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The snowy conditions this winter have no doubt caused havoc for most
people, and GWT’s Reserve’s department is no exception! We have
suffered enormously, not just because we were unable to access our
reserves to do the thing we like to do most i.e. get outside and
manage land for wildlife, but because we have been forced to spend a
disproportionate amount of time in that most unnatural of unnatural
environments, the office! Luckily February saw a slight break in the
blizzards, which allowed us to make a bid for freedom and fresh air
and get on with some work
As with many other GWT Reserves, February suddenly saw a flurry
activity as we and our contractors decided it was safe enough to
venture out on site without getting caught in a snow drift or
succumbing to hypothermia and the like. Our plans to re-crate
woodland on Wyeswood have come to fruition and I am happy to report
that approximate 6ha or native broad leaf woodland has been planted
out o site. The species mix, which compliments the neighboring
woodland, comprises of sessile oak and ash with field maple, hazel,
cherry, hawthorn and birch. In the years to come, this will provide
invaluable habitat for many of Gwent’s threatened species including
the dormouse, hawfinch, silver-washed fritillary and many more.
In order to allow the trees to establish, Deer
Fencing has been erected around the largest area of planting to
protect them against browsing pressure from fallow deer which are
present in high numbers in the area. Smaller blocks of planting,
nearer Pentwyn Farm, have also been planted at lower stocking rates
to allow for scrubbier habitat to re-generate, of particular value
to bird life.
The only down side to this scheme is the fact that
the planting was originally to be kicked-started by a volunteer tree
planting event. Many of you – as well as volunteers from our
partners the Woodland Trust – responded enthusiastically to our
“call to spades” as it were! Our corporate Wildlife Partner, BAE
systems, who gave a generous donation towards many hundreds of
trees, also committed to sending a large number of volunteers on the
day. We tried on two occasions to organise this event but both had
to be cancelled due to the wintry conditions. Our thanks go to BAE
and all the volunteers for being willing to support the day.
If you were one of the volunteers who was
disappointed the event was cancelled you may wish to volunteer again
up at Wyeswood. A volunteer party meets there once a month on
Sundays to undertake a variety of tasks for which I am always very
grateful and they are looking for new members! If you would like to
know more about this or any aspect of the Wyeswood Common Project,
please get in touch!
Annette Murray
Wyeswood Common Project Officer Annette Murray on 01600 740358 or
amurray@gwentwildlife.org.
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