Task at the Thames and Severn canal disused section near Coates, April 16^th2023.

Five of us from GVCV met five Cotswold Canal Trust volunteers at the disused canal section near the old Tunnel House Inn. Half of us worked to clear saplings from the steep side of the canal, not an easy task because of the steep slope and some water in the canal. The rest of us worked further along the towpath outside the neglected roundhouse built in 1791 as a dwelling for the ‘lengthsman’ whose job was to keep the towpath and drainage ditches clear.

The Roundhouse

Our job was to cut saplings actually growing in dry stone walls and to clear vegetation which was smothering new barberry shrubs (Berberis vulgaris) which had been planted to encourage the rare Barberry Carpet moth which feeds on them.

Barberry Carpet moth

Both sites looked much clearer at the end of the day, a satisfying outcome.

GVCV Task @ Emley Castle – Sunday 2^nd April 2023

The weather was with us for this year’s task at Emley Castle. The sun was shining as we helped local landowners (Tim and Nola) to clear bramble from a deer fence in need of repair, prune the orchard and remove willow from an area managed for bog loving plants.

Tim and Nola provided a fantastic lunch for the volunteers to say thank you for our efforts. A great farm site managed for wildlife with great hosts.

Edward helping clear bramble for his Duke of Edinburgh Award …

… with a little help from Sian and Candy.

Orchard before pruning …

 and after.

Lunch – normally we have lunch outside and bring our sandwiches so this was a special.

GVCV Social @ The Beacon Inn – Skittles and Dinner – Saturday 25th March 2023

Skittles is a great way for our Gloucester Vale Conservation Volunteers to show off their skills beyond cutting, planting and burning. On Saturday 25th March 2023, the group met for dinner and skittles at the Beacon Inn in Harefield (well worth a visit).

Despite our best efforts, Dave B won again this year and was duly awarded this 2023 medal to add to his growing collection.

Anthony in action

Dave B being awarded his medal by Dave E

Leckhampton Hill

26 February 2023

Gorse clearance with the Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings common (FOLK)

Six of our number (Anthony, Rob, Jane, Chris, Annie and Dave) turned out on a bright February morning to clear some of the gorse on the North side of Leckhampton Hill. Although valuable as part of the mix of habitats on the hill, it has been encroaching on footpaths and the unimproved grassland habitat that is valuable for butterflies, orchids and beetles.

Before clearance (not really, I forgot to take a ‘before’ photo)

Anthony and other volunteers clearing gorse

Volunteers working over here too

Dave

One cleared section of path

On Sunday 19th February 2023, volunteers from GVCV gathered at Stinchcombe Hill. Stinchcombe Hill which is part of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (A.O.N.B.) supports a wide diversity of plants and animals. The hill includes important areas of Unimproved Cotswold Limestone Grassland (U.C.L.G.).

Working at the margins to maintain a clear route along the footpath

Beginning the clearing of area to revert to grassland

Working with Chris Wiltshire from the Stinchcombe Hill Trust, volunteers helped clearing trees with ash die back, created log piles in the woodland areas and helped clear scrub from an area to be converted to grassland.

Some trees we cut down, some trees we support, a typical GVCV supporter in action

The weather couldn’t have been better for a day on the hill as super keen GVCV volunteer David Blatcher noted, ‘I just love these tasks, I don’t know how Candy manages to book the weather. I am going to buy her a pint in the pub on the way home to say thank you’.

Just look at that sky – location could have been Greece, Spain or Italy, and no passport needed

GVCV is always welcoming new volunteers. If you fancy a day in the sunshine helping the environment, get in touch info@gvcv.org.uk.

The happy group, still smiling at the end of a day’s hard graft.

2023.02.12 Prestbury Hill – Scalloping gorse

Gorse is a wonderful habitat and source of food for all sorts of mammals, birds and insects but my, it does spread.

Our task on 12 February, working with the Butterfly Conservation warden, was to scallop a bank of gorse on Prestbury Hill. This involved carving out a “bite” at the perimeter of the bank, cutting the stems down to ground level. New growth will shortly appear in this cleared area and the object of the exercise will have been achieved – to produce a mix of new and old gorse all in one area so as to attract a greater range of insect and bird life.

The warden leading by example

Next part of the exercise is to cut out another scallop further down the bank, leaving old growth in between. Once the areas processed have re-generated then the areas of old gorse previously left can in turn be scalloped. Process repeats ad infinitum.

Gorse, as is it’s wont, grows mainly on steep banks so accessing and working on it were slightly awkward. Oftimes the answer was to simply sit down next to a clump and work on it from a stable position.

