Painting update

The painting is almost done!  I'll be putting the finishing touches to it while I'm in residency at the Bevere Art Gallery this week - please come along and see how I'm getting on and have a chat.

We're currently thinking about finding somewhere to display the painting once it's done so if you don't get chance to come and see it this week, we'll let you know where to see it in the future.

Valerie

Silent auction update

Progress has been quite slow on the painting I'm doing to celebrate the 25th year of the Tiddesley Wood Open Day - I have to fit in painting this picture with other work.  Researching some of the subjects for the vignettes around the central image also takes quite a while.  But it's starting to fill up.


I'm not too keen on what I've done so far - but don't let this put you off as I am very rarely happy with what I paint or draw.

I'm now in the process of adding a noble chafer beetle and a white admiral butterfly.  Tiddesley Wood is one of the few sites in England where noble chafers are found - they love old orchards and the one at Tiddesley is perfect for them.

(By the way, can anyone tell me what kind of pear is grown at Tiddesley before I have to bother Harry Green - again)?

Harry has very kindly sent me plenty of reference material for the noble chafer and is looking forward to my depiction of it.  Thank you Harry.

I hope to keep you updated on the progress of the picture - and I hope it encourages you to bid for it and raise some funds for the Trust.

Valerie Briggs

Nature in Art

I visited Nature in Art last week (Twigworth, just south of Tewkesbury) to see the Artists in Residence: Worcestershire's Valerie Briggs and Trevor Smith.  I was delighted to find Val working on the big picture she is giving to the Trust  to help raise funds and celebrate the 25th year of Tiddesley Wood Open Day.   

Centrally the picture shows springtime coppice and bluebells in Tiddesley Wood and is to be surrounded by twelve vignettes of Tiddesley Wood's wildlife through the year.  Val finished the central picture that morning and was working on the first vignette of a blackcap singing amongst wild service tree flowers.  The finished picture is going to be a stunning tribute to Tiddesley Wood.   

It is to be sold by Silent Auction so you can have a go at purchasing a local picture by a nationally known artist who lives locally!  If you are successful (there is a reserve price) you will also help fund the work of the Trust.    

You can see Val's other pictures on the Worcester Bevere Gallery web site.

Val told me that she will update you all through this blog on the progress of the painting as she continues working on it.

Good luck! 

Harry, Tiddesley Wood

To thank our local volunteers for their hard work over the winter and at the Open Day, S.E. Worcs. group organised a "thankyou" event at Tiddesley Wood. A walk through the wood led by Harry Green was followed by a sandwich lunch, strawberries and delicious cake provided by Miriam Tilt.

I was really pleased to be able to identify some plants myself and remember the names (well, at least the English "common" names even if the Latin ones defeat me)! OK Hedge Woundwort, Herb Bennet, Herb Paris and Ragged Robin aren't exactly rare. When on a nature walk with the experts, I'm afraid the Latin goes in one ear and straight out the other but at least part of one stuck today. John Meicklejohn showed us a door snail clausilia bidentata (OK, I did have to look up the first part on the internet because I'd forgotten it ....)

Bob, Tiddesley Wood, SE Worcs Group

Bank Holiday at Tiddesley

We've had some beautifully sunny days over the last few weeks and have managed to get the woods ready for the open day, deer fencing finished, bark chip spread, lovely...

Cue the rain... and didn't it rain!

Saturday morning. Started at 9 am putting up the marquee or the "old girl" as she was lovingly referred to. What a sight she was; one of those old fashioned things that are relatively simple and work perfectly! Then the gazebos... arrgghh, I think we erected around 50. Once we'd got into the swing of it and realised which bit went where it was easy. The pegging down was the time consuming part.

I left for a couple of hours, and arrived back at 6pm with a bag of chips and the bed made up in the back of my van, ready to spend the night keeping an eye on our hard work. This seemed like a good idea ... but it rained so much through the night, all night, that even if I'd have had an intruder I would never have heard them over the sound of the unforgiving rain on the roof of my poor old van!! With no trouble during the night, the first thing I knew of any activity was someone in a hi-vis jacket knocking on the window in the morning!!

