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Posts Tagged ‘RSPB’

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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Updating our chalkboard!

Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged RSPB on October 6, 2017|

Many thanks to conservation volunteer Helen for updating the blackboard we display to passers-by when we’re working on site. The board was originally provided to us by the RSPB but after some years of use was in need of a refresh. Let’s hope it helps to bring in a flood of new volunteers!

Volunteer working on SACV chalkboard

Volunteer with updated SACV chalkboard

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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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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!

Working on the willow groynes

The willow groynes

Working on the willow groynes

Starting the base of the willow arch

Canine volunteer

Working on the willow groynes

Starting the willow arch

Working on the willow arch

Cut willow

The base of the willow arch

Working on the willow arch

The completed willow arch

Mince pies

Brandy snaps

Birthday candles

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“Giving Nature a Home” festival

Posted in Fencing, Ponds and lakes, Reed beds, tagged Chorlton Water Park, Mersey Valley, RSPB on September 7, 2014|

This weekend has been the RSPB‘s Giving Nature a Home Festival in the Mersey Valley. As part of this, SACV volunteers were out in Chorlton Water Park yesterday to undertake a practical conservation task and help those attending the festival see the kind of useful work they can get involved in! The work was to help manage the reed beds in the bay of the lake by cutting back some of the regenerating willow and also to carry out repairs to the chestnut paling which helps to provide the reed beds with some protection from passing dogs.