| TRUST NEWS & EVENTS |
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A
special 'thankyou'... Kemerton Conservation Trust is grateful to
Huntsmans Quarries Limited, who landscaped this reserve in
1997 after extracting sands and gravels, for generously donating
materials to build this access track and a stockpile for future
repairs to reserve paths and tracks. They have supplied the
recycled hardcore from their processing plant at Naunton Quarry.
There too the area is rich in wildlife and Huntsmans are
commissioning surveys as a baseline for their environmental plans
for the quarry. See website
| Forthcoming events at Kemerton Conservation Trust |
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| A busy open day in 2007 when visitors were able to meet and talk to governors and Trust staff |
| TRUST NEWS & EVENTS |
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| Forthcoming events at Kemerton Conservation Trust |
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| A busy open day in 2007 when visitors were able to meet and talk to governors and Trust staff |
| Daffurn’s
Orchard – Newsletter - 2007 |
The Orchard continues to be managed as an ‘orchard nature reserve’. The grass was cut and carried in early autumn 2006 and later on sheep were brought in graze the remaining sward.
General site management last winter included cutting away encroaching scrub from the fence line, clearing broken branches, cutting suckers and spot spraying competing weeds around young trees. At one point during the winter rabbits were beginning to damage the older trees by nibbling the bark and so two volunteers fitted protective netting around the trunks. Thanks to one or two dedicated local people the area of grass between the gate and the seat has been mowed regularly.
John Edgeley from Pershore College was called in for another training session – this time to manage the re-growth following earlier conservation work on the older trees.
Several young trees were planted to fill in larger gaps – we have a few more in pots ready to go out this winter and that should complete the re-planting programme.
The BBC Television series ‘Gardeners’ World’ contacted the Trust and Kemerton Orchard Workers (KOW) and came to visit Daffurn’s Orchard. Subsequently they came back with a film crew to make a piece about community orchards which should appear in the new series starting this autumn.
In May the International Society of Arboriculture visited Daffurn’s Orchard.
In July the WI chose the orchard as a venue for their evening picnic.
KOW is organising an ‘Apple Day’ celebration on 20th October between 1400 and 1700. Depending on the season there will be a display of apples, apple juicing, recipes and stalls.
To help support its work KOW has produced a beautiful 2008 calendar about Daffurn’s Orchard. The calendar will be available from several local people and from Kemerton Stores.
Kemerton Orchard Workers continues it’s good work and Kemerton Conservation Trust is most grateful for their support for this community orchard.
Kemerton Orchard Workers
Meanwhile ‘Slipstream Organics’, a vegetable box scheme, has negotiated to take apples from the Lillans and the Walled Garden orchards. This will provide customers with a chance to taste many of the 200+ varieties held at Kemerton.
KOW is looking for one or two more local people who can offer help for just a few hours each year. For most jobs, a party of 6-8 is sufficient – although extra hands are always welcome. The target is to maintain a core group of 15-20 volunteers, who donate their labour for around 3 hours twice a year. Without the kind assistance of local people, Daffurn’s Orchard would deteriorate, and a great community asset would be devalued. If you would like to help us, please contact Olivia Chance on 01386 725 203.
Kemerton Estate is applying for organic status for four of its orchards and if successful will be registered as such within two years.
John Clarke, Conservation Advisor, KCT
| Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve - Update August 2007 |
Management
Once the trainee had left after the end of the previous funding period
prospects for the management of the reserve were bad but thanks to the
dedicated work of two local volunteers much of the essential work associated
with access and Health and Safety have continued. They also carried out
maintenance work on the trials sites. Another volunteer carried out
important work in monitoring birds, including regular surveys of groups and
individual species. The Trust is most grateful for their help.
Funding
KCT has been awarded a grant from Natural England (via the Aggregates
Sustainability Fund) – to run until 31/03/2008. The main focus of this
support will be on extending the length of woodland walk and enlisting the
help of a Volunteer Coordinator who will seek to raise awareness of the work of KCT.
The Co-ordinator will try to increase the number of volunteers that the Trust can call on to help the existing small group of dedicated and trained supporters. These volunteers may only be called on to help on a few occasions each year but their contribution will be vital to the success of our work.
The Co-ordinator will also seek to raise awareness of the work of KCT and to appeal for regular funding from local individuals, as well as from businesses and other organisations.
Research
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Mining Bees – The trials continue but meanwhile a report has been produced for Natural England. A full report has been submitted for publication and will later be available here. Leaf Litter Trials – Anemone is the latest plant to appear in two of the trial areas. In others, where plants have become well-established, they are beginning to spread out from the exclosures. Wintering Bird Feeding – this trial was unsuccessful last winter because there was no suitable cover in which to feed but hopefully the experiment will continue this winter. |
Kingfisher Perches at Kemerton Lake |
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