Bi Monthly meeting in The Town Hall

Our next meeting is on Thursday 13th May 2010 @ 7.30 pm and finishing @ 9.30 pm. All are wellcome but to ensure seating available please advise us of your intention to come. Phone 01708 704619 or email fobp@hotmail.co.uk .

Sunday 11th April work day

Apologies for this 'report' being late.

This Sunday we cut down, pulled up or dug up oak saplings in the meadow. This may seem to be a bit destructive but if they aren't removed then the grass cannot be cut, and eventually the meadow will return to woodland. In the afternoon we did a litter pick around the main pond area. The litter situation appears to have improved but this is only due to a small number of dedicated people who take time, their own time, to pick up litter whilst walking in the park. So a very big THANKS to those concerned - I won't embarrass them by mentioning names but they and other regular park users/dog walkers know who they are! Just one additional thing to report - towards the end of our day we spotted a RED KITE over the meadow area. It was quite low and could easily be recognised with the naked eye. It flew over towards the east then turned northwards over Nursery Wood.

Our next work day is on Sunday 9th May 2010.

Successful Easter Event

We are very pleased to announce that we made a total of £72.16 on Sunday 4th April at the visitors' centre. We had two tables selling home made cakes and bric-a-brac. Many thanks to all those involved in 'manning' the tables but special thanks go to Carol and Francesca for baking all those wonderfully tasty cakes. Thanks also to Fay at Essex Wildlife Trust for allowing us to have the tables for the day. Fay's cakes were also very nice !

Official 'Friends' Status attained

We were extremely pleased to be told at this year's Parks Forum, that we had successfully achieved official 'Friends' status. Many thanks to our chairman, Nick, for all his hard work in getting the paperwork, and 'us' organised in time to achieve this.

Bird news in Bedfords Park

March migrant news:-

First spring migrants noted in the park - Chiffchaff on 19th March, two Swallows and Willow Warbler on 30th, male Blackcap on 31st.

The wintering Firecrests(3) which were first seen in November 2009, made it through the coldest winter for 30 years and were last seen together on 10th March,with one(the female) remaining to 19th. The two at nearby Havering-atte-Bower were last seen on 14th March.