February 20, 2017 by Julian
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
Posted in Willow structures | Tagged Friends of the Fallowfield Loop |
February 5, 2017 by Julian
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
Willow tunnel in progress
Posted in Paths, Willow structures | Tagged Longford Park School | 1 Comment »
January 21, 2017 by Julian
This, our first residential weekend away of 2017, was spent as usual doing some work through the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers. The activity was to remove some encroaching hawthorn from a hillside to preserve an important grassland habitat; energetic work on a steep slope, but that and a bonfire helped to keep the winter chill away!
Volunteer at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Horses
Volunteers at the end of the day
Posted in Grassland, Residential weekends | Tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers |
January 8, 2017 by Julian
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
Posted in Ponds and lakes, Willow structures | Tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB | 1 Comment »
December 11, 2016 by Julian
Today was SACV’s last activity of 2016, and we were out at a new site for us: the Woodland Trust’s Spud Wood in Oughtrington, near Lymm. We were working with the Friends of Spud Wood to help with some coppicing; the cut material will be used in crafts or was left in habitat piles.
A fine final task for 2016, and we concluded our day with our usual annual seasonal get-together. A brazier, roasted chestnuts, mince pies and plenty more besides. Cheers!
Cut wood ready for other uses
A habitat pile
A coppiced tree
Volunteers at work
A coppiced area
Posted in Coppicing, Woodland management | Tagged Friends of Spud Wood, Woodland Trust |
November 20, 2016 by Julian
Today SACV were out in Priory Gardens on behalf of City of Trees. The main activity was the building of a hibernaculum – in this case, one close to a pond which it is hoped will provide a habitat for newts, frogs and slow worms!
Starting work on hibernaculum
Volunteers working on hibernaculum
Hibernaculum
The pond
Posted in Ponds and lakes | Tagged City of Trees, Priory Gardens |
November 6, 2016 by Julian
Today and a fortnight ago (23rd October) we worked with the Friends of the Bowdon Bollin. As well as doing some general tidying and maintenance of hedges we have laid previously, we did some work to open up and allow light to other parts of the footpath and to the riverbank. The original plan had been to work on the installation of two kissing gates but unfortunately this wasn’t possible for logistical reasons – although with luck the kissing gates can be planned for some future Sundays!
Overgrown hedges before starting
Increased light to the footpath and riverbank
After work to clear vegetation
Posted in Hedgelaying, Paths | Tagged Friends of the Bowdon Bollin |
October 9, 2016 by Julian
Today SACV members were out with the Friends of Chorlton Meadows. We haven’t worked on this pond for the past couple of years, but as in 2012 and 2013 our task was to clear some of the reeds and overhanging willow in order to maintain an area of open water. Without this, the pond will continue to close in and silt up, and might gradually cease to be the important habitat it is, including for the variety of birds – such as reed warbler, reed bunting, water rail and willow tit – which can be sighted here.
The pond before
Volunteers getting started
Pond clearance in progress
Volunteers at work 2
Getting started on tree-cutting
Volunteers at work 3
Tree-cutting in progress
The opened pond 1
The opened pond 2
Posted in Ponds and lakes, Reed beds | Tagged Friends of Chorlton Meadows, Mersey Valley |
September 26, 2016 by Julian
This past weekend was our last residential weekend of the year, working with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers as usual, this time on the Pennine Way. On both days we did some footpath maintenance – improving the drainage on parts of the path with the aim of preventing future erosion (both from flooding and from walkers being forced to divert off the route). So plenty of work with spades and mattocks – and some especially enthusiastic digging from a couple of canine volunteers!
Volunteers getting started on the footpath and drainage
Improving the drainage from the path
Re-aligning the path
The improved path and drainage
Maintaining the path
Canine volunteer
Canine volunteer
A well-earned rest
Posted in Paths, Residential weekends | Tagged Peak Park Conservation Volunteers |
September 5, 2016 by Julian
Yesterday SACV got to spend a lovely late summer day helping members of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust at Birch Moss Covert. The task was to make a start on establishing new paths around the reserve; the previous paths were destroyed in recent work done on the site to convert it to wet mossland. Since that work, the CWT have found good signs that water-voles are establishing themselves at the site, which is very good news indeed and increases the reserve’s wildlife importance.
Clearing the path
Tools
Fungi
Clearing the path
Flowering heather
Posted in Paths, Woodland management | Tagged Cheshire Wildlife Trust |
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