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

Brambles in Alexandra Park

October 1, 2023 by Ferret

Our activity for September was some habitat management in Alexandra Park, Whalley Range – our first group visit here. On Sunday 17 September, We were in the north-west section of the park, working in an area thick with bramble, whips and pendulous sedge. Our task was to clear some of the growth to create bays, giving a longer “scalloped” edge to this habitat-rich and wild area. Thanks to all those who came along, including new volunteers, and to the Friends of Alexandra Park for the hosting and the welcome!

Posted in Miscellaneous |

Access ramp at the camp

September 10, 2023 by Ferret

For our August activity, a few of us made it a return visit on the 6th to the developing Hollinwood Scout Camp, where we helped to improve access to one of the camp’s fields with construction of a ramp. We had a warm welcome, as always – many thanks for the plentiful supply of much-needed tea!

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Hollinwood Scout Camp |

Helping heather and hindering balsam

May 25, 2023 by Ferret

On Sunday 14 May we were out with Trafford Wildlife at Birch Moss Covert. We were focussed on two activities: removing bracken from the heather area, and removing invasive Himalayan balsam from within the woodland. The area for the re-establishing of heather at this site is gradually and successfully being expanded, and the annual balsam-pulling has had a positive effect within the woodland where there is now much less of the invader.

Great to be out on an early summer’s day to contribute to these worthwhile efforts!

Posted in Heathland, Invasive species, Woodland management | Tagged Trafford Wildlife |

Longford Park allotment and wildlife garden

March 19, 2023 by Ferret

A mild spring day today, which we spent helping the Friends of Longford Park with various tasks around the border of the community allotment and in the wildlife garden. Thanks to all who came along to help, especially the new volunteers!

Volunteers and the borders of the community allotment

Posted in Community orchard, Wildlife education | Tagged Friends of Longford Park |

Hedgelaying – continued!

February 19, 2023 by Ferret

Today saw us in the same place and doing the same activity as last month. Another great crowd, another excellent day, and not one but two birthdays to celebrate among those taking part!

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged Cheshire East Rangers, Middlewood Way |

Hedgelaying on the Middlewood Way

January 22, 2023 by Ferret

Today was our first activity of 2023 and it was great to be back with Ed, Cheshire East Ranger, on the Middlewood Way. We had a great turn-out with a total of 14 volunteers.

Hedgelaying is an ancient craft that has been practised for centuries, with many regional variations in style and technique. It is the process of partially cutting through and then bending the stems of a line of shrubs or small trees, near ground level, without breaking them, so as to encourage them to produce new growth from the base and create a living fence. In our case today we were doing this using hawthorn – being wary of the thorns! Thank you to Ed for the training and advice, and to all volunteers, both old and new, for doing a stirling job.

We’ll be back on Sunday 19 February 2023 for more of the same – get in touch if you’d like to join in!

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged Cheshire East Rangers, Middlewood Way | 1 Comment »

2022 – short but sweet

January 6, 2023 by Ferret

Well, 2022 passed without much of an update from us. A hedgelaying activity early in the year had to be cancelled due to the weather conditions and then for one reason and another (mainly a shortage of everyone’s availability) we were not out again until November! However, we finished the year with two great Sundays: 13 November at Tegg’s Nose Country Park and 4 December at Spud Wood.

At Tegg’s Nose, we were working in a heathland habitat that is at risk of being overtaken by willow scrub. The rangers are trying to connect up heathland areas at the top of the park and the willow scrub shades out the heather and bilberry causing it to die back. We were blessed with a lovely bright day – perfect for enjoying the great views from this lovely site.

Invasive rhododendron was the problem we were tackling at Spud Wood. As last December, we worked on helping remove this well-established intruder and were able to make a good impact on a decent area. This should go some way to allowing the woodland to become a more diverse woodland habitat in the years ahead.

Naturally, the year ended that evening with a get-together around an outdoor fire (big thanks to Elaine and Dave for arranging), with food and drink aplenty!

We already have our dates arranged for January to March, so we’ll have more going on in 2023!

Volunteers working at Tegg's Nose country park

Posted in Heathland, Invasive species, Woodland management | Tagged Cheshire East Rangers, Friends of Spud Wood, Tegg's Nose Country Park, Woodland Trust |

Rhododendron-clearing at Spud Wood

December 13, 2021 by Ferret

SMCV’s final activity for 2021 yesterday was a day of clearing rhododendron at Spud Wood, on behalf of the Friends group. There was only a small band of volunteers (a few human and one canine) – presumably everyone else was shopping for Christmas, or similar – but we made a good impact on a tract of woodland over-run by rhododendron, and had the pleasure of winter sun filtering through the trees!

Getting started with rhododendron-clearing

Posted in Invasive species, Woodland management | Tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust | 1 Comment »

Hedgelaying in the snow

December 5, 2021 by Ferret

Nothing like getting into the spirit of the season by feeling the snow start to fall, but keeping warm by hedgelaying! That’s what some of us did last Sunday on the Middlewood Way, continuing the stretch of hedge we had worked on four weeks before.

Posted in Hedgelaying | Tagged Cheshire East Rangers, Middlewood Way |

Back…on the Middlewood Way!

November 7, 2021 by Ferret

Last Sunday (31st October) was the group’s first day back in action since the start of COVID, and it was great to be out on the Middlewood Way, taking on some hedgelaying with ranger Ed. Unexpectedly, despite torrential rain before and after the event, there was no rain during our work and even a little sunshine! Big thanks to both the familiar faces and the new volunteers who came along. The section of laid hedge has now opened up views from the Way, and we’ll be back on 28th November to continue the same stretch.