We had a great family work party last Sunday and even had some sunshine after a rainy start. We planted over 200 hazel saplings in the newly coppiced areas which will be a source of early pollen and provide cover.
It was lovely to see such a range of ages working together and we’d like to thank everyone who joined us.
Please join us for a BBQ, to plant trees and join in the children’s events.
We will be planting a variety of trees into our newly coppiced area in Elliker Wood.
Please bring a spade if you have one and food for the barbecue.
The entrance to Elliker Wood is next to 21 The Paddock, in East Keswick.
Hope to see you there.
The date of the Winter Bird survey has been changed from February 25th to Sunday March 24th.
Meet outside St Mary’s Church, Moor Lane East Keswick at 10.00am. Please bring binoculars with you if you have them.
This years AGM will again be held in the Village Hall at 7.00pm.
Following their surveys of residents’ views and the hydrology of Bardsey Fields, Eve and Alice from Leeds University will present their findings.
We have completed the French drain down Fitts Lane. Work on the drain had to be extended by difficulties in sourcing hardcore and by periods of wet weather which meant that it was impossible to transport any hardcore down the lane to fill the ditch.
The photo shows the last tonne of nearly 100 tonnes of limestone hardcore being tipped into the drain; covering the drainage pipe.
The drain feeds into a pond which we hope will be a habitat for aquatic plants and animals.
The drain itself is fed by a number of small springs from the field above. This ground water is relatively warm (the basis for ground source heat pumps for central heating) and it was noticeable that during recent freezing conditions the pond was frozen only around its edges!
Please come along and make a variety of Christmas decorations from natural materials. For ages 5 to 11, £5 per family.
To book a place please email MARIA.EKVH@GMAIL.COM
Thank you to everyone who made the art show weekend so successful. Here is the winning wildlife painting and the winning children’s wildlife drawings.
Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th November 10 – 4pm, East Keswick Village Hall
This year there will be a Wildlife picture section at the Village Art Show, along with other high quality paintings that will be for sale.
There will also be a children’s Wildlife drawing/painting competition, with all the materials provided.
Please come along and visit our stand and enjoy the art, tea and cake!
Hope to see you there.
Tuesday 28th November at East Keswick Village Hall, 7.30pm
Guest Speaker Andy Parkinson
Living Potential Care Farm are restoring an 1850s walled garden and transforming it into a community garden, an asset for all to enjoy. The aim is to start selling fresh organically grown fruit and vegetables by Summer 2024. Andy, the Head Grower, will give a talk on the site’s history and plans for the future.
All are very welcome
This weekend we were joined by Ann and Robert from the Yorkshire Mammal Group to lay 50 humane mammal traps in Bardsey Field. We laid the traps on Saturday afternoon, making sure that any mammals caught had a cosy bed for the night and plenty of food. We then returned on Sunday morning to empty the traps, record and weigh the mammals and then release them safely. The weather was glorious and the event was very well attended. It was lovely to see the children lay the traps and then return the following day, remembering exactly where they were and so excited to see what was inside.
We recorded 1 common shrew, 1 field vole, 1 bank vole and 18 wood mice.