We began to shovel woodchip; filling in the puddles and bogs that had appeared over night. Then 10am came and in trudged the first visitors - and even though the weather was pretty bad they kept coming. Although I don't think many of the exhibitors sold much, I think/hope they still enjoyed being a part of it.

It should have been a beautiful day, with people sitting around enjoying the fantastic cakes, buying lots of goodies and enjoying the music but the weather did put a slight dampener on things. Fortunately it didn't get the better of a lot of people and I think I speak for all of us when I say a huge thank you to all the people who showed their support and made it as much of a success as it could have been in the circumstances.

Heather, Tiddesley Wood

Last Logs of the Season

My first log sale since the Valentines Volunteers!

Although I have done some log splitting since, I was looking forward to getting back into the swing of it (excuse the pun)! I arrived on Saturday at about 9.30 and already there were trailers and cars being loaded, these wood folk are really eager. So after a quick hello I chose my weapon (axe to those who don't know me) and away we went, splitting, bagging, loading up trailers and cars of all sizes. I'm seriously impressed with how much wood you can fit into the smallest of cars!

There were piles and piles of logs to get through and I'm sure someone was adding to my pile everytime I turned my back. So when it finally came to 1pm I have to admit I was quite pleased to be packing up for the day.

However being a sucker for punishment I was looking forward to Sunday!

Again arrived 9.30 I put the signs on the gate (yes I did have to think which way the arrows were pointing) and no sooner had we found a suitable chopping block and got our "eyes on" for splitting... in they came!! One after the other, which was ace, less to split! One one chap did ask me if I'd go home with him to "help unload" - I said "sure I'll help you burn them as well if you like!" He did come back for another load but it was still only logs he left with!!

Amazingly enough it wasn't long before we could see grass where the logs had been. Yippee... I'm still shocked (but pleased) to see how much work can be done by a group of willing people. It's great.

So overall another good day at Tiddesley wood! I can't believe I have to wait months before I can wield an axe again ........ well for this particular cause at any rate!!!

Heather, Tiddesley Wood

Taster at Tiddesley

On march 7th we were off again into the woods, to clear some trees and put up some deer fencing, Yippee!! This had been organised by the Trust as a taster session to give newbies like me an idea of what volunteering is all about.

This was only my 3rd time volunteering and I was really looking forward to getting out of the splitting barn (although for those who know me, I'm quite partial to a bit of splitting!). I worked on the understanding that when Claire says "prompt" she means prompt, so me being me I arrived way too early and it took about 30 minutes before people started to show!

We set off from the car park and into the wood, where there were the beginnings of what was promised to be a roaring fire (if only it was a easy as that)!

Eventually there was a gang of about 10 of us and we had a briefing from Rob about why we were doing what we were doing, which always helps your motivation! We were clearing an area to promote new growth; most of the work was thanks to the deer having a taste for the small, fresh growth that we also wanted, albeit for slightly different reasons!

I had a great time, thirsty work mind! So at 11.00 a tea break was very well earned (thanks to Claire with the camping stove)! We were like a bunch of hobbits, huddled around a little kettle!
Oh and the Jammy Dodgers were very well received!!

It's amazing how much a group of willing people can achieve in a few hours, it'll never cease to amaze me. I think if anyone walking dogs had stumbled upon us at certain points they may have wondered what was so amusing.. there was a lot of giggling going on, and it wasn't just me, sorry chaps! I do believe we even had Harry (Green) tittering on a few occasions!

Overall another great day. We finished at 3.00, packed up and cleared out, with only the squelching of our boots to be heard!

Thanks to all involved and I look very much forward to seeing you all again soon

Heather, Tiddesley Wood

A Valentine's Day to Remember

I wasn't sure what to expect, and I have to admit I thought it was going to be a little cheesy! I was one of the first to arrive, and had to stop myself from hopping back in my van and going home!! But I didn't let my nerves get the better of me, and I'm so glad I stayed.

