January Event 2022

Posted on 06/01/2022 by committee

Since the trust took over our new site at Fitts Lane, our Friday volunteer work party has been working hard towards restoring the valuable grassland habitat.

Much of this work has been preparing boundaries; fencing and hedge planting. To provide a much-needed boost to this effort, and to introduce members to the new site, the work being done and what we hope to achieve; this month we are holding two family hedge planting days at the Fitts Lane site in East Keswick (the fields on the footpath to the river from the end of Cleavesty Lane) during January, Sunday 16th and Saturday 22nd.

The days will start at 10am and we will be there as long as we keep going! Any time that can be given is welcomed and contributes to the overall team effort, so please come along at, and for, a time that suits you.

The work itself is great for kids – with tasks suitable for all ages. We find they generally enjoy planting the whips and protecting them with canes and guards – leaving the older ones to dig the holes! And it’s great for them to see the growth of the hedges over the years to follow – something to be proud to have been part of.

We will also take the opportunity to explain the work we are doing there, plans for the site and how the trust use the Dexter cattle for conservation grazing, and (for the kids) the importance of worms! We will also have BBQs lit and available for use – an opportunity to learn about the charcoal making we undertake in Ox Close Woods, whilst you cook some sausages to keep energy levels up.

What you will need:

Gloves
Appropriate clothing and footwear
Your own food to cook on the BBQ (or a packed lunch) and a drink
If possible, a spade

If you need help finding us, you can contact Corinne on 07582 561749 or Thomasin on 07944 951605. It would be helpful if you let us know if you are planning to attend, but not essential.

We will cancel the events if the ground is frozen or there is heavy rain. We will notify people in advance via our Facebook page (search for East Keswick Wildlife Trust) if we do need to cancel.

We hope to see you there!

The Brownies – Summer 2021

Posted on 01/01/2022 by committee

The Brownies have been looking at local charities and one of the sixes, the Imps, made a poster about the EKWT and shared their thoughts with everyone.

Thank you to Brown Owl, Emma.

This photo shows the Brownies at this Summer’s den building challenge.

Lockdown Challenge

Posted on 17/02/2021 by committee

Where the wild things are:

Lockdown challenge!

We’ve created an educational challenge for you all to take part in.

We’ve hidden 30 images of a wide range of wildlife across our four reserves.

Your challenge is to find them. Once you do, you will find a folder close by which contains information sheets about the species you have found. Where to find the wild things:

Ox Close woods: 15 to find
Elliker’s field & wood: 6 to find
Frank Shire’squarry: 4 to find
East Keswick Marsh: 5 to find

On each sheet you will see a key word at the top. The first 10 people to message us all 30 of the key words will each win a tree to plant! This is a great excuse to get out walking enjoying nature, explore our reserves & learn. We ask that you take one sheet per group please, and zip up the folder,- returning it to where it was found. You are welcome to take the sheets home with you, or leave them for others to use if you wish. We would mention also, if you take your dogs along with you to please remember these are nature reserves so to keep them on leads please. If you need any further information, for example where to find some of the reserves please message us. We really hope you enjoy exploring the wild places where we live, remember to leave only footprints..good luck hunting!

Supporting wildlife conservation in your local area has never been more important so please do join the Trust & become a member! You can join at: https://www.ekwt.org.uk/get-involved/membership/

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Weekend Workparty

Posted on 24/11/2019 by committee

For those who are unable to join us on Fridays, on the Sundays of 1st December and 2nd February we will be holding Weekend Workparties. Families included.
Tasks will include hedge planting and making brash piles. Please bring a snack, gloves, suitable clothing and footwear.

Meet in Crabtree Lane car park at 10am. For further information, contact melanie@ekwt.org.uk

The Children’s Event for this Saturday 15th June is full.

Posted on 11/06/2019 by committee

We’re sorry that there are no more places available for this event.

If you have booked, please bring something to sit on.

Dogs in the reserve must be on a short lead at all times.

Many thanks.

