East Keswick marsh is grazed once again

The marsh in East Keswick is grazed again for the first time in at least twenty five years. Trust volunteers completed fencing the marsh during March and the Dexter cattle which were introduced in May will be there for a short while to reduce the density of the dominant vegetation of Meadowsweet and Great Willow-herb. This will allow the more delicate wildflowers to re-establish themselves. The Marsh was last grazed before the houses of Keswick Grange and Church Drive were built.

Dexters grazing in the Marsh

 

Log Store in Elliker Wood

Work has started on the construction of a log store in Elliker Wood. We plan to move most of the log piles (others are habitat piles) from Elliker Wood and some from Ox Close so that the logs can season for a couple of years under cover before they are used. We intend to start selling logs to the community in the autumn of 2017.

Constructing the log store

Dexter calves in Elliker Field

This Autumn, three Dexter calves have done an excellent job in eating most of the coarse grasses in Elliker Field. this should, hopefully, have the desired effect of allowing the smaller delicate Spring flowers to flourish next year. Only time will tell…..

Additional volunteer work this winter will include reducing the scrub and bramble cover.

Dexter calves in Elliker Field

 

Recent Events and Projects

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

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

 

Family Work Party

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

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

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

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

Elliker Field is finally completed

After delays in obtaining grants and installing the fencing, on Saturday 14th Feb 2015, twenty eight young and old attended the family work party to complete the fencing and hedging in Elliker field so that the field can finally be stocked with cows and sheep.
These animals will do their job of “conservation grazing” which is beneficial to many wild flowers, invertebrates and ground nesting birds by eating last year’s thick grassy sward.
Planting saplings in Elliker field

Planting saplings in Elliker field

Dexter cows in Elliker field

Dexter cows in Elliker field

The animals will stay on the reserve untill late March when the Spring flowers start to appear.

Enthusiasm was not in short supply…. Frank Shire’s field was similarly treated by the youngsters planting a new hedge along the north-eastern edge of this reserve.

Hedge planting in Frank Shire's

Hedge planting in Frank Shire’s

A well earned rest!

A well earned rest!

Further information can be obtained at…                  http://www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk/what_is_conservation_grazing.html