Hello
There is quite a lengthy article about our work in the latest edition of Conservation Land Management.
This is a quartely publication aimed primarily at land managers, but may have some interesting snippets for everybody who has an interest in the countryside.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Friday, 7 August 2009
New Member of the Team
Hello Everyone,
Just a quick 'post' to introduce myself. My name is Keith Blackmore and I've been lucky enough to have recently joined the HWT Northern Team as an Assistant Grazing Project and Reserves Officer.
I live with my wife, and English Springer Spaniel, in Blackwater on the edge of the Minley exercise areas. For the past four years I worked as a Countryside Warden for the National Trust in East Hampshire (Selborne and Ludshott Commons) and am very much looking forward to learning my way around the reserves and grazed areas.
I will shortly be added to the weekend 'on call' rota to be contacted after you've rung the Herriard Office (01256 381190). Please check that the mobile phone numbers that you have are 'current' as we've had a bit of a 'phone swap'.
Only my second ever 'blog' - so fingers crossed! Pictures to follow next time when I've mastered the technology!
Contact Numbers;
ALEX Cruickshank
Grazing Project Manager
07789 096330
DAVID Jewsbury
Asst. Grazing & Reserves Officer
07836 493677
ELLIOTT Fairs
Grazing Project & Reserves Officer (Fleet)
07833 387319
KEITH Blackmore
Asst. Grazing & Reserve Officer
07770 918372
LAURA Fairs
Grazing Project & Reserves Officer p/t
07786 880592
MIKE Morton
Reserves & Grazing Project Officer (Hook)
07786 678604
Just a quick 'post' to introduce myself. My name is Keith Blackmore and I've been lucky enough to have recently joined the HWT Northern Team as an Assistant Grazing Project and Reserves Officer.
I live with my wife, and English Springer Spaniel, in Blackwater on the edge of the Minley exercise areas. For the past four years I worked as a Countryside Warden for the National Trust in East Hampshire (Selborne and Ludshott Commons) and am very much looking forward to learning my way around the reserves and grazed areas.
I will shortly be added to the weekend 'on call' rota to be contacted after you've rung the Herriard Office (01256 381190). Please check that the mobile phone numbers that you have are 'current' as we've had a bit of a 'phone swap'.
Only my second ever 'blog' - so fingers crossed! Pictures to follow next time when I've mastered the technology!
Contact Numbers;
ALEX Cruickshank
Grazing Project Manager
07789 096330
DAVID Jewsbury
Asst. Grazing & Reserves Officer
07836 493677
ELLIOTT Fairs
Grazing Project & Reserves Officer (Fleet)
07833 387319
KEITH Blackmore
Asst. Grazing & Reserve Officer
07770 918372
LAURA Fairs
Grazing Project & Reserves Officer p/t
07786 880592
MIKE Morton
Reserves & Grazing Project Officer (Hook)
07786 678604
Thursday, 16 July 2009
A plea for new members
Hello everyone,
Because of the current recession and the stresses and difficulties that this poses upon us as individuals and as a charity, we are really trying to raise our membership levels to help us through these difficult times. The money that is raised through membership recruitment is extremely important for the Wildlife Trust as it is classified as unrestrictive which means it can be spent on any conservation task we like with no strings attached.
I have recently uploaded a copy of our membership form which gives you all the information you need to join the Wildlife Trust and also gives you some extra information that our charity does outside of your area as well as details all of the benefits you will receive from being a member.
If you are not already a member please do just take five minutes to have a look at the link on the right hand side of the blog called 'www,hwt.org.uk'. If you would like to join, excellent, or if you feel you know of anyone else that would like to join then please forward the link to them and help us spread the word.
I do hope that you don’t mind me blogging this but we were all told yesterday at a staff meeting that we need to do more to gain members as they are so crucial to the Trusts future so this is the start of my efforts.
Best wishes
Elliott
Because of the current recession and the stresses and difficulties that this poses upon us as individuals and as a charity, we are really trying to raise our membership levels to help us through these difficult times. The money that is raised through membership recruitment is extremely important for the Wildlife Trust as it is classified as unrestrictive which means it can be spent on any conservation task we like with no strings attached.
