by Ian Bushell
I took my permitted exercise at the park over lunchtime. There were just eight cars when I arrived at noon and only fifteen when I left an hour later. People were well spaced all around the park; everybody seems to be taking the new regulations seriously.
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Coronavirus or no, trees have to be planted.
Continue reading “Planting trees”
A gallery of pictures from Tuesday’s work party.
The county’s contractors have fixed the main gate, adjusted the lower entrance into Lambrok Meadow, put in a brand new oak gate post, and installed some new dragon’s teeth in the car park. Very nice.
The Friends have recently planted 150 primrose plug plants in one of the wooded copses in the Village Green area.
Continue reading “Primroses”
“Bimbled round the park this morning. Somebody is still trying to drain the boggy area in Lambrok Meadow but I reckon we can repair the damage easily enough. I wish whoever it is would give it a rest.
Continue reading “Bimbling”
We are too inclined to view floods negatively. We assess them in terms of the disruption they cause or the financial cost of repairing the damage they do to our property. But in natural ecosystems, such as our park, floods play an important role in maintaining biodiversity.
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Buddy, a handsome and very energetic springer spaniel, one of our volunteers, who regularly brings his human, Louise, to FoSCP work parties. Thank you Buddy .
Another of the park’s canine fans:
Tomorrow will be the second Wednesday of the month and FoSCP’s first work party of the year. Come and join us; come and help us look after the park and its wildlife.
The Met Office says it will be cold, there is always a chance of rain and we know it will be muddy but the company is good, the conversation enlightening and there will be coffee and biscuits at half time. We meet at 9.30am in the car park, wellied and waterproofed, and we work until midday. New volunteers will be very welcome.
Background. The following programme of actions was taken as an outcome of the review of the park on 27th January 2013 by the Wiltshire Countryside Team and Friends of Southwick Country Park. It is intended that this is a living document: a record of previous projects and tasks conducted, and an update of works carried out during 2019, a review of the park in general, and suggestions for possible future progress.
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On a brisk Wednesday morning, FoSCP hacked its way through the woods in Kestrel Field, cleared the path between the trees and then settled down to mince pies and brandy butter. Yummy!
Tuesday’s work party was devoted to veteran oak tree 5549. We halo our old oaks; this means that we clear away the under-storey that competes for their light and nutrition and build barriers around them to reduce footfall over their roots. Hard work!
Email from Brian and Chris of Southwick, who are moving house.
Continue reading “Thank you Brian and Chris”
