Photos from Bird Box day

Welcome to Birdsville......










One of the old bird's nests - just don't mention the fleas



Devon up a ladder (it was so much taller than it looks!)



Ruth's rather special ear fungi



Bob holding the ladder with Devon precariously balancing at the top













Did you know that Lord of the Rings was actually filmed on location at Willsbridge?



Another very brave person up a very tall tree (Ruth this time).















Is it a tree?Is it a hand?
Or is it an ent holding the wall up? Another rare species for Willsbridge!


AND FINALLY .......................


The (really bad) group photo. Deliberatly bad... For comic value..... To prove what jolly chaps they were..... And definately not because of any fault on the part of the photographer

Weekend Volunteer Work Group in Bird Box Adventure

SO Saturday morning dawns, crisp and clear, and guess who REALLY doesn’t want to get up and go to Willsbridge! I must confess to a few moments of doubt as I lifted my weary head from the pillows – what unearthly time was this to be getting up on a weekend? 7.30!! That can’t be right! But it was, and get up I did (initially intended to cycle in, an idea quickly given up when I realised if I drove I could have another cuppa before I left!). And am I glad I did?! Yes actually I am. It was a beautiful day, the sun shone down on us and biscuits were provided – what more could you ask for?
Our first meeting consisted of myself, the ever energetic Ruth, Bob (a long term volunteer running the weekday work groups), Devon (working for his DoE award), Caroline (Ruth’s boss!), Bob (different from the first Bob), and Paul (definitely not Bob), and the task of the day was putting up bird boxes around the reserve. Very special bird boxes, made out of concrete, designed to foil that pesky Woody the Woodpecker’s co-habitation plans! We also took a sneaky peak into some of the existing boxes and found two old nests – a good sign!
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we started we were given an interesting and informative tour of the reserve by Bob number 1, to show those of us unfamiliar with the reserve where things were, and to tell us some of the work that would need doing.
I was impressed to say the least. I have been visiting Willsbridge since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and I don't think I've ever realised the full size of the reserve. In such a large area there are naturally lots of things for us to be getting on with, lots of cutting back and pulling up, but also various construction type projects. My favourite part was the larger pond, which has been given a facelift and looks very smart. If any of our work makes half that much of an impression I personally will be going about the rest of my weekend looking very smug indeed!

But onto the really important stuff - the photos!
.............. or maybe not - I've said it before and I'll say it again, my computer hates me. There will be a short interlude before the picture show folks, but before I go, a date for your diary:
9th DECEMBER 10AM AT WILLSBRIDGE MILL - Hopefully we will be forging a new path through one area of woodland, come and join us, or at least keep your fingers crossed that the weather brightens up (it's raining this morning and my feet are wet!)

Joes Wildlife Journal 2

Joe Middleton – Nature Reserves Assistant

Just got back from a beautiful day volunteering in Dolebury Warren on the Mendip Hills. The air was crystal clear, the sky bright blue, and the fire crackling and spitting as it warmed us up on a cold autumn day. However it didn’t start so well, after trekking up to the top of the Mendips I realised I’d forgotten the milk and biscuits for the tea, so I had to trek down to the minibus and back up again. Its sod’s law I forgot them on the day we were a good twenty minutes up hill from the carpark… The rest of the day was beautiful, and one of our faithful diehard volunteers even decided to camp out under the stars for the night (its ok he’s trained in extreme survival), as we cut down some of the old scraggly hawthorn on the hill to help try and restore the species-rich grassland.
Last week the weather wasn’t quite so nice, we had a wet day in the woods at Weston Big Wood, but the restored coppice coupe and brash fence looked mightily impressive once we’d finished, and even Ray Mears would have been impressed by our shelter in the woods. Although, again we left someone on there own at the reserve - the lone figure of Alex the woodsman could be seen chopping and sawing as dusk came in and the Avon Wildlife Trust minibus rode off back to the city.
Were off to Tickenham Ridge to practise the ancient art of hedge laying next Wednesday (8th Nov) if you fancy joining us. I was taught how to do it last week up at the Ashton Court Nature Reserve and its really interesting. You get a line of trees and cut a tongue into the side at their base and bend them down into a live hedge that grows and grows and provides habitat for a whole load of animals. Tickenham’s a really nice place too and you can meet the friendliest ram and sheep in the world, they literally like to be patted and stroked like pets, its mad!