At our recent work party we repaired the willow wigwam and the willow tunnel. Thank you to the Fairfield Association for supplying the willow and to Olivia for helping us transport it to the park.
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It just gets more exciting!
Our next work session is Saturday 18 February 2-4. We will be planting some trees and repairing the willow wigwam and tunnel. All welcome!
We will be working in the park on Saturday 21 January from 10.30-12.30. We will be weeding the new hedge and putting down some more wood chips. Then we will plant some trees on Grassy Hill. If we have time time we will do a bit of work in Middlewood or in the Community Garden. We will meet at the south entrance to the park, off Belle Vue Terrace. Please bring your own gloves if you have them. There are a few jobs to do in different parts of the park so we will meet at the shed and do what is interesting
Possible jobs are: a bit of pruning on Crocus Hill, planting some crocus bulbs (maybe near the map board & Community Garden sign), tidying the willow structures ready to add new bits in Spring. and planting a globe thistle in the Community Garden & transplanting the perovskias. New volunteers are always welcome. Meet us at the shed, which is against the wall, and to the left of the driveway from Bowerham Road to the pub On Thursday we started planting the new hedge which runs along the south wall of the park. We planted hawthorn, silver birch, hazel, rowan, dogwood, and wild cherry, which were given to us by The Woodland Trust who support planting of trees and hedges all over the country. To increase the biodiversity of the hedge we have ordered some additional species - crab apple, guelder rose, dog rose, alder buckthorn, blackthorn, field maple - which we will plant in the gaps when they arrive.
Hedges are great sources of food and shelter for insects and birds, and they also serve as "corridors" for many creatures including hedgehogs (obviously!),mice, bats, butterflies and moths. The council flailed the area a couple of weeks ago then we cleared away as much of the bramble (and litter!) as we could. The hedge is planted a little away from the wall to maximise the light for the trees and to give us space to get behind the hedge when we have to tackle the brambles again. Up to now we have been storing our tools in our menbers' attics and garages, but a few months ago we were given money to buy a shed by the Glasdon Charitable Programme. It has taken a while for the shed to be delivered and erected but we have it now and it is such a help. We are really delighted to have somewhere that is secure, convenient and holds all our stuff.
We had our first work session today, after the shed was delivered on Wednesday. Here is a photograph of some of the Friends after we had planted lots of wildflower plugs and foxglove seedlings in the Community Garden. We are very grateful to the Glasdon Charitable Programme for making this possible. The council rangers did some strimming in the park to help the Friends control invasive brambles. They have cleared a space by the Handkerchief trees so it will be much easier to see them when they flower next May and the area by the croquet lawn is looking much better. (photos)
The Sweet Gum / Liquidambar trees near the 53rd Scout Hut are looking their at their best now - lovely autumn colours. (photo) On Saturday we cleared the paths around Parkfield.
Then on Tuesday one of the council's rangers strimmed some of the wildflower areas for us. We've raked up the hay and can now look forward to another lovely display next Summer. The Katsura trees at the top of Crocus Hill (see photo) are starting to give off their lovely Autumn smell - like burnt sugar or candy floss. It's particularly strong in the morning after there's been a dew. The trees in the park are surprising and lovely all year round! We had an excellent Bat Walk on Friday night. Gail Armstrong from North Lancashire Bat Group talked with the children about bats - how they eat, sleep, and find their way around. She brought 4 pipistrelle bats for us to look at. They were rescued after being injured and she is looking after them until they can be released.
At dusk we walked into the Community Garden and watched as bats flew around, and listened to them on the bat detectors that Gail brought for us to use. We had a collection at the end - and raised £20 for the Bat Group. It was a wonderful evening. |