Task Reports

We are making good progress to the top end of this site, and welcomed several new volunteers to the team today.

Another section of wall was worked on, thanks to Dennis's preparation of the site earlier in the week. stone steps at the top were started to ease access in the open area where a team continued to sieve through the soil to remove as much rubbish and rubble as possible. We are pretty sure the rubbish continues deep into the mound, maybe down to the base of the wall, so we are not attempting to remove it all, just to create a usable space. 

Again we looked after well by the local residents who are continuing to remove rubbish and have designed a simple garden plan for the area. we will return later in the summer to help progress this site further. 

At lunchtime a few volunteers made a trip to the grand opening of Canal Road Greenway. 

15th May 2015The tasks today will include path clearance (especially around the pond), management of the railway line and meadow, digging out the burnt remains of the bench and hopefully replacing it with a homemade one. we may also have some bark to barrow to replenish the paths. 

We judged the date right - there was a good display of apple blossom (the pear and plum had just about finished). However we didn't manage to do a great deal of publicity so we had a quiet day getting on with some essential tasks. We cut under the trees and the grass in general, especially the areas where the ground elder is taking hold. We tended the vegetable beds and planted some onion seedlings. Belverdere was sanded and treated with preservative.

There was a little artistic dabbling, which we will continue at a later date, and there were cake, flapjack and buns eaten and enjoyed. We retreated just after the rain started. There were 35mm of rain over night, which highlighted how lucky we were to have such a nice day.

We are no longer the managers of the Reserve but decided to undertake a little bit of maintenance of the pathways, and at the same time try and 'tidy up' the trees that had been felled under the electricity pylons. We will use some of the timber for charcoal making and some benches. 

We took the opportunity to check on the meadow. We found some Yellow Rattle seedlings growing strongly, but areas of the meadow are being taken over by hogweed. Although we might not be here as regularly this summer we do hope to continue to manage some of the habitats to ensure they continue to provide valuable urban wildlife spaces.

It was a bit chilly today but there were some signs of spring; Willow Warblers, Jays and Chiffchaffs and a small veined white on Lady's Smock.

When we got back to Culture Fusion we planted some veg seeds. Rocket, beetroot and lettuce were planted in the beds, and courgettes, beans, peas and butternut squashes were sown in pots and protected by the cold frame.

Today we concentrated on food growing activities at both Parkside Centre and Culture Fusion.

We started at Parkside Centre; constructing another bed which we filled with veggi compost and planted with strawberries, weeding areas to plant with mint and lemon balm, laying some mulching fabric and covering it with bark to create an easy to manage pathway. We were pleased with the seed germination to date and transplanted some of these as well as adding some sprouted garlic to one of the beds. We all feel pleased with how the space has been transformed into a garden in the last few months.

Before heading back to Culture Fusion for a late lunch a few of us dashed to the Orchard. Once there we decided not to graft the Kidds Orange Red twigs that had been kept dormant in my fridge, but wait until next year when we have a more definite plan. However the visit was not wasted - we enjoyed the pear and plum blossom and 'harvested' the last of the apples from the shed.

Back at base we prepared the growing beds for this season; weeding and topping up with fresh compost. We will plant some seeds next week as we ran out of time today. 

We headed up to Otterburn again today to help Forest of Bradford and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with their end of season planting commitments. We planted hedging plants, mainly Hawthorn and Hazel but also some Guelder Rose, along an old field boundary. This involved climbing into a fenced stretch and digging amongst roots and stones, but the job was completed in time for us to tend to some trees planted last year. This invovled checking all trees were guarded and all stakes were in securely.

We took the opportunity to enjoy the views and the call of the curlews. 

We are continuing to support the local residents group (SYDWIGCRES) take the first steps towards creating a wildlife garden on an overgrown strip of derelict and neglected land. The aim of the SYDWIGCRES Goes Wild project is to turn the area into an oasis of native plant life and an accessible space for local residents, particularly children and young people to enjoy.

Our task over these few days is to clear the site of overgrowth so the site is exposed and a design can be imagined, clear litter and rubbish that has been dumped, and start to repair a section of dry stone wall.

We will be working with the local residents. The site is uneven and the road can get slippery when wet so please make sure you have good strong footwear.

Continuing to support the local residents group (SYDWIGCRES) take the first steps towards creating a wildlife garden on an overgrown strip of derelict and neglected land. The aim of the SYDWIGCRES Goes Wild project is to turn the area into an oasis of native plant life and an accessible space for local residents, particularly children and young people to enjoy.

Our task over the next few days is to clear the site of overgrowth so the site is exposed and a design can be imagined, clear litter and rubbish that has been dumped, and start to repair a section of dry stone wall.

We will be working with the local residents. The site is uneven and the road can get slippery when wet so please make sure you have good strong footwear.

Today we make our first visit to support the local residents group (SYDWIGCRES) take the first steps towards creating a wildlife garden on an overgrown strip of derelict and neglected land. The aim of the SYDWIGCRES Goes Wild project is to turn the area into an oasis of native plant life and an accessible space for local residents, particularly children and young people to enjoy.

Our task over the next few days is to clear the site of overgrowth so the site is exposed and a design can be imagined, clear litter and rubbish that has been dumped, and start to repair a section of dry stone wall.

We will be working with the local residents. The site is uneven and the road can get slippery when wet so please make sure you have good strong footwear.