The Yellow Fish Campaign

Posted on 28/07/2016 by committee

Bardey School learning about the Yellow Fish Campaign when years 5 and 6 visited the reserves this summer to learn about the water quality in our local becks. This visit followed on from a practical demonstration in school by The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust on many aspects of caring for our rivers.

The Yellow Fish Campaign is a Government scheme to raise awareness about sources of water pollution and the quality of water in streams, rivers, lakes or ponds. The hope is to put a yellow fish sign alongside all surface water drains to remind people that whatever does down the drain ends up in our streams.

Students suggested ways of publicising the Yellow Fish Campaign

Flora Locale

Posted on 28/07/2016 by committee

In July EKWT ran a course on Managing Woodland for biodiversity and sustainability for Flora Locale. The feedback after the course was excellent. They were extremely impressed at the amount and diversity of management work we have achieved in Elliker and Ox Close Wood.

Attendees of the Flora Locale event examining the management strategies in Ox Close

The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust visit Bardsey Primary Scool

Posted on 06/07/2016 by committee

The East Keswick Wildlife Trust introduced the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust to Bardsey Primary School. The YDRT brought along an Educational River Table which demonstrates the process of how rivers flow and what affects flooding, erosion and pollution. The students will be visiting the Marsh with the EKWT to look at the beck and its flora and the Trust’s surveying methods.

Students at Bardsey school working with the Educational River Table

The local Beaver group visit the Ellikers

Posted on 06/07/2016 by committee

The local Beavers group visited Elliker Wood and Field where they explored, climbed trees and discovered the wide variety of butterflies, bees and wild flowers.

The local Beavers having fun in Elliker Wood

The local Beavers in Elliker Field

Recent Events and Projects

Posted on 04/07/2016 by committee

Photos of recent events and projects. Click on an image to enlarge it.

The Scouts had an evening pulling Balsam in Ox Close Wood

The Scouts produced enormous piles of pulled Balsam

Doncaster Naturalists visited East Keswick to see our Thistle Brromrape and Herb Paris.

The Trust liaises with Natural England: Michelle Dickinson from Natural England inspected the status of Keswick Fitts SSSI

The Trust’s walk to Liz Parr’s Wood near Plumpton was enjoyed by all.

The Summer Bird Survey saw a total of 44 bird species on the day. These included wonderful views of Yellow Hammers and Grey Wagtails.

Yellow Hammer along Moor Lane, photographed by Howard.

Another of the day’s sidelines was this magnificent Emporer Dragonfly

Cutting and raking thick vegetation on the track into the Ellikers.

Controlling Dogs Mercury year 1 after opening the rides in Elliker Wood. We hope cutting and raking will weaken it to prevent it shading out native plants.

Fencing in progress in the Marsh so that livestock can be used later in the year to graze overwhelming vegetation.

Elliker Wood Update

Posted on 02/07/2016 by committee

East Keswick Wildlife Trust is delighted to report that work in Elliker Wood, the new community nature reserve in the heart of East Keswick, is nearly complete. We have opened up the woodland, creating wide tracks through the wood to enhance the habitat for wildlife and also to make access easier.

Looking from Elliker Field through to Elliker Wood

Newly completed fencing and gate at Elliker Wood, East Keswick

Part of this work has been funded by a grant from Green Leeds Limited and a Biffa Award; a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund. We are extremely grateful for their support. Everyone is welcome to visit the reserve at any time and we are always looking for volunteers to join our popular Friday work-parties. For more information, please visit www.ekwt.org.uk. 01937 574140.

East Keswick Wildlife Trust

For Wildlife, For Our Community, For Our Future

Monthly Archives: July 2016