We were split into pairs, doing different jobs, splitting logs, bagging wood chip etc, and every 15 minutes or so we changed partners. Everyone was lovely, the people organising it were good fun and the other volunteers were all really relaxed - I think we all had a great day.

I came away with a grin from ear to ear and to be honest I was quite confused as to why I'd never done it before! The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are in my area, doing a great job and so easy to get involved with. I have already booked myself in to volunteer for another 3 sundays, and I can't wait to get back into it.

It's like I finally realised what Sunday's are for!! And as for Valentines Day, that was finally one I can look back on with a smile rather than a cringe!!

Heather, Tiddesley Wood

Logs in the snow

Didn't we have fun at the weekend?! Our log sales at Tiddesley Wood still went ahead despite everywhere looking somewhat whiter than we'd hoped. Still, good old camaraderie, a roaring fire and a decent amount of customers meant we had a great time and raised very valuable funds for the Trust.

Don't forget our next log sales which is specially themed as Valentine's Volunteers. If you'd like to join in the fun - and perhaps find Mr or Mrs Right - check out the events directory of our website.

Keep warm!

Harry, SE Worcs local group

Merry Christmas

We'll only be having a short rest over Christmas as there's lots happening in the New Year and our wildlife tends not to celebrate Christmas. From log sales at Tiddesley to New Year walks with the Wyre Forest local group as well as indoor talks with Bromsgrove and Worcester local groups during the first week of the New Year, there's plenty to do and get involved with.

Some of us will also be trying our hand at sorting out and taking photos for the calendar competition that's just been launched - this frost is making for some lovely shots! There's information on our main website if you're interested in entering.

So, until 2010, we hope you have a wonderfully Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

We hope some of you will join is in the New Year!

WWT volunteers

Log sale fun

Our Tiddesley Wood log sales went well at the weekend. Hopefully lots of you can now cosy up in front of a real fire for the festive season.

Don't forget to come and support us again at our next log sales in January. And we've got an extra special Valentines Volunteers log sale in February!

Merry Christmas!

Harry, SE Worcs group

Lots of Logs!

Need some logs to keep warm this winter? Then don't forget our TIDDESLEY WOOD LOG SALE this coming weekend, 12th & 13th December, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 1pm.

We've plenty of excellent seasoned hardwood logs for sale either in bags (£4.50) or loose at base price of £85 per cubic metre. We will happily fill car boots, trailers etc! All profits help towards
wildlife conservation.

Sales at the old barn near Tiddesley Wood, Pershore, on the road towards Besford from the Worcester to Pershore road. Take the turn at the top of Allesborough Hill signed to Croome Park.

Harry, SE Worcs local group

On the Humble chase of the Noble Chafer?

I had the great pleasure on Monday of meeting up with Kate Humble and a BBC film crew at Tiddesley Wood. We were filming a piece about noble chafer beetles and old orchards for an Autumnwatch piece this coming Friday night. The BBC's popular programme is encouraging people to get out there and do something.

Our noble chafer is to feature as part of a piece about the importance of old orchards and what can be found in them. Although you won't see a noble chafer flying at this time of year, I introduced Kate to methods of finding evidence of their existence.

In order to find out what happened, you'll have to watch it yourself! It's on tomorrow night (Fri 2nd Oct) at 9pm on BBC2.

Harry, SE Worcs group

Log & Woodchip sales

On a similar note we're now gearing up for our annual log and woodchip sales at Tiddesley Wood. The first ones don't take place until October but there's lots of work that goes into them.

The sales generate a lot of much needed money for the Trust and the wood all comes from the work we do across our reserves.

If you'd like to help out with the sales - bagging logs, selling etc - please contact Harry Green via the main Trust office on 01905 754919.

If you're interested in buying, come and see us at Tiddesley on 24th-25th Oct, 12th-13th Dec, 9th-10th Jan, 13th-14th Feb and 20th-21st Mar between 10am and 1pm. (It's £85 per cubic metre loose - please bring trailers; if it's pre-bagged we charge £4.50 per bag).

Hope to see you there!
Harry, SE Worcs group