The trees are growing well and look good, although we have lost a few over the winter. Most of the wild flower plants that were planted and protected by wire netting are also doing well, although I expect they are looking a bit battered after last night's storm.
Pam Oldroyd has been sorting out her plants and has given us some large clumps of wild primroses, which originated from a wood in Essex, many, many years ago. I'm sure they will thrive in Buckle's Wood. Thank you Pamela.
The Wild Flower plugs, especially selected to attract bees and other nectar loving insects, were planted last weekend by members of the Management Group.
Work in the wood was almost cancelled today as the weather was foul! Even the ducks that visit our garden looked dismal.
Well, here we are, displaying out wares at the first Hadleigh Green Fair, organised by the local Green Party. Plenty of people came to enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
People are worried about bees. A lot have been dying because of disease, poor weather conditions, loss of habitat, use of pesticides and other unknown reasons.
This is the first event of its kind to be organised by The Green Party in Hadleigh and there will be lots to to see and enjoy. These are some of the planned attractions
Taken in Elmsett by John Gillies, this photo has appeared in the Evening Star and the East Anglian Daily Times.
At the last meeting of the Management Group, we decided to remember Blanche by placing another seat in the woodland, similar to the one on the left.
The RSPB has a new website about providing homes for wildlife in your garden. Register for lots of ideas.
It was Blanche's funeral at St Peter's today. The Rev. Gerald Harrison, in his usual gentle way, reminded us of Blanche's four-legged family - the dogs, cats and rabbits. They were family to Blanche, who used to refer to individual animals, like my dog, as this or that "little person".
I thought it was apt that, while the congregation sang "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small", a very determined creature, almost certainly a rabbit, was trying to dig its way into or under the church; the scrabbling noises were quite loud.Portion of this yewOur thoughts are with David, and his four-legged friends, at this sad time.
Is a man my grandsire knew,
Bosomed here at its foot:
This branch may be his wife,
A ruddy human life
Now turned into a green shoot.
These grasses must be made
Of her who often prayed,
Last century, for repose;
And the fair girl long ago
Whom I often tried to know
May be entering this rose.
So, they are not underground,
But as nerves and veins abound
In the growths of upper air,
And they feel the sun and rain,
And the energy again
That made them what they were!
It might not look like it, but this will all spring into life soon.
We were all saddened to learn that one of the original members of our woodland group, Blanche Seager, had died suddenly, just after Christmas.
Mark Nowers, the RSPB Warden at Wolves Wood, has suggested that we should monitor the number and species of butterflies that have been attracted into our woodland. The best way to do this would be to carry out a butterfly transect between the Months of April to October next year and he has given us the link below for more information.
This year has been rounded off with the completion of a number of projects.
There will be lots to do-- planting the wild flowers, raking the rides and gathering up the cut grass and replacing the dead trees. Members of the Management Group will prepare for all the activities beforehand so that when the helpers can start working when they arrive at 10 o'clock.
The plants have been ordered from British Wild Flower Plants, using grant money that the Green Light Trust gave us earlier this year. We have created bare patches in the wood in shady, semi shady and sunny areas. All we need is plenty of helpers with trowels! We also hope to raid the School's tree nursery for trees to replace those that have died in the woodland. Other activities are planned, but more about those nearer the day.
The owl box erected in Buckle's Wood to provide a nesting site for barn owls has been occupied by a pair of kestrels that raised two chicks. This one was ringed for BTO records.
They were asked to think about and suggest what they would like in their wood. Many children wanted it to be a safe place, where all kinds of animals can live.
Last week, the press covered a news item about the global plight of frogs and other amphibians. The two deadly illnesses have reached the UK and the public are being asked to report cases of sick or dead animals to Froglife so that they can track the extent of the diseases.
It was great to be woken up with good news this morning. The Woodland Trust has bought 850 acres near St Albans in Hertfordshire in order to create a native woodland, the largest of its kind in the country.
On a scorchingly hot day, the last working party did a magnificent job in the woodland, followed by demolishing the home made soups and cakes that were provided by our Refreshment Team.
Last Friday, Hilary, Alison and children from years 3, 4 and 5 spent an enjoyable and very productive morning in Buckle's Wood.
Everyone is invited to come and join our next working party on Saturday 10th May, starting at 10 o'clock. There will be plenty of homemade refreshments and a soupy lunch to keep your energy levels up! Stay for a short time, or keep going until the work is done--we don't mind.
The original plan for our woodland included thoughts and suggestions from the children at Elmsett School. One of their ideas, a wildflower meadow for the insects, butterflies and bees, might become a reality, with the offer of a grant from the Green Light trust. It will involve a lot of work to prepare and maintain a suitable area and it all has to be done this Spring!!
No seriously, everyone worked extremely hard, got a lot done and had time for refreshments and a soupy lunch.
Steve Piotrowski, founder of the Suffolk Community Barn Owl Trust, visited the village earlier this year and suggested that Buckle's Wood would be a good place to site a Barn Owl nesting box, to encourage this year's fledgelings to stay in the area. Needless to say, the Steering Group thought that this was a brilliant idea..gif){kind=logo}
Earlier this year, Elmsett Parish Council proposed that EGGS should be considered for a Community Achievement Award from Suffolk ACRE.
If you'd like to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one, or a group of trees as a family donation, please select from the list of native trees that are suited to this area, listed on the order form. To download the form, click on the image (right) so it opens in a new window, then right-click on the image and choose 'save image as...', then save to your desktop. Open the file on your desktop and print. You might want to note these instructions before you start.
Martin Myerscough, who invented the Greenbottle, an eco- friendly alternative to plastic milk bottles, came with his children and planted our first Yew tree. This was a lovely surprise, as he has been extremely busy since his product was launched earlier this year.
These two inspirational books have been given to us, to support our Woodland Fayre.
We shall be holding a Woodland Fayre on Saturday 21st July.
