Autumn Talk

Posted on 19/11/2024 by committee

Dan Carne, who has visited us before is giving the Autumn Talk at 7.00pm on ZOOM. “My trip to the wood pastures of Europe and lessons on how we can integrate good practice in a local context”.

Please use this link and passcode to join the meeting

https://zoom.us/j/5641407160?pwd=WSe8Ix7Rpb9VS2kvgOqvTSnXs4TqdZ.1&omn=91935324917

Meeting ID: 564 140 7160

Passcode: Pu47Bd

Dan is an expert ecologist and will be working with the Trust for a year on a part-time basis. He will help the Trust update its reserve management plans. Dan has a background in habitat restoration so will be a valuable addition to our work, especially in the development of Bardsey Fields.

Over the winter months, with Yorkshire Water’s support, we will be breaking out some surface water drains and installing some leaky barriers in Bardsey Fields. This will make the upper part of the field wetter. By providing a more natural pathway for the water this will reduce the flow of water into the beck, improve water quality and help to alleviate flooding downstream. Alongside this we will be planting hedges and some trees across the slope and putting three small woody leaky barriers in the Mill Tale. Together, these actions will help to increase the habitat diversity and biodiversity across the field and the health of the beck below.

If you have any concerns, please contact us at info@ekwt.org.uk

Bardsey Small Mammal Survey Results

Posted on 23/10/2024 by committee

Many thanks to Ann, Robert and some of their colleagues from the Yorkshire Mammal Group who came to Bardsey Fields last weekend to carry out small mammal trapping. This work will give us a baseline for the species of small mammals living there. We laid 50 humane mammal traps on Saturday afternoon, ensuring that any mammals caught had a cosy bed and plenty of food. We then returned on Sunday morning to empty the traps, record and weigh the mammals and then release them safely.

44 people came to set the traps and 50 came to see what had been caught. This was phenomenal as the weather on Sunday morning was very cold and wet!

The children had a great time and were so excited to see whether the traps were closed and what would be inside.

The results of the survey were: 20 woodmice, 6 bank voles and 1 common shrew. This compares with 18 woodmice, 1 bank vole, 1 field vole and 1 common shrew in last years survey.

Family Event at Bardsey Fields – Small mammal trapping, October 19th & 20th

Posted on 03/10/2024 by committee

We will be joined by the Yorkshire Mammal Group to put out humane mammal traps on Saturday 19th October at 4.30pm. The following morning, Sunday 20th October we will meet at 9.30am to open the traps and record, weigh and release whatever we find. On both days we will be meeting outside Bardsey School on Woodacre Lane.

This event is suitable for all ages to attend one or both sessions – a great family event. Please bring stout footwear/wellies as the long grass will be wet. If you would like any more information, please email info@ekwt.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Family Pizza Day Sunday 7th July – Postponed

Posted on 03/07/2024 by committee

We are very sorry to say that we have decided to postpone our Family Day planned for this coming Sunday.

It must be a busy weekend as we have had very few people booking places. As the event takes a lot of preparation and organisation it seems sensible to postpone it.

We are sorry to disappoint those that have booked and we hope to welcome you to another EKWT family event in the Autumn.

Everyone is of course most welcome to visit Ox Close Wood and our other nature reserves at any time.

Photographs from the Children’s Dragonfly Activity Morning

Posted on 25/06/2024 by committee

This event was very well attended and the children enjoyed making models of dragonflies, pond dipping, observing moths and drawing their own wildlife pictures.

Looking at some of the things we found in the pond, including newts

Children’s Dragonfly, Moth and Pond Dipping Morning – Sunday 9th June

Posted on 27/05/2024 by committee

We will be meeting at the woodstore in Elliker Wood at 10.30am. The entrance to Elliker is next to 21, The Paddock, East Keswick.

Activities will include making a dragonfly, looking at the wonderful world of moths, pond dipping and butterfly and wild flower identification. We expect to finish by 1pm. Please bring a drink and a snack.

Booking is required – please send an email with details of your party to info@ekwt.org.uk

We hope to see you there!

Bluebell Walk

Posted on 08/05/2024 by committee

The weather was lovely and we had 25 people who came to see the spectacular spring flowers on the annual bluebell walk.

Wetherby U3A visit to Ox Close Wood

Posted on 08/05/2024 by committee

Wetherby U3A wildlife group visited Ox Close at the end of April. They were treated to the spring flowers and learnt about the management work undertaken in the wood.

Bluebell Walk Wednesday 1st May

Posted on 28/04/2024 by committee

Come and enjoy the beautiful bluebells in Ox Close Wood.

Meet at Crabtree Lane car park at 7pm.

All welcome.

Elliker Family Work Party Update

Posted on 23/03/2024 by committee

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.