CURRENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
6 October - 15 December 2019
Website press release - A substantial article with photos, has been printed in the Lancaster and Morecambe Guardians, about our work over the last 35 years. If you haven’t managed to look at it the publication date was September 12th. Work to be proud of.
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Shortlisted for award - The Association of Community Rail Partnerships has shortlisted our group for all the work done at Bare Lane Station. Final decisions are made in October but whatever the results we are very pleased to have had our hard work recognised.
Change from summer to autumn sees a whole different range of interesting work. Woodland management, tree planting and hedgelaying dominate the dormant time of year. Sad to see the end of summer but always exciting to be tackling our autumn and winter projects. We can guarantee projects to keep you warm, hot drinks to keep you going and most of all a very warm welcome.
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If you can come along on any workday, please ring Liz and David. Everyone welcome. We have something for all ages. Pick-ups will be at the Shrimp roundabout, Morecambe, at 9.15am and Royal Lancaster Infirmary bus stop at 9.30am by telephone or email booking only. It helps us make arrangements if we know how many people to expect.
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SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER - BEE AND BUTTERFLY GARDEN, SILVERDALE What a fantastic summer for butterflies and bees. The bee garden at Hazelwood farm, has certainly kept up with the national trend of a ‘Painted Lady’ butterfly year. The Alliums were covered in bees throughout June, July and August so we will certainly plant more of these this autumn. We want to put another path across the garden to help manage the site more easily and continue steps down into the bottom field. The main work will be thinning out some of the more enthusiastic plants but also planting bulbs for next year.
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SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER - BELMOUNT MEADOWS, HEDGELAYING & COPSE HEDGELAYING TRAINING DAY - Booking essential - The start of the hedgelaying season gives us the opportunity to carry on with the hedge adjacent to the meadows on Belmount farm. We will also be working in the small copse which we planted at one end of the meadows, so lots of different jobs for all ages, fitness and skills.
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We look forward to welcoming any new volunteers who want to learn the art of hedgelaying, how to use saws, loppers and edged tools safely and learn about the value of hedgelaying to our wildlife and landscape.
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SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER - a.m. BARE LANE STATION Meet at 9.45am in Station carpark unless being picked up in Lancaster. Time for refreshing our station planters. We will be planting spring bulbs and Hellebores as well as foliage plants to give winter interest. All the time we try to extend the season for our bees and other pollinating insects. A great way to learn what you can do in your own garden, however small. The hedge planted last year also needs a weed to help growth next year.
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p.m. GREAT WOOD SCHOOL, BARE -TREE IDENTIFICATION COURSE Great Wood has a good variety of tree species, so great for recognising our native trees. Once the leaves have dropped, the identification relies more heavily on bark, tree shape and buds. We will also be carrying out our regular woodland management and some pond work. Skills will include the safe use of bowsaws and loppers and being able to do small felling and pruning.
SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER - BELMOUNT FARM, HEDGELAYING Enjoy hedgelaying or want to learn the techniques? Join us for the continuation of our project at Belmount farm. This is a hedge that we planted 20 years ago and it is a good hedge to cut your teeth on. Opportunities for all levels from beginners to those who have done hedgelaying before. This is a hedge surrounding a wet meadow providing a wide range of wildlife habitats.
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SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER a.m. - MOSSGATE SCHOOL, HEYSHAM National Tree week provides a good opportunity to carry out some new planting. Mossgate School have been fortunate in receiving a pack of native trees from the Woodland Trust to plant in their school grounds. This will provide an extension to their small woodland on the edge of the playing fields. Lancaster City Council intend to plant 1 million trees as part of the ‘Northern Forest', so this will be a small contribution to that ultimate aim.
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p.m. - PENHALE WOODLAND, HEYSHAM We will be carrying out ongoing management work in the woodland with some thinning of overgrown sycamores and Rhododendrons. We should also have opportunity to plant some more native trees, particularly oak and hazel, to retain the diverse age structure in the wood.
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SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER - TORRISHOLME BARROW Over a period of 20 years we have planted individual native trees on Torrisholme Barrow. They now make a significant contribution to our local landscape. As the area is grazed, each one requires individual, cattle proof, tree cages which we have become quite expert in constructing. Great for volunteers to do a bit of woodwork and not forgetting planting the oak tree!
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Reminder: We provide tools, work gloves and hot drinks. Please bring a packed lunch.
Wear sensible footwear and bring full waterproofs to ensure both comfort and safety.
Other tasks are in the pipeline so please check the website for late changes.
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