I have recently uploaded a copy of our membership form which gives you all the information you need to join the Wildlife Trust and also gives you some extra information that our charity does outside of your area as well as details all of the benefits you will receive from being a member.
If you are not already a member please do just take five minutes to have a look at the link on the right hand side of the blog called 'www,hwt.org.uk'. If you would like to join, excellent, or if you feel you know of anyone else that would like to join then please forward the link to them and help us spread the word.
I do hope that you don’t mind me blogging this but we were all told yesterday at a staff meeting that we need to do more to gain members as they are so crucial to the Trusts future so this is the start of my efforts.
Best wishes
Elliott
Monday, 22 June 2009
Species Profile
Hey Everyone I'm Charlotte, currently doing a work experience placement with the Grazing for Wildlife Project.
I thought i'd just write a quick profile on 3 key species that can be found on our sites, and why grazing is important for these species.
I thought i'd just write a quick profile on 3 key species that can be found on our sites, and why grazing is important for these species.
Dartford Warbler Sylvia Undata
Small warbler with long tail, often cocked. Female browner above and paler pink below than male.
Where to see them: Lowland heathland with gorse and heather.
When to see them: All year round.
What they eat: Insects.
Number in Britain: 1700 pairs.
Length:12 cm
Wingspan:16 cm
Weight:10 g
First Record:1773
Clutch Size:4 eggs
Incubation:12- 14 days
Number of Broods: 2/3
Positive impacts of grazing:
-Long-term grazing will reduce the regeneration of invasive scrub
species, which could dominate the heathland.
-Low dense gorse will result from grazing, particularly with winter
grazing.
species, which could dominate the heathland.
-Low dense gorse will result from grazing, particularly with winter
grazing.
Nocturnal. Wonderful cryptic plumage looking like tree bark, and is difficult to see when roosting during the day.
Where to see them: Lowland heaths, open woodland, commons and young conifer plantations and felled areas of forest.
When to see them: Arrives in the UK between late April to mid-May, they are best looked and listened for at dusk on warm, still, summer evenings. They mainly leave in August and September.
When to see them: Arrives in the UK between late April to mid-May, they are best looked and listened for at dusk on warm, still, summer evenings. They mainly leave in August and September.
What they eat: Insects - moths and beetles.
Number in Britain: 4600 males.
Length:27cm.
Wingspan:60cm.
Weight:83g.
First Record: 10th Century
Clutch Size: 2 eggs.
Incubation:18 days.
Number of Broods: 1-2.
Positive impacts of grazing:
Number in Britain: 4600 males.
Length:27cm.
Wingspan:60cm.
Weight:83g.
First Record: 10th Century
Clutch Size: 2 eggs.
Incubation:18 days.
Number of Broods: 1-2.
Positive impacts of grazing:
-Grazing vital to create bare patches that are not part of pathways or
other areas prone to disturbance for nest sites.
-Dunging increases the levels of invertebrate prey within the heathland,
this is even more necessary if the surrounding land is or is likely to
become unsuitable for feeding nightjars.
-Grazing will create a greater diversity of habitat types and therefore
increases the levels of invertebrate fauna needed.
other areas prone to disturbance for nest sites.
-Dunging increases the levels of invertebrate prey within the heathland,
this is even more necessary if the surrounding land is or is likely to
become unsuitable for feeding nightjars.
-Grazing will create a greater diversity of habitat types and therefore
increases the levels of invertebrate fauna needed.
Woodlark Lullula arborea
It is a streaky brown bird, with a buffy-white eye-stripe which meets across the nape. It has a well developed crest on its crown which is not always conspicuous. In flight the peculiarly short tail and broad, rounded wings are noticeable and the deeply undulating flight with closed wing glides is characteristic.
Where to see them:A summer visitor to the heathlands, requires bare ground and a short sward for feeding. Nests close to paths and firebreaks and among tussocks.
When to see them:All year round.
What they eat:Seeds and insects.
Number in Britain: 1500 pairs.
Length:15 cm.
Wingspan:28 cm.
Weight:30 g.
First Record: 15th Century.
