The November work party will be the final one for this year, so we aim to finish the clearance of vegetation from the surroundings of the Hide Pond. We will then move on to removing bramble ‘runners’ from where they are encroaching into grassland habitat. If anyone would prefer to check and clean out the reserve’s nest boxes, or to assist with the bonfire, then that would be welcome.

Repeat notice – On a separate subject, the establishment of a large ‘insect hotel’ or ‘wildlife stack’ on the reserve would be an asset. This could be a good stand-alone project for one or two club members to champion, with the only stipulations being that it should not require submission of a planning application to the local council, should use 100% recycled materials and should require close to zero maintenance. Everything else is open to discussion and imagination – if anyone is keen to take this on then drop me an email initially (see below) or speak to me at the work party/monthly bird walk.

To help out at the next work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 15th November, at 9:30 am. We will finish around lunchtime.

All members are welcome and no previous experience is necessary. Please wear appropriate work clothes, stout shoes, boots or wellies, and gardening gloves or equivalent. Appropriate tools to bring, although some are available, would be hedge clippers/shears, loppers, garden fork or spade, rake. For the nest box cleaning a pair of ‘Marigold’ type household gloves are useful; the reserve has a folding step ladder but a short single section ladder would be more practical.

Organised work parties take place at the Jim Mart reserve on the morning of the third Saturday in every month, except in December. For further information contact Peter Faulkner by email ([email protected]) or by telephone (0784 214 8888).

The October work party will be concentrating on clearing vegetation from the surroundings of the Hide Pond. It will involve pulling up, digging out, cutting down and carting away most of the taller perennials and brambles to return some of the banks to a more open aspect, whilst still leaving some secluded areas. Please note that, for safety reasons, no one should enter the water of the Hide Pond.

On a separate subject, the establishment of a large ‘insect hotel’ or ‘wildlife stack’ on the reserve would be an asset. This could be a good stand-alone project for one or two club members to champion, with the only stipulations being that it should not require submission of a planning application to the local council, should use 100% recycled materials and should require close to zero maintenance. Everything else is open to discussion and imagination – if anyone is keen to take this on then drop me an email initially (see below) or speak to me at the work party.

To help out at the next work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 18th October, at 9:30 am. We will finish around lunchtime.

All members are welcome and no previous experience is necessary. Please wear appropriate work clothes, stout shoes, boots or wellies, and gardening gloves or equivalent. Appropriate tools to bring, although some are available, would be hedge clippers/shears, loppers, garden fork or spade, rake.

Organised work parties take place at the Jim Mart reserve on the morning of the third Saturday in every month, except in December. For further information contact Peter Faulkner by email ([email protected]) or by telephone (0784 214 8888).