Work Day Sunday 9th January 2011

This Sunday we split into two groups, one doing litter picking, and the other concentrating on our 'steps' project. The litter pickers did a good job, collecting 6 bags of litter. The 'steps' gang managed to install 4 steps and cleared various 'trip hazards' and a fallen tree from the path. Quite a large area of overgrown brambles were also cleared alongside one of the ponds as the path was becoming very narrow. Here are a few photos some of the steps.

Also just in case you weren't aware - Several new ponds were dug last year within the park. Without any intervention from anyone, just good old Nature, they've started to fill up. Here are a couple of photos just to prove how wet it's been!

Meeting in the Town Hall Thursday 13th Jan 2011

Our first Town Hall meeting of 2011 is on Thursday 13th January, starting at 7.30 pm and is due to finish by 9.30. Everyone is welcome.

First Work Day of 2011

Our first work day of 2011 is on Sunday 9th January. We look forward to your support ! Meet at the Visitors' Centre in Bedfords Park for a 10 am start.

Work Day Sunday 12th December 2010

As this work day coincided with the EWT Christmas event in the visitors' centre our numbers were reduced slightly as some were 'manning' tables at this event, selling bric a brac and cakes. The rest of us set about clearing a fallen laurel on the bridleway, then on to prune the hawthorn by the dipping platform. After this we spent a couple of hours cutting and moving a couple of fallen trees

from our 'new' footpath. These trees had been dead for years but the weight of the recent snow had caused them to become dangerous as they were right over the footpath where we intend putting in new steps in the near future. Here are a couple of photos taken after our 'clearance'. Prior to this the path would have been potentially dangerous and difficult to walk.

Christmas Event

There will be a Christmas Event at the Visitors' Centre on Sunday 12th December 2010. There will be childrens events, craft activities, craft stalls, mulled drinks, mince pies, cup cakes and much more. This is a FREE event. From 10.00 'til 16.00. Please come along and support the centre.

Birds spotted recently in the park

The following info is from one of our volunteers who is also a keen 'birder' -

I have been giving the park good coverage over the past week (22nd, 23rd, 27th and 28th November). I found a Firecrest in Nursery Wood on 22nd but only obtained poor views on this and next day. Fortunately the bird showed better over the weekend, accompanied by a second bird as well (in the area between EWT car park & bridleway/Nursery). Also many more Goldcrests in the park compared to last year - about 10 in the above area and probably 20 over the whole park (peak count of 5 in the park last winter).
Other recent records of interest include (all November):

Mandarin - A drake standing on the ice with 3 Mallard at dusk on 28th (lake completely iced over).
Little Egret - Lake, 18th and 20th.
Woodcock - 2 over Wildflower Meadow on 23rd.
Little Owl - Wildflower Meadow, 28th.
Meadow Pipit - 14 near Lake on 23rd.
Redwing - 15+ EWT car park on 28th.
Corvid roost estimate on 28th - approx 300 Jackdaw, 150 Rook, 150 Carrion Crow (Deer Park).
Brambling - A female with c35 Chaffinches in Wildflower Meadow, 22nd (but no sign of flock since).
Siskin - 30 feeding in alder near bridleway, 20th.
Lesser Redpoll - Up to 15 at least - usually feeding in birches (since mid-Nov).
Bullfinch - 2 males Damselfly Pond, 28th.
Yellowhammer - singles on 20th and 23rd.

Birds in the park on 14th November

Despite the rain saw a few birds: Woodcock seen briefly in Valley Marsh, 6+ Goldcrest car park area but no firecrest heard, 15+ Redpolls in flight (c150 at Thorndon CP today), 250+ Jackdaws in pre-roost gathering at N.end of Deer Park, plus a pair of Mute Swans back on Lake, arrived sat 13th .