We had been warned of the possible presence of Adders so we had to keep a wary eye out when working in case we disturbed them

We tried an experiment, using a pole saw to slide in and slice off the stems at ground level. It worked beautifully, very fast, very efficient. Problem was it would only work on level ground, using it on a slope twisted the delicate blade making it useless. Well you don’t know unless you try.

Trying out the pole saw technique

Discussing the effectiveness of the pole saw with the warden

All of the cut material was dragged off and burned on an established fire site adjacent to the work area. A measure of control and care was required here as gorse burns fiercely and tends to spread easily to adjacent grass, scrub etc. Our fire was kept to a manageable size with a beater to hand to deal with any errant sparks etc.

Burning the brash whilst NOT whistling “smoke gets in your eyes”

It is great to work on a task where we can stand back at the end of the day and clearly see the result of our efforts.

The scallop we formed in the gorse

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Six of us left Painswick car park and walked through the village, taking in the 99 yews in the churchyard and cotswold stone buildings, through farmland up to Bulls Cross where the group have previously carried out tasks (Natural England site). Stopped and sat on a new bench for a short sip of tea before heading into Frith Wood that the late John Workman gave to the Wildlife Trust. This is and ancient woodland site with planted beech (originally for timber), ventured to Pans Lodge or the site of it but not very good views of Painswick as it suggested on notice board. Left the wood onto a permissive track down into Juniper Hill reserve where we have put up some fencing to help protect Juniper plants. By this time the mist had cleared so good place for lunch and enjoy the views.

Followed path down towards Painswick passing an avenue of pollarded Beech and some Hornbeam. Back to car park via Stamages Lane. All together an enjoyable walk.

On Sunday 22^nd Janurary 2023, GVCV braved the cold weather to help maintain the wildlife pocket park and community orchard at Churchdown. The group cleared bramble from the orchard, widened the paths in the woodland area and gave the willow weave tunnel some much needed TLC.

Weaving in the loose willow and giving the tunnel a much needed haircut.

The tunnel of Love. Weaving in willow above head height with frozen fingers was indeed a labour of love,

Despite the cold start the group enjoyed their visit and showed that GVCV are not a ‘fair weather’ group.

A cold but happy team at the end of the day. Just look at those ice crystals in the sky.

08/01/2023 Hempsted Infill Site tree planting

Landfill site operator Enovert own the 350 acre landfill site at Hempsted, which they closed in July 2019 and capped off with topsoil.. Their plans for the restoration of the area consist of turning it into an Energy Park including a solar panel farm, and with the potential for wind and biomass power generation in the future – an Ecopark. The site extends from Llanthony road to the River Severn.

Part of the site remains in use as a Household recycling area, operated by Ubico, and around 14,000 tonnes of garden waste from here is processed annually on an adjacent composting area for re-use or sale. A planning application has been made for the Solar Farm element which may eventually deliver 15MW of Green energy. Gloucester City Council are backing the whole scheme as it would make a significant contribution towards Gloucester City Council plan to make the whole area carbon neutral by 2050 and will bring new jobs and investment to the area.

The site prior to July 2019 Image source, Getty Images

Planting has already commenced to create a new woodland area of around 250 acres, Hempsted Woods, which will eventually total more than 100,000 trees to provide a new natural amenity for local people, as well as fuel for biomass coppicing and providing opportunities for businesses to offset their carbon though planting trees

As a part of this in January 2022, GVCV planted some 300 sapling trees. Unfortunately we then had a record breaking heatwave in the summer and a number of the tree died, basically of thirst, notwithstanding that each tree had been mulched around in an attempt to protect them.

GVCV task on 08 January 2023 was to replace the trees which had died, to tidy up the trees and supports which had been displaced by the strong winds in this area and to add further trees to extend the planted area all under the hands-on guidance of the GWT warden.

The site as it is today – dramatically different from the pre 2019 picture.

As can be seen from the picture the volunteers needed to be well wrapped up, the absolute temperature was not too low but the strong wind swept across the whole site throughout the day But give it 10 or 20 years and we will have produced an effective wind break.

The intention was for random planting, to imitate nature, but there was a degree of selection locating high canopy trees such as Oak and Hornbeam, interspersed with lower height Field Maple and Cherry and with moisture loving Hazel on the slope down to the stream. Each tree was given a supporting cane and a protective sleeve to deter rabbits, deer etc. Unfortunately there was no compost available to mulch the roots,

A newly planted whip, duly supported and protected and with the grass cleared away from the base.

Lunch al fresco

We are programmed to return to this site in April and, if we are to produce a forest, on many other dates.