Clutch Size:3 - 5 eggs.
Incubation:14 days.
Number of Broods:2-3.
Positive impacts of grazing:
-Increases the area of short sward and bare ground needed for
foraging.
-Produces a mosaic of short and long swards needed for breeding.
-Dunging increases the levels of invertebrate prey.
foraging.
-Produces a mosaic of short and long swards needed for breeding.
-Dunging increases the levels of invertebrate prey.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Fires on Heathlands
Hello everyone,
On Wednesday last week I planned to email you all today to let you know that we will soon be entering the heathland fire season any minute now. Unfortunately we had 2 fires on Caesars Camp, 1 on Velmead Common and 2 on Long Valley all within 5 days of each other before i could get chance to warn you all.
Anyway my warning I suppose is still valid especially if the weather stays as it is. Statistically ( and the fire brigade record all incidents that are reported to them) April has the highest number of fires on heathlands throughout the year. the statistics can even pinpoint that the majority of fires occur between the hours of 3pm and 4pm. Obviously this does not mean all fires occur at these times but the majority of them do.
So what does this mean for you?
Firstly take extra care when walking on the heaths at this time of year, especially if it is dry and then is a breeze.
Secondly, ensure that somebody knows where you are, just in case something happens, and more importantly when you expect to be home.
Always try to carry a mobile phone with you. A fire, if reported early, is much much easier to contain and control than if it is left unreported.
Always call 999 if the fire brigade are not present. please do not assume that somebody else must have and more often than not people will not report anything. The fire services will easily be able to tell you with 30 seconds if there are already fire personnel on their way.
Once you have called 999, please give one of the grazing project a ring to let us know there is a fire. We can liaise with the MoD wardens as to how big the fire is and whether the cattle are in danger and so require moving.
Lastly, and most importantly, do not try to tackle the fire yourself. Heathland fires can appear to be very slow and sluggish and seem quite puny but in fact they are stored up energy ready to ignite the next waiting gorse bush and believe you and me gorse goes up like rocket fuel!
So keep your distance, call 999 and then call us.
I hop[e this helps and hope even more that you never need to take any of these actions.
Elliott
On Wednesday last week I planned to email you all today to let you know that we will soon be entering the heathland fire season any minute now. Unfortunately we had 2 fires on Caesars Camp, 1 on Velmead Common and 2 on Long Valley all within 5 days of each other before i could get chance to warn you all.
Anyway my warning I suppose is still valid especially if the weather stays as it is. Statistically ( and the fire brigade record all incidents that are reported to them) April has the highest number of fires on heathlands throughout the year. the statistics can even pinpoint that the majority of fires occur between the hours of 3pm and 4pm. Obviously this does not mean all fires occur at these times but the majority of them do.
So what does this mean for you?
Firstly take extra care when walking on the heaths at this time of year, especially if it is dry and then is a breeze.
Secondly, ensure that somebody knows where you are, just in case something happens, and more importantly when you expect to be home.
Always try to carry a mobile phone with you. A fire, if reported early, is much much easier to contain and control than if it is left unreported.
Always call 999 if the fire brigade are not present. please do not assume that somebody else must have and more often than not people will not report anything. The fire services will easily be able to tell you with 30 seconds if there are already fire personnel on their way.
Once you have called 999, please give one of the grazing project a ring to let us know there is a fire. We can liaise with the MoD wardens as to how big the fire is and whether the cattle are in danger and so require moving.
Lastly, and most importantly, do not try to tackle the fire yourself. Heathland fires can appear to be very slow and sluggish and seem quite puny but in fact they are stored up energy ready to ignite the next waiting gorse bush and believe you and me gorse goes up like rocket fuel!
So keep your distance, call 999 and then call us.
I hop[e this helps and hope even more that you never need to take any of these actions.
Elliott
Monday, 23 February 2009
Signs of spring
What a wonderful feeling, the days lengthening, the warmth of the sun on my back. At this time of year one can look deep into the landscape, before the blossom flowers and the plants leaf up.
There is a plant sustaining our livestock with green forage and giving walkers a tropical experience as they pass its aroma of coconut and vanilla. I remember walking the Isle of Man coast almost drunk on the heady scent. It is gorse.
