HWT Wilder Hereford Autumn/Winter Newsletter

Forthcoming talks and events:

Final reminder for Saturday October 15th, from 2-4pm, a (free) guided walk around Townsend Farm hosted by ‘RegenBen’, aka Ben Taylor-Davies.

Booking details: Click here

Coppicing is the subject of an online talk with Nic Howes: ‘Coppicing at Queenswood: sustainable management of a wood’ on Wednesday October 19th 7.30-9pm.
Nic will provide an update on the activities of the teams at Queenswood, including the theory of coppicing and adaptations of practice to enhance sustainability and mitigate climate change. Attention will be paid to the importance of coppicing operations, including firewood production and consumption. There will be an opportunity to comment and question.

To book a place on this ZOOM Click here

Looking ahead to November and December, HWT’s Nature Recovery Network Officer, Sam Price will be presenting a double bill on Nature Recovery Networks (NRNs) and Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs).

On November 7th he will give a ZOOM presentation on Local Wildlife Sites across Herefordshire; what they are and how they work. This will be followed by plenty of time for questions and a discussion on how this important national process is developing in Herefordshire.

On Sunday December 4th Sam will follow up with a walk and talk of approximately 2 hours duration in Haugh Woods focussing this time on survey methodology.  Meet at the main Haugh Woods car park for a prompt start at 10am with an expected finish of 12noon.

Booking details for both of these will be on the HWT events page – Click here


Volunteering with HWT:  It’s never too late to start volunteering!

Sarah King, Team Wilder lead, Community Engagement Officer and Volunteer Coordinator, posts some exciting opportunities to engage with nature (and make new friends):

Lugg meadows:
‘Thanks to everyone who joined us for our community meeting about Lugg Meadows nature reserve recently – a small but enthusiastic band of supporters!  David Hutton has recently joined the nature reserves staff team and Lugg Meadows is one of the reserves now under his care. Following the meeting, David is keen to restart a ‘work party’ volunteer group to help look after the site. This will run on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (with possibility of weekend work parties as well).  If you’d be interested in finding out more about joining this group, please contact Sarah King at s.king@herefordshirewt.co.uk

The Lugg Meadows are an historic site – some of the oldest ‘Lammas Meadows’ still traditionally managed with hay cutting and livestock grazing by ‘commoners’.  It is also a wonderful example of an unimproved floodplain meadow with a wonderful array of wildflowers and other wildlife flourishing here, right on the edge of the city.’

          Snakes Head Fritillaries on Lugg meadows 2021 Katherine Beasley

Wyevale work parties

A small work party will be taking place at Wyevale wood on Sunday 16th October to start to plant some wildflower seeds, tidy the paths and a few other odd jobs around the reserve.

If you would like to join the work party please email Sarah King  s.king@herefordshirewt.co.uk 

And Hereford is getting an HWT charity shop at last!

HWT are very excited to announce that the Trust will be opening a shop in Hereford City in October.  Located in Church Street in the heart of the independent quarter, the shop will sell quality second-hand clothes and books (donations welcome!) alongside new items including wildlife-themed gifts, eco household products and the best in nature writing. The staff behind this new venture are Retail Manager Debbie Bean supported by Shop Assistant Cathy Dentist and they’re looking forward to recruiting a new team of volunteers to join them.

The shop will also be a hub for HWT work in Hereford city, so you’ll be able to find out about all the city branch’s projects and events here.

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering or donating at our new shop, please contact Debbie at d.bean@herefordshirewt.co.uk / 07377526321

 

Anne Cottringer, Chair of the City Branch and a dedicated brooks’ volunteer adds her voice to Sarah’s call out for help, including on our Yazor Brooks’ Restoration Project HYBRP

‘Would you like to spend some time outdoors helping to create a better environment for all? The Hereford City Branch is looking for volunteers to join us in our many projects throughout Hereford City: the restoration of the Yazor Brook, our winter tree planting projects, our working parties on local Wildlife Trust reserves and our campaigns to improve and increase Hereford City’s green infrastructure. In 2023 we want to undertake plant and hedgerow surveys – for this City Branch need your help. And if you have any projects of your own that would contribute to the biodiversity of Hereford and its environs, they want to hear from you.’

Please get in touch at: hfdcitybranch@herefordshirewt.co.uk


What else is happening:

Jane Denny reports: Whitecross Hereford High School has great plans to reduce its impact on the Environment whilst educating their students in sustainability.

The school has formed a Climate and Sustainability Steering Group with a remit to enhance the biodiversity of the school grounds with an emphasis on trees and is working with HWT-City to discuss possible options. Plans include the planting of a specimen English Oak tree to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, a mini forest, a hedge along parts of the school boundary and the re-establishment of the vegetable garden.  A ‘tree nursery’ is also on their radar, which would provide an ongoing supply of trees for other schools in the area, with Whitecross Head keen for it to include some ornamental planting and a seating area. Richard Fishbourne from Bugs and Beasties has held a garden design workshop with the students’ group to formulate a plan for the nursery which will replace the World War 1 trench area.  Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, it will be known as The Memorial Garden.

A bit of national news that may not have escaped your notice……

If you’ve not yet read the Government’s New Growth Plan that proposes to remove environmental constraints to facilitate the rapid building of houses, roads, etc – initially in the 38 new Investment Zones across the country, and DEFRA’s change of plans for ELMS (Environmental Management Schemes), read on:

The RSPB and Wildlife Trusts are already up in arms about this and have recently launched a national campaign called #DefendNature: We Need You.

At national level the Wildlife Trusts and their partners are very keen for members to actively support this campaign to stop this assault on nature.  Click here to find out how you can help.

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