News archive

March 2009

Friday, 13 March 2009

Volunteers gathering reed

Volunteer Work Parties

Volunteer work parties

March 19th
Provision of bench and willow shelter along visitor trail
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616

March 26th
Birch clearance along the moss edge in the 'railway fields'
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616


April 2nd
Repairs to the marsh fence on the Solway
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616

April 9th
Reed planting to provide screening along the visitor trail
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616

April 16th
Reed planting to provide screening along the visitor trail
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616

April 23rd
Snipe surveying on the wet grassland at Rogersceugh
Meet at the lane end opposite Glasson Moss
NY230 600

April 30th
Gorse removal around the Natterjack breeding ponds prior to spawning season
Meet North Plain Farm
NY198 616



Friday, 13 March 2009

Volunteer working on tree roots

Voluntary Work

Each Thursday our team meets at 9.30am and we work until about 1pm. Most of our work is carried out at Campfield Marsh Reserve, but we do get other opportunities to visit Hodbarrow and St. Bees as well. Once the work is finished for the day there is always time for some birding as well. Any work carried out is to your own abilities.
The work is rotational according to the time of the year and includes clearing scrub, birch clearance, hedge laying, fence errecting, gorse coppicing, ragwort pulling, thistle cutting, hedge and reed planting. We maintain the hides, viewing screens, ponds, ditches and paths. We also do some bird survey work doing snipe counts on three occassions from late spring.
All the tools you need to do the jobs are supplied as are protective gloves. You will need to provide yourself with wellington boots as some of the jobs are in rather wet areas. Also be prepared for the weather and bring with you warm clothes and water proofs, preferabley old ones. Bring along drinks and food for morning break and lunch. The RSPB warden and his assistant are always on hand to show you what and how to do the tasks. If you would like to give it a try you can contact the Warden- Dave Blackledge on 07753776393 or turn up on the day. A programme of of work parties will be posted in NEWS on the our website.