Also known as furze and whin, this plant was once very valuable, especially as fuel, it reaches high temperatures when burnt, perfect for baking bread. Many commons placed resrictions on its cutting, limiting commoners to only what they could carry on their backs, I wonder if that included the spines? Today, land managers are keen to cut it down as it can invade the heath and shade out rarer plants and grazing. Also, due to its high heat on combustion it is cut down in fire breaks especially where it grows close to houses, such as on Sandy Hill at Caesars Camp.
It is extremely valuable to wildlife, as a long flowering nectar source providing food to insects when little else is in flower. You can get a taste by neatly plucking the pea like flowers.
In sheltered locations such as valley sides it provides nesting habitat for birds such as the dartdord warbler, yellow hammer, stonechat and linnet. It is a vital winter refuge for the dartford warbler.
On our sites you will find common gorse Ulex europaeus as an upright shrub and dwarf gorse Ulex minor growing close to the ground. There is a third species in Britain, Western gorse Ulex gallii, which as its name suggests, is found in the western regions. Gorse is not restricted to acidic soils, you will also find it on free draining limestone and chalk soils.
On the grazing front it works well as a stock proof hedge and fodder, especially at this time of year when much of the heather has been eaten and the purple moor grass tussocks are brown and low in nutrition.
In the summer listen out for the seed poods as they crackle, bursting open in succession, spreading their seed.
There is a plant sustaining our livestock with green forage and giving walkers a tropical experience as they pass its aroma of coconut and vanilla. I remember walking the Isle of Man coast almost drunk on the heady scent. It is gorse.
Also known as furze and whin, this plant was once very valuable, especially as fuel, it reaches high temperatures when burnt, perfect for baking bread. Many commons placed resrictions on its cutting, limiting commoners to only what they could carry on their backs, I wonder if that included the spines? Today, land managers are keen to cut it down as it can invade the heath and shade out rarer plants and grazing. Also, due to its high heat on combustion it is cut down in fire breaks especially where it grows close to houses, such as on Sandy Hill at Caesars Camp.
It is extremely valuable to wildlife, as a long flowering nectar source providing food to insects when little else is in flower. You can get a taste by neatly plucking the pea like flowers.
In sheltered locations such as valley sides it provides nesting habitat for birds such as the dartdord warbler, yellow hammer, stonechat and linnet. It is a vital winter refuge for the dartford warbler.
On our sites you will find common gorse Ulex europaeus as an upright shrub and dwarf gorse Ulex minor growing close to the ground. There is a third species in Britain, Western gorse Ulex gallii, which as its name suggests, is found in the western regions. Gorse is not restricted to acidic soils, you will also find it on free draining limestone and chalk soils.
On the grazing front it works well as a stock proof hedge and fodder, especially at this time of year when much of the heather has been eaten and the purple moor grass tussocks are brown and low in nutrition.
In the summer listen out for the seed poods as they crackle, bursting open in succession, spreading their seed.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Snow
Hello
The snow has had a number of impacts on our work. For starters, like everbody else in this part of the world, it made it difficult to get into work last Monday.
When we did get in on Tuesday we needed to check the sites as livestock often find it difficult to find food when the ground is covered with snow. Because of the 'heathy' nature of our sites the snow is easily shaken off small trees and heather bushes so the cattle seem to be able to find plenty to eat - although they often have to tuck into unusual plants like pine trees and laurel.
Because of the lower availability of food, it is likely that the cattle split up more and move further distances, makling them harder to locate and check. They are also more likely to escape as they go on a hunt for more food. This was the case, and on the Tuesday we had 3 cattle escape from Caesar's Camp. One of these was through a cut fence. I had the pleasure of the company of the local police force, the MOD police and a couple of members of the public as we chased it back in along the Bourley Road. This made the local news.
Unfortunately the other 2 were less lucky. It is likely that they escaped through a gate that had been propped open. They were out all night and one of them got hit by a car and killed in the early hours of Wednesday. We will be replacing the gate with a kissing gate that cannot be left open.
In more cheery news, it did make for some good photos!
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