Please contact the office if you are interested in volunteering and we will discuss details.
Task Reports
Conservation Work - Past
Boar’s Well Urban Wildlife Reserve
A team of eight had several tasks to carry out today. We were clearing pathways of leaves and mud, collecting timber to make benches for the Bowling Community Orchard, and a general tidy. We thinned out some willow and bramble and trees from the edge of the pathways.
We were accompanied by several inquisitive robins which made members of the team smile. A local lad passing by said that he had seen lots of foxes in the vicinity.
Bowling Park Community Orchard
Today eleven volunteers undertook a range of winter management tasks. We made a good start to the winter pruning, but still more to do. The privet hedge was cut to allow light into the orchard and some hazel shrubs were moved to give the Fortune tree room to expand.
The Cornus and some willow was cut ready for a winter wreath making session at Bradford College. We continued to weed the patch near Belvedere, ready for planting next year.
There still are apples in storage, let us know if you want some.
Parkside Centre
Hedge laying and litter clearing at the centre again. We are nearing the end of the task.
We have been pleased by positive comments from the centre and local residents.
Parkside Centre,
Today we were continuing with the hedge laying. A lot of litter was cleared and the volunteers carried out preparation work making safe working areas for people to start laying pleachers, and lopping and sawing unsuitable branches with great gusto.
Local people walking by, smiled and thanked the party, as they thought that the public path the hedge was running parallel to, much improved. The staff at the centre commented in a positive manner too.
Lots of pleachers were laid. Apart from some drizzly rain threatening to spoil things in the latter part of the day, everyone seemed to gain a great sense of enjoyment and achievement from all the efforts of the team.
Despite the stirling efforts of the group the task is not finished and we are returning there on Friday 28th to finish off. We will re-schedule the trip to rodley in the New Year.
Parkside Centre
Lower Fields Primary School
A very wet day, but 9 volunteers successfully completed the cutting of the meadow and clearance of vegetation from the pond.
We used both the autoscythe and hand scythes to cut the vegetation, once a few seed heads had been collected to sow elsewhere. The grass was raked off the meadow. This management is undertaken to prevent the build-up of fertility in the soil, which would occur if the plants were to compost in-situ. Grass will become dominant in a fertile soil to the disadvantage of the wildflowers.
Vegetation from the pond is removed to keep some open water for pond-dipping and for the aquatic invertebrates.
BEES Urban Nature Reserve
Tucked away at the very back of Bradford University Halls, and in the shadow of former Park Avenue Football ground, is BEES UNR- a kind of secret wild garden! The yearly task here, was to remove/reduce over-grown aquatic plants from the pond and make space for pond lilies and, to remove all litter from the site.
In order to clean the pond, waders deployed (thigh-high wellies, which were quite fetching!). One felt as though one were on a cat-walk in them! Quite a lot of unwanted plants were removed from the pond, leaving much needed space for aquatic species that need some open water to thrive.
There was quite a lot of litter remove from the site. There was everything but the kitchen sink! From useable children’s toys, drink cans to a vintage commode!
In addition to pond cleaning and litter picking, we also cut over-grown grass from the site, using scythe, sickles and shears. We also pruned branches which were blocking footpaths, under the watchful gaze of Amanda, our plant specialist!
Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area
The main task today was to cut the top areas of wildflower meadow, in order that the flowers continue to thrive amongst the grass. We used the auto scythe to cut the grass and then raked off the arisings to reduce the build-up fertility in the soil.
There was also a substantial amount of litter to collect including four mattresses, a divan base, a tent, sheets and blankets. Thanks to the Clean Team for collecting these items and the numerous bags of litter.
In addition we cleared cut back some over grown hedging and mended the gate on Westcroft Road.
Northcliffe Woods, Shipley,
Our favourite mucky task of the autumn pond management season! The aim of the task is to clear some of the build-up of shale and leaf litter that has fallen or been washed into the pond so that there are some areas of open water during the summer months. It would be ecologically disruptive, and too large a task, to drain the pond and clear out all the sludge, but we were able to dig out a fair amount in one day. It is always a challenge to decide what to do with the removed material – we do not want it to wash straight back in, nor affect surrounding vegetation. We chose to create several piles near by, and within a week we hope the falling leaves will enable them to blend in with the surroundings.
Today 10 BEES and Friends of Northcliffe volunteers were joined by 30 volunteers from ASDA. This enhanced workforce enabled us to tackle the pathways as well. Leaf mould was raked off to help reduce the wet and muddy patches that can cause a problem on the paths in wet weather.
A lovely autumn day and lots achieved. More pictures here.
APPLE DAY Event 12-4pm.
Volunteering roles from 9am to 5.30pm
Our annual celebration event will be slightly different than previous years but still a lot of volunteer roles. Juicing, apple sales, kitchen help as well as help with setting up the marquees and packing up at the end of the day.
We will pick up from Culture Fusion at (time to follow).
Make your own way to the orchard if you plan to come along later.