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Due to adverse weather or unfavourable at best Sunday 30th July Guided Walk has been cancelled.
Phone 01823 421423 if you have any queries
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Fancy Volunteers next practical conservation task day is Tuesday 8th August. Meeting as before, Shutes Farmhouse, Underhill Lane, Staple Fitzpaine (W3W: lower.lighters.origin) for 9:30.
We will be again cutting and raking the bracken. Unless we keep on top of it, it is so invasive and will spread and grow ever more vigorous, blocking out all the other vegetation. It has been encouraging to see where we have cut and raked in previous years, the bracken is more stunted and there is a rich flora underneath just waiting for access to sunlight! The flower meadows have been a treat this year but are now past their flowering prime. So cutting and raking the bracken is an important, worthwhile and rewarding job that does need to be done. Last week there were so many gatekeepers, marbled whites, silver washed fritillaries to be seen, they seem to be coming towards the end of their generation. Do come along and help, just few more hands would make so much difference. As Wardens we having hosting a guided walk for Butterfly Conservation members on Sunday 30th July. In preparation we (with the help of Neroche Conservation Volunteers) have cleared the transect paths of the worst hazards. Weather is currently not too promising, the butterflies are being reluctant to show and the meadow flowers heads have died back.
As our first guided walk we wait in anticipation as to whether anyone attends of not. It would be a great way to get an introduction to what the reserve has to offer across all wildlife forms. Despite no turn out Anna and I managed to cut a third of what desperately needs cutting in the best flower meadow within the Reserve. Some of which we did manage to rake into windrows, the new management technique. Though the forecast was passing showers, it was a very pleasant dry day with a light breeze, perfect for scything! |
AuthorHon Warden of the Butterfly Reserve Archives
May 2024
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