Trying to give potential helpers as much notice as possible we’ve set the dates for our monthly work parties on Rawcliffe Meadows as the following Sundays from 10:30 until 13:00 –

5th January, 2nd February, 2nd March, 6th April

Any assistance that can be provided will be really welcome. The list of jobs includes:

• Clear dead tansy from the fenced-off area to west of New Meadow
• Coppice some hazel in Blue Beck Copse as part of the Scrub Management Plan
• Plant some tansy in fenced off areas within flood reservoir, especially near banks
• Clear tree branches and brash from the cutting back of trees on western verge of New Meadow to reduce shading of the tansy there
• Fence off southern boundary of New Meadow to protect tansy plants from grazing (when New Meadow recovers)
• Fence off dog leg by oak tree at the pinch point on the cycle track and plant tansy in the area
• Look to clearing scrub & overhanging branches over stile from dog leg to plant tansy
• Review fencing around pond with view to increasing beetle habitat
• Agree wording and design for two (or more) new interpretation boards
• Continue scrub management plan to meet with Higher Level Stewardship targets
• Recover working areas affected by replacement sewer
• Agree methods of recovery for areas damaged by barrier bank repairs
• Build a stumpery in the Copse with any large logs or flood debris

If there are a lot of mentions of tansy it’s due to our existing large population of beetles and the need to add further areas to ensure their survival in the event of anything untoward happening to the core habitats. We have funding for the plants and some of the heavier work, we just need volunteers to get the areas prepared and the plants in.

So, if you’d like to help manage one of England’s newest Sites of Special Scientific Interest, along with being the first to achieve the criteria for its invertebrates, please come and help! Look out for the shiny new A board to spot where we are working.