Summer Bird Survey

Posted on 10/06/2019 by committee

A small group, six adults and two children, made the usual tour of the parish looking for as many bird species as could be identified; both by sight and call.
It has been very noticeable that there have been very few Swallows this year. They migrate to Britain over the Sahara from South Africa and travel in daylight up to 200 miles a day.
Being such a small bird they are sensitive to changes and can be affected badly by storms, very dry or very wet conditions and food availability. Their reduced numbers have been been noted throughout Europe.
On the other hand, there were a good number of Wrens calling all around the parish. It’s likely that the relatively mild winter has aided their survival rate.

A total of 42 species were identified (in the order they were seen or heard)….

House Sparrow
Robin
Wood Pigeon
Red Kite
Starling
Lapwing
Blackbird
House Martin
Rook
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Swift
Magpie
Chaffinch
Chiff Chaff
Yellow Hammer
Wren
Crow
Buzzard
Pheasant
Long-tailed Tit
Tree Sparrow
Jackdaw
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Swallow
Skylark
Lesser Whitethroat
Pied Wagtail
Mallard
Moorhen
Curlew
Green Woodpecker
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Black-headed Gull
Song Thrush
Reed Bunting
Jay
Great Tit
Blackcap
Greenfinch
Coal Tit

The next (Winter) bird survey will take place in early 2020, the date of which will be arranged this Autumn. Keep an eye on Forthcoming Events above and in the next Newsletter.

Children’s Pizza Event and Charcoal Burn

Posted on 10/09/2018 by committee

The Children’s Pizza Event and Charcoal Burn on 30 June was a great success.
Approximately 50 children arrived with their families and about 90 pizzas were made.

Other activities included painting, willow whittling and clay modelling.

A good day out

Whittling

Children’s drawings

Clay man

Making pizzas

The pizza oven in action

The built up environments of East Keswick benefit birds

Posted on 09/05/2018 by committee

On the 18th February we held our annual winter bird survey and recorded 53 species of birds. No Curlew or Lapwings were seen this year but new for the winter bird survey were Little Owl, Mute Swan and Blackcap. The Blackcap is usually regarded as a summer visitor but, with recent warmer winters, our local birds are able to remain in the area along with others that have migrated southwards from the north.

The RSPB’s State of Nature Report, 2016, states 56% of UK species are in decline. We have found that the built-up areas of our villages their gardens, hedgerows, trees and flowers provide valuable habitats for these declining species. In fact, our ten years of annual bird recording have shown that we have a good variety of bird species in the village. This is in contrast to the surrounding area’s intensively farmed land. Whilst some landowners are sympathetic, modern farming practices provide little in the way of suitable habitat, food or shelter.

2017/18 Winter Bird Survey

Our Summer Bird Survey is on 17th June. Please join us. Check out the Upcoming Events box above.

New hotel opens in East Keswick!

Posted on 09/05/2018 by committee

Over 50 people spent a glorious sunny afternoon on Saturday constructing a bug hotel under the guidance of East Keswick Wildlife Trust.
The event was hosted by East Keswick Methodist Church on Main Street, East Keswick, with the luxury accommodation for insects being built in the garden behind the church. Melanie Smith from East Keswick Wildlife Trust explained the importance of creating suitable habitat so that the vast variety of insects we are lucky enough to have can thrive. The children then used various natural materials to make a five storey, five star hotel for insects.

Melanie said “It was wonderful to see how enthusiastic the children were and we hope they will go home and make similar habitats in their own gardens.”

After the hotel had been built, the families enjoyed refreshments before tackling a nature hunt. The bug hotel is the first event of many in a programme to create a wildlife haven at the rear of the church involving the local community. The next joint event is a wildflower identification walk on 10 June and then, in the Autumn, seeds will be gathered and sown in pots so that young plants are ready to plant out next Spring to create a wildflower garden. Members of the public are most welcome to visit the garden at any time.

Children creating the bug hotel

For future family events please check out the list of Upcoming Events (above), and to view the article in the village newsletter website visit http://www.eastkeswick.org.uk/latest-news/745-new-hotel-opens-for-bugs

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.

East Keswick Wildlife Trust

For Wildlife, For Our Community, For Our Future

Category Archives: Family events