Mersey Valley

Posts Tagged ‘Mersey Valley’

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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Cow field at Chorlton Meadows

Posted in Grassland, Meadows, tagged Friends of Chorlton Meadows, Mersey Valley on December 8, 2019|

For our last activity of 2019, we joined the Friends of Chorlton Meadows, this time to work in an area of grassland which (it is hoped) will return to being used for the grazing of cattle for part of each year from 2020. Careful management and grazing at the right time of the year will help to maintain this important habitat. We continued work already started by the Friends to remove areas of bramble encroaching onto the grassland – and had fine weather until the very end of the day.

Volunteers getting started

Volunteers at work

Volunteer at work

The edge of the field

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Back in a pond at Chorlton Meadows

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Reed beds, tagged Friends of Chorlton Meadows, Mersey Valley on October 7, 2019|

Yesterday we were back in a familiar pond in Chorlton Meadows and with familiar company: members of the Friends of Chorlton Meadows, of course! We’ve worked here several times in the past, and once again were clearing reeds to maintain an important section of open water, in order to keep this habitat as diverse as possible.

Conservation volunteers preparing

Starting work

Conservation volunteers in action

The expanded pond

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Path and steps at Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Paths, Steps, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley on August 18, 2019|

Today we were in action at Chorlton Water Park. We were working first on some path resurfacing following water damage, then repairing two sets of steps.

Volunteers shovelling

Volunteers working on path

Volunteer sawing

Steps in progress

Completed steps

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Steps in Kenworthy Wood

Posted in Steps, tagged Kenworthy Wood, Mersey Valley on July 21, 2019|

Today saw our volunteers visit a new site in south Manchester. We were helping in one of the corners of Kenworthy Wood which lies alongside the complex of motorway junctions hereabouts. It gives quiet access to the meandering River Mersey and useful shortcuts between suburbs and also shelters the thread of the Trans Pennine Trail (National Cycle Network route 62) as it links Southport to Hull via the likes of Chorlton and Didsbury. It’s a great green space with remnants of a small orchard amidst the exuberant summer ovegrowth.
We were helping repair a long flight of wooden steps close to a reedy pond situated deep in a hollow ringed by trees at the edge of town. The task involved scraping back the encroaching grasses and wild flowers which are slowly absorbing this track. All the rotten planks and pegs were levered out and hefted to the side to be taken away. Six new pre-cut planks were inserted and levelled and pegged securely. And finally we wheelbarrowed new hardcore down the steps (carefully!) and tamped it in to seat the planks.
What had been mooted as a two-day task was completed by mid-afternoon including time for a tea break and lunch! A good day with a helpful breeze.

Volunteers working on steps

Volunteers and the finished steps

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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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Wildlife area at Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Wildlife education, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB on April 23, 2017|

The wildlife area at Chorlton Water Park has been developed in conjunction with the RSPB over the last few years, mainly for educational purposes. Today we helped with some maintenance: planting, mulching, laying new woodchip on the paths, and clearing debris from the dipping pond. And there was plenty of spring wildlife to be observed while we were about it!

Volunteer in wildflower garden

Volunteer clearing debris from pond

The weeded and mulched hedge

The path with newly laid woodchip

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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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Pond in Chorlton Meadows

Posted in Ponds and lakes, Reed beds, tagged Friends of Chorlton Meadows, Mersey Valley on October 9, 2016|

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

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Woodland walk at Chorlton Water Park

Posted in Paths, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley on August 23, 2016|

In what is becoming an annual activity, this past Sunday we were out in Chorlton Water Park helping with the maintenance of the woodland walk. We got a good section of the path done, so thanks to those who turned out in what had been looking to be a weekend of variable weather!