Trip reports

BROOK MEADOW, NIGHTINGALE WOOD, SOUTH MARSTON

Sunday, 26 August 2007

The big news for this year must be the creation of the five-year plan - all 25 pages of it. And with this plan comes a Forestry Commission budget, so it won't just be theory. Mark Ruff, the FC Wildlife Officer, has taken a particular interest in our site and sees it as a challenge because they don't normally do nature reserves.

In addition to a careful description of the reserve and its ecology, the plan sets out a calendar of conservation programmes; some general maintenance and others one-offs involving heavy machinery. We look forward to improving the access for wheelchairs, cleaning out the dog-dip and removing half of the typha (the remainder is scheduled to go the following year).

As part of the plan we shall organise surveys for various species found in the reserve. Beth Nightingale has, of course, already done an excellent water vole survey and Steve Covey is to check out the dragonflies etc. Should any group member be able to offer non-avian species expertise, we shall be happy to use their talents.

With regard to bird surveys we shall create a special tabular sheet, and this will be made available to all who wish to take part. Incidentally, these surveys will be by simple observation - definitely no Timed Tetrad Visits!

Timber windows planned for the hide have been fitted and more secure locking is now in place on the tool box.

On a recent visit to the reserve to discuss John Ball's next flower-planting seasion we noticed that the metal seed container was askew on its platform. Fearing a previous visit from ne'er-do-wells, we investigated to find an inch or so of water inside. Clearly, the big flood had visited us as well. Fortunately, the seed that we have lost was last year's tailings, and these we hope to replace by a kind donation from a VFA - participating farmer this month.

Finally, we would like to welcome Clive Harris as a new regular volunteer at our work parties. Volunteers, both regular and otherwise, are of great importance to the conservation programme, particularly with the new plan in place. Ray Thatcher