy tunnel

About to get started

Work in progress

Grass cleared from the tunnel

Laying membrane and woodchip

Digging trenches for the membrane

Laying membrane and woodchip

Tying in the tunnel

Willow tunnel in progress

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Willow groynes at Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB on January 8, 2017| 1 Comment »

Our first activity of 2017: some work on the willow groynes at Chorlton Water Park! These groynes are important in protecting the banks from erosion and providing a valuable wildlife habitat. There was only a small band of volunteers out today but a pleasant misty winter’s day and some good work done!

Willow groynes

Cut willow in trailer

Volunteers at work

Weaving new groynes

Update, March 2019: While back at Chorlton Water Park we’ve been able to see that the willow groyne is now looking well established!

Established willow groyne

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A wildlife garden continues to develop

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB on April 24, 2016|

Today we were back at Chorlton Water Park to continue work on the new wildlife garden being created here in conjunction with the RSPB. We planted a few wildlife-friendly trees and shrubs and finished building a flowerbed mound where our plantings included flowers such as cowslip and ox-eye daisy. We then helped finish the bog garden around the new pond – and added wetland plants such as marsh marigold, water avens, ragged robin and flowering rush.

It was good to see the willow arch (which we constructed in December) looking healthy and sprouting well, fulfilling its function as the entrance to this developing wildlife area!

Volunteers at work

Volunteer at work

A canine volunteer supervises

Volunteers at work 2

Marsh marigolds etc. in the new bog garden

Cowslips, ox-eye daisies etc.

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Groynes, an arch and seasonal festivities

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB on December 27, 2015| 2 Comments »

A day at Chorlton Water Park on Sunday 13th December marked the end of SACV’s activities for 2015. We worked on maintaining the willow groynes at the edge of the lake, which provide an important habitat for birdlife and spawning fish; using the cut willow, we then created a willow arch which will provide a living entrance to the new wildlife garden being created in conjunction with the RSPB. Then, to finish the day, we had our annual Christmas get-together with plenty of mulled wine and seasonal delights – all of that, plus a 40th birthday to celebrate!