Author Archives: committee

Recent Events and Projects

Posted on by
Reply

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 had an evening pulling Balsam in Ox Close Wood

The Scouts produced enormous piles of pulled Balsam

The Scouts produced enormous piles of pulled Balsam

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

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 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 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.

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.

Yellow Hammer along Moor Lane, photographed by Howard.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 by
Reply

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

Looking from Elliker Field through to Elliker Wood

Newly completed fencing and gate at Elliker Wood, East Keswick

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.Green Leeds LogoBiffa Award logo

 

Hi Tech in the Marsh

Posted on by
Reply

Over the last few years the Marsh becomes very overgrown during the summer months with tall herbage that swamps the more delicate plants such as Marsh Marigold.

The Trust’s present project is to fence the central areas of the Marsh with the purpose of being able to introduce livestock to graze off much of this tall herbage. The fencing is in progress but will take another month or so to complete.

Livestock will include cows, and because they need water, Dan Turner from the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (he gave the talk and last month’s AGM) has installed a hi-tec solar-powered water pump which means that we are neither reliant on a mains water source nor do we have to allow the cows to drink from the stream.IMG_0420The water quality of East Keswick Beck is currently very poor and is one of the YDRT’s targets for water quality improvement. The water pump with its trough means that the cattle do not need to drink from the beck as their feet and heavy body weights cause “poaching” (puddling of the mud) on the bankside which would wash into the beck which would add to the pollution of the beck.20160617_130925

An Event with Flora Locale

Posted on by
Reply

Flora Locale leaflet minimizedOn Wednesday 13th July, the Trust is hosting a workshop for Flora Locale with the purpose of “Managing woodlands to improve biodiversity and sustainability”.

If you wish to attend, it is essential to book. For further information go to the Training section of www.floralocale.org alternatively email at info@floralocale.org.

Meet initially at Greenfields.

Christmas Floods!

Posted on by
Reply

The rain over Christmas Day and Boxing Day caused unprecedented flooding. Locally, the river rose to its highest level in living memory. Last year’s repairs to the bridge appear to have survived although the toilet near the kiln area got flushed away!

The river over the bridge! Shouldn't that be the bridge over the river?

The river over the bridge! Shouldn’t that be the bridge over the river?

View looking through Ox Close Wood looking down from the kiln area towards the river.

View looking through Ox Close Wood looking down from the kiln area towards the river.

Family Work Party

Posted on by
Reply
Creating the clearing in Elliker Wood

Creating the clearing in Elliker Wood

On 28th November 2015, families joined us in The Ellikers to clear an area to allow light to penetrate to ground level to encourage wild flowers to grow and also into which hazel will be planted.

 

Children's dens

Children’s dens

 

While children made dens for themselves and their teddies!

Amazing Progress in Elliker Wood

Posted on by
Reply
Looking down the ride in progress on the east side of Elliker Wood

Looking down the ride in progress on the east side of Elliker Wood

Over the last three months a great effort has gone into creating new habitats in Elliker Wood. Rides have been cleared along the top, bottom and eastern sides, boundaries have been fenced, the old and decaying hedgeline along the eastern side has been laid and pedestrian and vehicular access gates have been installed.

The top ride; complete.

The top ride; complete.

Laying the hedge.

Laying the hedge.

The hedge, laid.

The hedge, laid.

Pedestrian gate in progress

Pedestrian gate in progress.

Gate complete.

Gate complete.

 

 

Work to commence in Elliker Wood

Posted on by
Reply

We expect to commence work in Elliker Wood during October. The aim is to open up the wood to increase the variety of habitats and flora.

Elliker Wood, September 2015

Elliker Wood, September 2015

At the moment inside the wood is very dark with the ground flora consisting almost solely of Dogs Mercury. Starting in the south western corner of the wood, the aim is to create short east-west rides at the top and bottom of the wood linked by a north-south ride along the eastern edge of the wood. We will also remove dead and dying trees, mainly elms, and some of the bushy undergrowth will be thinned. In order to do this a felling licence has been requested and approved.

Most of the work will be funded by a grant from Green Leeds and will be carried out by volunteers and our chain saw contractor. During the winter we will be holding two “Family Work Party” days, one on a Saturday and one on a Sunday, and hope that local people will take the opportunity to visit the reserve and help with some of the work. Keep an eye on the website’s Upcoming Events and the Newsletter for dates.

Elliker Entrance in Flower

Posted on by
Reply

Following the preparations earlier in the year, those seeds that were the earliest to germinate are now in full flower…. Corncockle, Cornflower, Corn Marigold, and Poppy are now in full bloom. It is hoped that even more species will flower next year.

Ground preparation at Elliker entrance in April 2015

Ground preparation at Elliker entrance in April 2015

Elliker entrance.... The first flowers, September 2015

Elliker entrance…. The first flowers, September 2015