Friends of Anderton and Marbury (Foam)
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Friends of Anderton and Marbury (FoAM) Don’t Let the Variable Autumn Weather Dampen your Spirits! From the Chair As I write this, I’m seeing yet another ‘Yellow Warning for Rain’ and we’ve only just dried up following the flooding in the Town Centre, on Leftwich Meadows and at Anderton last weekend. Don’t let this stop you getting out in the Woodlands and enjoying spectacular autumn colours! It was with regret that we learned that Jo Sayers is leaving The Mersey Forest after 25 years. Jo has been involved with FoAM since it was established 20 years ago. Throughout that time she has been a fantastistic supporter of FoAM and has helped with many events and fund raising opportunities. The series of five free Summer Family Events funded jointly by FoAM and The Mersey Forest were a great As a momento of our gratitude, we have given Jo a success and my thanks go to Mel Bradley who made splended looking bench made of yew from Northwich the events happen. We are now looking at whether Woodlands. I would like to take this opportunity of funding can be found for a programme of Family thanking Jo for all the help she’s given me, Ranger Events during summer 2020. Dave James, FoAM and all the volunteers over the years and to wish her well in her new job in Cumbria. My thanks also go to Mike Freeman and members of the Cheshire Bat Group for an entertaining and rd On 3 October I attended a meeting of the Steering informative Bat Talk and Walk on Thursday 12th Group of the Weaver / Gowy Catchment Partnership. September. The event was well attended and the The Partnership’s aims are to improve water quality images and videos of bats which the group showed and habitat in the catchment area and I’ll be adding were particularly popular. some of FoAM’s habitat improvement projects to its on-line, evidence-based StoryMap. On 12th and 13th October Ranger Dave James held a successful event, Woodworking at the Northwich th On 16 October, I attended the Local Nature Woodlands. This was only made possible through the Partnership (LNP) Conference, organised by The regular wood working volunteers helping Dave with Mersey Forest and hosted by Chester Zoo. There the event. were interesting and thought provoking presentations on natural capital (the world’s stocks of natural In addition to the above events, FoAM also held a assets), climate change and the implications for land Mammal Trapping at Marbury event on 28th use. The Conference ended with a panel discussion September, an Autumn Bird Walk on 13th October and chaired by Charlie Seward, Deputy Chief Executive, a Trees in the Park event on 27th October. My thanks Cheshire West and Chester Council. to Jim Jeeves, David Bullock and Mary Jeeves for organising the events and also to John Gilbody for th Wednesday 16 October saw the return of the leading the Bird Walk. Council’s Insight and Intelligence Team for another volunteering day to work alongside the regular Alan Redley volunteers in the Woodlands. 1 www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: [email protected] Badgers in the Park An exciting new project has just completed its first phase in the Northwich Woodlands – vaccinating the badger population with the aim of reducing the spread of bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). The programme is being run with Cheshire Badger Vaccination Programme (http://www.cbvp.org.uk), Cheshire West and Chester Council and volunteers at Northwich Woodlands. The whole process required a significant amount of preparation long before any actual vaccination took place – the pre-baiting (this is making sure there is How successful was this phase? 25 badgers were food around to encourage the badgers to return on a vaccinated – and 5 liked the whole process so much, regular basis), trapping and vaccination phases they came back for more – luckily there are measures require significant numbers of helpers too – nearly in place to ensure they don’t get a double dose of the always volunteers. vaccine! In this first phase in the Northwich Woodlands, a large Will it be happening again? – Yes! For the programme number of the volunteers (all who come to the park on to be successful, it must be repeated each year for 4 a regular basis to volunteer) offered their help over years. Does it cost much? Far, far less than culling – nearly two weeks in the locating of active setts, pre- and the badger gets to live! baiting, installing the traps and, finally, cleaning the traps (the traps have to be disinfected with a pretty Who pays? Part of the costs are covered by Defra, and unpleasant smelling substance – it doesn’t smell of in this case, CW&C helped too, but CBVP must pine!) provide significant funding for this to be successful. It is important to realise that badgers are very powerful It is important to realise: creatures, but incredibly timid. The traps being used The programme is organised by volunteers, run by are large and heavy and designed to ensure even a volunteers and supported by volunteers. fully-grown badger is not kept in a space which prevents movement – and there are very strict If you wish to help, please contact: guidelines as to how long a badger can be left in the Cheshire Badger Vaccination Programme trap. None of the people involved in this programme (http://www.cbvp.org.uk) would have accepted or tolerated any inhumane conditions. Graham Walker The Woodlands in Late Autumn and Winter – What to Look For Visitors to the Woodlands at this time of year will not On the Mere at Marbury you could see a little egret be disappointed; there is always plenty of interest to and, if very lucky, the bittern, which has been reported see if you look carefully. to be back this year. Also, look out for fieldfares and redwings. As the leaves fall, creating carpets of copper, the trees take on different silhouettes, but also open up more One of our expert birders, on a morning walk as viewpoints. At ground level in the Arboretum there are recently as September noted 52 different species of still fresh looking fungi to discover. birds! Don’t think you must be mistaken if you spot what seems to be a white squirrel at Marbury. Two have been seen after a gap of several years. But for the real spectacle, late November or early December is when the miraculous starling murmurations usually start appearing late in the afternoon, just before dusk, over the Mere and the Flashes. A truly wondrous sight. So, wrap up warm, explore and enjoy! pestle puffballs 2 www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: [email protected] News of Work in the Woodlands Anderton Nature Park In late autumn and early winter the volunteers are Several large trees from alongside the path were felled called upon for major work in clearing various sites in and several areas of the bank were cleared to open up the Woodlands. One of the projects this year has viewpoints. The chipper came into is own for this concentrated on opening up the path alongside Witton project to clear the huge amount of foliage taken Brook from the Sand Martin panel to Carden Ferry down. Extra care was taken, during these operations, Bridge. to safeguard members of the public in Anderton at the time. Ashton’s Flash It hardly seems possible that it is almost a year since Without the enthusiasm and hard work of the various the CW&C Insight and Intelligence Team’s volunteer Communty groups who volunteer to spend a day with day at Ashton’s Flash for scrub bashing. We were us, our task would be even more difficult. So thank delighted to welcome them back. Working alongside you for your stirling efforts. The photos would indicate our regular volunteers, a huge clearance was made of that you also enjoyed your day. Do come back in the willow and nightmarish hawthorn which had Spring to see the orchids and helleborines which thrive overtaken the Flash again in such a short time. on the Flash. It is appropriate to emphasise how vital to the upkeep of the Northwich Woodlands is the part played by volunteers, who turn out in all weathers and rarely complain about the tasks which are set them. 3 www.foam.merseyforest.org.uk email: [email protected] Summer Family Events at Marbury Park 2019 As part of FoAM’s 20th anniversary and The Mersey “We went to the free activity craft event today and Forest’s 25th year of delivery, a series of fun and free despite the rain it was extremely well organised, my family activity days took place this summer at Marbury little girl who is 9 absolutely loved it. Brilliant few hours. Park. More than 300 people discovered, created and Well done.” investigated a host of activities all with a green theme. The events were designed to attract family groups, to People who had not been to Marbury before were be fun and environmentally friendly, to help people welcome to come along. Those who had visited connect to nature and to get active. before were encouraged to extend their visit and explore more of Northwich Woodlands. Many people brought their picnics as well as their children, grandchildren, bikes and dogs and made a day of it: “An amazing group of volunteers who care about the local community and organise events for like minded people.” Supported by the Friends of Anderton & Marbury and The Mersey Forest, activities were led by Tim Kirwin from Little Leigh and Sue Marsden from Comberbach.