Birch on Thurstaton Common

Thurstaston common is a heath land habitat and as such is managed to maintain the rich biodiversity that such "poor" land can support. Left to its own devices it, like most of the land in England would eventually become broadleaf woodland - the first stage of this is invasion by species such as birch. Unless the land can be grazed, voluntary labour is the only way to prevent nature from covering the space with trees leaving species that need light and open spaces nowhere to live / grow.

Last sunday was a beutiful blue skied crisp winters day - working in association with our sister organisation the Chester volunteers, a few of us turned out, and helped clear an area of birch - producing a large pile of wood / brash which I am told will be chipped and disposed of locally.

More rhodi at Shugborough 10 Feb

I missed this day - so here is a brief quote from someonw who was there.

We rhodybashed on the main drive - attacking the very tall overhanging rhody at the end of the drive just before it opens out into the parkland. Beautiful weather - sunshine but cool.

A common conservation task "Rhodi Bashing" 3rd Feb

It is a well known contradiction in "conservation managment" that some of the most popular conservations tasks for volunteers appear to be higly destructive. The prime example of this is "rhodi bashing". The detrimental effects of Rhododendron ponticum on uk wildlife and biodiversity are well documented. Over recent years the public have become better informed and the number of people complaining about this type of work has dropped.

Working on a steep slope with a group of local volunteers at Lyme Park we removed a significant area of "Rhodi", this is only first step, further work by National Trust Staff will allow the regeneration of that area with native broadleaf species. It was windy but the sun shined, a good day for those who didn't believe the weather forcast.

Garden work - a gentle pasttime?

In November 2006, the National Trust aquired the house next to Quarry Bank mill at Styal...

The eight acre garden associated with this house is due to open to the public soon, and a variety of work is going on to prepare for this. Last sunday (27 Jan) we had a turn out of 11 volunteers, who helped remove the remains of a "modern" concrete fence between the house / garden and the mill. Comparatively heavy and hard work, contractors were due on Monday to replace this with something more appropriate.

"Quarry Bank House and garden were built within the confines of Quarry Bank Mill at a time when mill owners were proud to live adjacent to their source of wealth. It was set in the sandstone valley of the River Bollin, which provided power for the Mill and the humidity to help the cotton spinning process."

Postscript - the garden is now officially open - this photo shows the fence that replaced the one we removed