Report 28 March 2011
There has just been a new planting of about 60 indigenous tree saplings (hawthorn, cherry, hazel, field maple and holly) to form a hedge between the wooded area on the upper field and the cemetery. (Photos of the planting team are on the photo album page). Two wild service trees have also been planted in the far left corner of the wood. In addition several trees have been planted around the meadow on the lower field and some more as hedging by the fence separating the two fields just above the new connecting gate. Some native flowers, primroses, cowslips and violets have been planted alongside. In the small copse at the bottom of the lower field some wild garlic and bluebells have also been planted. The Environment Committee will continue with these plantings to enhance the borders of the site gradually over time as finances/donations allow.
There is also a lot of frogspawn at the moment in the various ponds scattered around the site. Jeff and Ann's pond on the lower field is teaming with frogspawn and the partial netting seems to have kept off the heron and ducks who have devoured the newborn over the last two years! So it looks like we will have a substantial increase in our frog population this year which is good news as they eat lots of slugs. (which incidentally is the reason why members should not use methaldehyde slug pellets on their plots as they may poison the frogs and birds.)
The site is also teaming with birds, courting/mating/nesting is now in full swing and full use is being made of the numerous nesting boxes on members' plots. There is a separate page on the website which contains the full bird list for the allotment site with links to the RSPB pages so that you can see and hear the birds which have visited us. Two additions this year to the list have been siskins and a coal tit seen on feeders in the lower field. If anyone has some new sighting could they let the secretary know please or put an entry on the blog.
STOP PRESS- Linda Moore (plot 21) has just reported seeing a toad on her plot, so be careful when digging at the moment.
Whitethroat singing away on the lower field today in the sunshine (April 22 2011)