Nature's Gym by the orchard Nov 2024

 21st November 2024

Nature's Gym - their final session in Mayow Park was in an area behind the orchard where a large tree had been felled and the trunk left on the ground for wildlife. The felling also opened the space to sunlight where there had previously been deep shade.

The plan was to 

• enhance  the stag beetle loggery built a few weeks ago by adding more upright logs half buried in the ground

• drill holes in the tops of the logs to encourage solitary bees to nest

• clear away brambles encroaching into the orchard

• plant hedgerow whips to infill gaps at the hedgerow by the hard standing.

Jane and Donna got to work using a spade and an adze to dig a long trench and gather the prepared logs from the loggery that had been built a few weeks earlier.  

Jane also sawed some logs to different sizes. 

These logs will stand upright in the trench, part buried in the ground and gradually rot down. 

The rotting logs will  hopefully attract stag beetles to lay eggs which will  develop into larvae, munching through the wood for up to seven years before emerging as majestic stag beetles.

Emily brought a drill and sat on the ground to drill a series of holes in what would be the tops of the logs. 

Mike, Charles and Sue took on the task of cutting back the brambles. (No photos), collecting all the arisings and piling them up to create wildlife habitats.

Charles and Alona planted some whips in the gaps between the trees in the existing hedgerow.

The finished loggery (see below) - thank you Donna and Jane. 

We had tea and biscuits when the work was done and all equipment packed away. A  very enjoyable session.

An artistic member of the Friends of Mayow Park is in the process of designing an interpretation sign for the loggery and we hope to have it in a couple of weeks.

NATURE'S GYM HELP OUT 2: NATURE CONSERVATION

This post follows on from the previous one. While the minibeast mansion was being rebuilt, other Nature's Gym volunteers chose to work in the wooded area close to the cafe gate, a space which is normally locked for safety and wildlife conservation.
The last time any nature conservation work took place there was at least seven years ago. Volunteers  at that time had built a stag beetle loggery within the space. With the passing of time ivy and self-sown tree saplings had grown up without check until it was impossible to see into this area. Nature can look after itself but nature conservation activities give it a helping hand by maintaining some areas to encourage specific wildlife.
Our volunteers now had to cut away a lot of undergrowth just to enter through the gate, but the stag beetle loggery was still there.

Stag beetle loggery after undergrowth was thinned

They cut back some of the growth and created areas of dappled light, where some sunlight could shine onto the woodland floor and allow shade-loving plants to grow. All the vegetation that had been cut back was piled into a corner to create another wildlife habitat.

Three  of volunteers (see one at the back)

 Our volunteers clearly  enjoyed the challenge to make a difference to our wildlife.  And what a joy - a robin came to visit. If you look at the photo below carefully you may just be able to spot the little visitor.

Can you spot the camouflaged robin?