Newsletter

Forthcoming Events Autumn 2024

Updated: 24 July 2024

The first event in our programme will be at Thornton Common where we will cut the woodland ride and glade which benefits marsh orchids which were flowering early in the season. Also, the entrance gate will be fixed by raising it. A new lectern will be installed as part of a new interpretative display at the common. The lectern was made possible by a donation from Poulton Hall Wall Garden Trust and a legacy from the late Eric Jackson, a WCV member for over 20 years.

September sees the start of the regular second Sunday of the monthly events at New Ferry Butterfly Park which begin with scything the BBQ grassland and Charlie’s Field. At 4pm there will be a BBQ for volunteers to celebrate the end of another successful season. If you’re coming, bring along a contribution to share. Although it has generally been a poor season for butterflies due to cool wet weather, Ringlets who appreciate a damp grassland have been recorded at the park for the first time since 2010.

For the first hedge laying of the season, we will visit Helen Arthan Farm’s in Chorlton near Malpas, leaving Wirral at 8.30 am. Let us know if you need a lift.

There will be a coppice clear up at Entrance Coppice, Thornton Wood. Some of the large amounts of brash from last year’s cut will be dealt with and the establishing bramble in the open freshly cut coppice will be removed. There was a tremendous show of flowering bluebells in the coppice this spring, a veritable blue sea of flowers.

The group meal and meeting will be held in the Bridge Inn. Do come a long for a social and contribute to the continued success of the group.

After more than a quarter of a century, the WCV will return to Lowfields Woods, Eastham. Here we will work with Peter Miller giving the friends group a boost. The volunteers will carry out path maintenance at the entrance building revetments and spreading gravel. There will be some crown lifting of the oak standards in the coppice areas to allow more light to the hazel stools below. There will be removal of beech saplings, sycamore trees and some hazel coppicing. Volunteers will meet at the site entrance opposite Eastham Rake Station. Cycle parking is available at the station and parking on Lowfield Avenue. Lowfields is part of the Dibbinsdale complex of woods.

October sees further Scything at NFBP, clearance of the rough calcareous meadow, removal of suckering blackthorn and laying of the adjacent hedge. There will be an apple day in the afternoon. Bring your own bottle if you want to take some apple juice home with you.

The coppicing weekend site is at Eastham Country Park carrying on with the sweet chestnut coppicing under the pylons. Last years’ coppice regrowth has been tremendous 5ft already. Sweet chestnut is very shade tolerant so springs back well from the stools. The new brash cart will be brought into good use carting stakes out of the wood.

November sees further scything, hedge laying and turf removal. All three trolleys at the park will be put into good use then.

Finally, with the new supply of hedge stakes there is the postponed 19^th WCV Cheshire style hedgelaying training event at the Gas works opposite ASDA, Woodchurch Road. Please book so that we have enough resources to run the event.
Volunteers will retire to the Seven Stars, Thornton Hough, for a post event meal. Please book on Eventbrite or with Paul.

Autumn 2024
When	Where	Event	Meeting Point	Time
August
Sat 17th	Thornton Common	Scything woodland ride and glade, fixing the gate and installing information lectern	Wirral Ruby Club car park	9:30am
September
Sun 8th	New ferry Butterfly Park	Scything BBQ grassland & Charlie’s field. End of Season BBQ	New Ferry Butterfly Park	9:30am
Sat 14th	Malpas	Hedge laying at Helen Arthan’s, near Malpas	Leaving Wirral by 8:30am.Contact Paul for car sharing or if you need help with transport there
Sat 21st	Thornton Wood	Entrance coppice clear-up and bramble control	Bridge over M53 on Thornton Common Road	9:30am
October
Mon 7th	Bridge Inn, Port Sunlight	Group meal followed by group meeting	Bridge Inn, Port Sunlight	Meal: 6:30pm Meeting 7:30pm
Sun 13th	New ferry Butterfly Park	Scything and Hedge laying	New ferry Butterfly Park	9:30am
Sat 19th	Low Fields, Eastham	Path maintenance and woodland management	Entrance to Lowfield’s, opposite Eastham Rake Station	9:30am
November
Sat 2nd Sun 3rd	Eastham Country Park	Sweet Chestnut Coppicing weekend	Warren Lane CH62 3QQ Car Park, North of Port Sunlight RUFC	9:30am
Sun 10th	New Ferry Butterfly Park	Scything, hedge laying and turf removal	New Ferry Butterfly Park	9:30am
Sat 16th	Gas works opposite ASDA, Woodchurch Road	The postponed19th WCV Cheshire Style hedge laying event. Book on Eventbrite or via Paul	Gas works off Landican Lane CH49 5PD	9:30am

WhenWhereEventMeeting PointTime

Paul Loughnane BEM
Hon. Secretary,
Wirral Countryside Volunteers
0151 645 8937
jpl@liv.ac.uk

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