A very successful year for our birdboxes!

Thank you to SGC for the excellent repair to the broken fence. The slope is very slippery at this time of the year.

Our stalwart men have clocked up 77 hours of their time, working to enhance our beautiful open space in the last two months.

There was help arranged by South Glos Council to improve the encroachment of Dogwood and Willow into the wetland area. 

Several areas of Blackthorn, either dead or way past their best, have been cleared. 

Paths have been cleared of fallen leaves.

The stream has been kept clear of leaves and branches. 

Wind damaged trees and branches are an ongoing task.

A new nursery area has been created.

11 saplings including Oak, Rowan and Silver Birch have been planted and maintained. 

Many people have commented on the enhancement these ongoing tasks have made to the valley and we are all very grateful to the guys for their work in all weathers.

‘Our Boys’ have continued to do sterling work to maintain and preserve the valley for our continued enjoyment. 

We thought you may like to see what they have been up to and also what needs to be done going forward.

MAIN ACTIVITIES OVER THE LAST 5 MONTHS

128 hours worked between 10/05/21 and 04/10/21

• A lot of tree damage has taken place. Big willow, small willow, mountain ash etc Fallen timber is in safe places.
• Nettle and bramble management has been popular.
• Keeping the stream clear and dealing with blockages.
• Keeping pond free of timber and Invasive Pennywort
• Keep newish trees and orchard trees weed free
• Visit from Elinor (Open Spaces Volunteer Group Coordinator) on 17/05/21

 CURRENT & FUTURE JOBS THROUGH TO SPRING 2022

• Weed nursery area
• Keep paths clear as leaves fall
• Clear pond of weed and timber
• Coppice /pollard trees along the pond to let in more light. Remove timber and build boundary between church/valley.
• Remove blackthorn in the heavily shaded area opposite the wooden bridge.
• Check/clean etc bird boxes
• Tidy and where necessary relay the hedge to the wetland area.
• Check and replace tree labels, adjust tree ties, consider removing stakes
• Prune fruit trees and trees along the valley floor. Remove dead Winterbourne Plums.
• Space out saplings. Buy more saplings?
• Buy more daffs and snowdrops?
• Remove and or tidy dead trees and drill holes in what remains to create bee posts

You may have noticed that several trees have been cutdown recently or what is technically known as monolithed.

This is because we have ash dieback, a fungal disease, in the Valley.

It kills 95% of the trees that are affected and is sweeping through the UK. The ones that have been felled were near a path or road so it had to be done for safety reasons as branches could fall.

The disease will be more noticeable in the summer as the leaves wilt, turn black and drop off. A full survey will be done later in the year as there are lots of other ash trees which may be diseased.

Where the trees have been cut down it lets more light into the area and opportunist young seedings and saplings will have a chance to grow and fill the space. You will have noticed that the trees in the woods have not been cut to ground level and also that they have a jagged or coronet top which mimics a natural breakage.

Both these things will give more habitats for fungi, insects, plants etc. The main trunk will rot over the coming years but in the meantime it can provide homes for a variety of small creatures and fungi which will in turn provide food for birds, such as woodpeckers, and small animals.

Adhering to South Gloucestershire Council Covid advice and restrictions, our hardworking and dedicated men have over the last few months on a Monday morning, carried out the following:- 

All recently planted trees  (over the last two years) have been weeded tidied and mulched.

The hedge overlooking the wetland has been tidied, repaired, extended and enhanced.

A bird box survey was undertaken. Five new bird boxes were erected. The number and  location of each box has been recorded.

The stream has been cleared  of rubbish, timber etc. Baffles have been repaired.

Snowdrops have been lifted, split  and replanted. Primroses have also been planted. 

Litter has regularly been collected.

Unfortunately the strong winds lately have caused damage to several trees in the valley and along with diseased branches of several other trees they had become unsafe. South Glos sent in a team of tree surgeons over the last two weeks who have done an excellent job of felling and shredding those needing attention. Our thanks to them for an excellent job. 

COME RAIN OR SHINE

Our Three Musketeers were our in quite cold weather this week to tidy up the hedge bordering the east side of the wetland.(see below). This was after they had erected 5 new Bird Boxes. Lucky Birds. More to choose from now. 

Well done guys we are eternaly grateful to you for looking after our special valley.