News | SMCV | A voluntary conservation group working in and around south Manchester, England

Community orchard on the Fallowfield Loop

February 17, 2013 by Julian

Today SACV were out, together with the Friends of the Fallowfield Loop, doing preparation work for a new community orchard on the Loop. Today the planting holes were dug and prepared with compost, and we’ll be back at the site to help with the planting of the orchard in four weeks’ time, on Sunday 17th March. In addition to the orchard work, preparation for a new boundary hedge on the corner of Sherwood Street and Wellington Road was carried out. As the pictures show, it was a perfect sunny spring day to be out volunteering!

Work on the orchard site

Preparing a hole for planting

Preparing the site of the boundary hedge

Posted in Community orchard | Tagged Friends of the Fallowfield Loop |

Hedgelaying at Alderley Edge

January 13, 2013 by Julian

On a cold but bright winter’s day, what better way to spend it than by getting out for SACV’s first event of the year? Well that’s what some of us did today – and we were hedgelaying for the National Trust at Alderley Edge. A very satisfying task, with plenty of interested passers-by, and a warming fire to get us through our lunch break!

SACV - Alderley Edge hedgelaying 13-01-2013 12-20-42

SACV - Alderley Edge hedgelaying 13-01-2013 12-21-32

SACV - Alderley Edge hedgelaying 13-01-2013 14-54-22

SACV - Alderley Edge hedgelaying 13-01-2013 12-22-20

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SACV - Alderley Edge hedgelaying 13-01-2013 14-47-23

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged Alderley Edge, National Trust |

Reed beds at Chorlton Water Park

December 13, 2012 by Julian

Sunday 9th December saw SACV’s last event of 2012. Thirteen of us turned out to help the Mersey Valley Wardens with work on the reed beds at Chorlton Water Park – to help maintain this important habitat by removing encroaching trees. The wintry task had its reward afterwards in our annual SACV seasonal get-together with mulled wine, mince pies and a roaring brazier (all courtesy of Elaine). Merry Christmas!

1 - SACV - reed beds in Chorlton Water Park

2 - SACV - reed beds in Chorlton Water Park

3 - SACV - reed beds in Chorlton Water Park

4 - SACV - reed beds in Chorlton Water Park

5 - SACV - reed beds in Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Reed beds | Tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley |

Hedgelaying by the Bowdon Bollin

November 18, 2012 by Julian

Last Sunday SACV members joined the Friends of the Bowdon Bollin to help them in their work to maintain and enhance the footpath along the Bollin. The task – on a lovely bright November day – was to get stuck into some hedgelaying.

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged Friends of the Bowdon Bollin |

Path maintenance at Lower Moss Wood

October 28, 2012 by Julian

Today SACV volunteers returned to Lower Moss Wood and did some work on the main path, which was becoming overgrown in places. By cutting back brambles and coppicing some of the smaller trees along the edge, the path was widened out to improve access.

Posted in Paths | Tagged Lower Moss Wood |

Coppicing at Sale Water Park

October 14, 2012 by Julian

In today’s lovely autumn weather, SACV volunteers worked for the Mersey Valley Wardens at Sale Water Park in the willow coppice. The willow here had not been coppiced for some time, but after a few hours’ work we had made a lot of progress: the space was a lot clearer, the brightness of the lovely October day was breaking through, and the willow is ready for sprouting again! All being well a good local use will be found for the cut material.

Posted in Coppicing | Tagged Mersey Valley, Sale Water Park |

Fencing on the Pennine Way

September 30, 2012 by Julian

SACV spent this weekend in the Peak District helping the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers with fence repair work on the Pennine Way above Edale. Despite a bleak forecast of plenty of heavy rain, it stayed dry over both days to give us a very satisfying weekend!

SACV - fence work on the Pennine Way 2012-09-29 ii

SACV - fence work on the Pennine Way 2012-09-29 iii

SACV - fence work on the Pennine Way 2012-09-29

Posted in Fencing, Residential weekends | Tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers |

Pond work at Chorlton Meadows

September 2, 2012 by Julian

Today SACV worked with the Friends of Chorlton Meadows to help restore an important pond habitat. The pond had become overgrown with reeds, and the banks with Himalayan balsam; the work was to clear some of this to restore some areas of open water.