Spring arrives early at Feckenham Wylde Moor

Now that Spring has arrived and the weather has become warmer there is quite a lot of activity on the reserve.

On the pool we have pairs of little grebe, tufted duck, coot, mallard, canada geese and this splendid pair of Grey Lag geese.

The tufted probably won't stay to breed as the coot that 'owns' the pool is constantly chasing them away. The issue seems to be that the tufted ducks want to make a nest where the coot usually does and he isn't having any of it. I doubt that the grey lag will stay either and the canada geese don't look like nesting again this year which to be perfectly honest is a bit of a bonus. We have had up to 14 on site and whilst they do a good job in grazing the pool banks they make a lot of noise and mess! Reed buntings are around and looking for nest sites in the tussocky areas left of the pool. I also put up six Common Snipe last week from the same area.

We were treated to a sighting of this female roe deer. She spent some time grazing the new growth to the left of the main hide, where we had random patch cut last year.

Our frogs are also getting together and we watched them leisurely swimming up and down the pool margins. No sign of our toads yet but hopefully we will have the same large numbers as we did last year which was a record for the reserve.

Not only has the wildlife been busy, my volunteers have too. We have been creating raised paths where the existing paths have become very boggy with deep mud which makes walking round very difficult. We have piled willow brash from pollards on top of dead sedge and then another layer of this on top. Hopefully it will make a difference but I suspect that once the cattle come back in they won't take long to trash it. We have also experimented with putting down logs and sedge around one of the kissing gates, again in the hope that it will raise the path above the mud.

It's a shame that our paths get so boggy but it is a wetland reserve and so we should not be surprised.

We have once again an excellent show of coltsfoot in front of the main hide and by the time you read this the first cowslips will be in flower and hopefully our next spring plant will be the lady's smock which for me is a certainty that spring has arrived and with it the orange tip butterfly.

With the warm weather I would not be surprised to see some warblers arriving and it won't be long before the cuckoo returns.

Paul, Feckenham reserve manager

Monolith trees at the Knapp

The Roving volunteers were working in the orchard at the Knapp and Papermill last  week.

Yesterday we planted four apple replacement trees in the orchard: two bramley and two Annie Elizabeth (named after Darwin’s daughter) – the varieties that are there already.

We have lost 2 trees to the storms this year and one was damaged in last year’s storms by a fallen ash. The 2 windblown apples were good and solid so we decided to prop them up to provide good quality deadwood for noble chafers, fungi and invertebrates in general. Upright trees get more direct sunlight so are warmer and generally less damp than log piles - providing a different type of deadwood habitat. The trees were secured in place using plain wire and are attached to fence strainers. They will be monitored for stability.

The volunteer group meets every Thursday at the Knapp and Papermill. For more information contact Naomi. 

James, Central Reserve Officer

Winter at Hill Court Farm

The Hill Court Farm reserve is a wetland reserve, but even here I don't think we've ever seen it quite as wet!

This was the view last week, showing just how flooded some of the fields have become -

A large number of wetland birds such as ducks, swans and waders have been taking advantage of the flooded landscape making quite a spectacle at times.  But I'm sure the conditions have made life difficult for other birds and mammals wildlife on the reserve, just as it has made every day life a little trickier for many of us.

As for our intrepid volunteers, we have spent the winter clearing, coppicing and laying a long length of hedgerow which, as we've slashed, chopped and sawn away, has seemed an almost destructive task at times. 

However, when Spring comes around and the hedge begins to sprout new growth we will end up with a healthier, thicker hedgerow which will provide an important source of food and shelter for a variety of birds and other animals e.g. small mammals and butterflies.

If you would like to become involved in the volunteer work at Hill Court Farm our next volunteer work party is taking place this Saturday 22 February, when we will be planting new trees - one of my favourite tasks because it feels so constructive and nurturing.

For more details contact Rob or Naomi on 01905 754919 or email enquiries@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org.

Sara, Reserve warden Hill Court Farm 

Hedge laying at Hill Court Farm

Last month members of the Hill Court Farm volunteer work party got stuck into the task of clearing / laying / coppicing a long length of hedgerow.  The weather was kind to us & in our beautiful location, surrounded by bird song & watched (rather suspiciously!) by rabbits we had a great day. Massive thanks to all those who helped!

Clearing the hedgerow was a job in itself as it was pretty choked by thick bramble in places, but thanks to a determined and enthusiastic team the bramble was defeated and the hedgerow was liberated! We were then to have a go at laying the top end of the hedge and I think the results are looking good - well worth the toil. 

Clearing the hedge ready for laying

The start of the hedge laying - looking good

There is still much work to be done, so if you have a couple of hours spare and fancy lending a hand at this month's work party on this Saturday 30th November we'd love to see you. There will be plenty to get stuck into at whatever pace suits you and the opportunity to learn the art of hedge laying for anyone who'd like to have a go.    Although the work seems almost brutal at times, the hedgerow will be enhanced as a habitat when it grows back thicker, healthier and stronger next year and this in turn will be beneficial to wildlife for shelter / nesting, as a food source and as a 'corridor' across the Reserve.  It should prove to be one of those tasks which gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside as you see the results over time. 

Contact Naomi or Rob for further details on 01905 754919.

Sara, Hill Court Farm warden