VOLUNTEER  PROGRAMME

NEWS

 

1. Just to observe that at least four of our local greenspace sites are home to fox families - Bare Lane Station/Great Wood School/Mossgate School/Penhale Woodland.  Evidence remains weak at our other local greenspace sites.

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2. The perimeter woodland at Mossgate School is now being managed for the first time in many a long year, including the extension of a perimeter dead hedge.

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3. At Bare Lane Station where we are Station Adopters, the order for new platform seating has just been completed.  Winter management is now ongoing on the station greenspace.

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4. At Thurnham meadow, scything has been undertaken on the grass, and mowing on the paths to prepare them for winter.

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5. At the Hazelwood bee and butterfly garden, the apple tree has been pruned as part of the ongoing work.  

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6. SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW DUE FOR 2026:  £15 (£10 UNWAGED).  New volunteers welcome - please contact us.

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TASKS  

 

14th December - Bare Lane Station - am  

Fruit tree and hawthorn hedge pruning are the most important jobs for the morning.  A lovely warm job for a December day.

Great Wood - pm

Some woodwork repairs around the pond and woodland work, following the management plan agreed with Lancashire Wildlife Trust.  We need to open some more glades by thinning out the enthusiastic holly.

 

28th December - Torrisholme Barrow

A post-Christmas calorie burn-up removing two of the 30-year-old protective guards we erected around the now well-established trees.  We will also check our newly planted trees and guards to ensure they are growing well.

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11th January 2026 - Penhale, Heysham - am

Our usual winter check in the woodland at Penhale.  Some management work is needed on the trees and clearing overgrown paths, allowing the residents safe access to enjoy the local greenspace.

Mossgate School, Heysham - pm

We had a very successful management day on the well-established, but rather overgrown, perimeter woodland edge.  We can continue to manage this over several years, using any brash to create further dead hedges for wildlife.

 

25th January - White Lund Farm

Hedge planting and management of our existing planting.  If we are successful in obtaining a further donation of young hedge plants, **we will plant alongside a public footpath on the western edge of the farm.  We also need to manage our existing young hedges, weeding and removing guards where no longer necessary.  

**The main funder of The Conservation Volunteers tree/hedge-planting programme is still to confirm if they are funding the programme this season.  A decision is expected by the end of December.