It is soooo easy being green!

More path work this month, this time finishing off the project started in the Limes woodland last November. The half finished path has stood up to the weather well, so it was just a case of levelling the rest and extending the lining round the corner. The levelling was the tricky part as the ground was hard as nails what with all this annoyingly nice weather we’ve had lately, but brute force as usual did the trick! With the addition of a couple of steps beautifully delineated by some very rustic looking logs it was then the work of a moment to lay the liner and cover it with bark chips. Well, I say the work of a moment, but then it wasn’t me who had to bring the bark chips up the hill in the wheelbarrow….
For the safety’s sake we staked the logs (to prevent any rolling around of the beautiful delineation) which was fun coz the stakes we supposed to be tapered before use – using a scary looking billhook. After having a go with the bill hook I can honestly say it is not as easy as it looks. And of course some people had far more fun than was strictly necessary with the giant hammer mallet thing.
In true Changing Rooms style, Ruth added the last minute finishing touches with some artfully placed logs at the top of the path – multifunctional as they will make cracking seating for those of us who get a bit puffed climbing up the hill!

And the finished article – a really satisfying day’s work!

On a slightly sadder note, next month will be Ruth’s last day as she is very selfishly jetting off on a round the world trip – any volunteers to take over from her and help to make sure these Saturdays continue would be gratefully received. I’m reliably informed that the work is not onerous – mainly sending of an email once a month and liaising with Willsbridge to check what work needs doing.

Next volunteer day - 12th May 2007: come along, there might even be cake!
(Photos from April will appear at some point - being clever I've managed to lose the connecting cable)

The task for today, should you choose to accept it, will be hard labour.
Devon and Bob enthusastically pick-axing the road.

And Lindsey getting stuck in with the spade. The idea was to widen the path to improve access for wheelchairs. The ground had to be pickaxed first to make it easy enough for the shovelling. And then some lucky person had to transport it all down by the pond in a very very heavy wheelbarrow!









































It was a really really long road

The finished articles, one road and one dead hedge (kept that one quiet didnt I)

And for all of you who didnt stay for the Holi Day event in the afternoon - you missed Ruths special picture

And popcorn made over an open fire - very cool (apparently there were pancakes too, but I didnt see them)
































NEXT VOLUNTEER DAY: 14TH APRIL - COME AND WORK OFF SOME OFF THOSE EASTER EGGS!

Photos for Februrarararary

Bloomin' snowdrops! (that's not my joke by the way!!)

Tom doing a raindance...

The famed deadhedge!
Our illustrious leader
The yellow brick road begins

Lunch for the workers

So who's doing all the work Caz??

Pretty snowdrops

Hitting things with a really big hammer

And chopping things with a really big knife

The beginings of the new hedge (alive this time - at least we hope it is!)

And last but not least - look at all the lovely snowdrops!!!

If you want to see more snowdrop pictures get in touch, or alternatively see them for yourself at Willsbridge (next volunteer work day 10th March!)

Well, January has been a busy month, hasn’t it! Evidenced by the fact that it is infact February and nearly time for the next visit to Willsbridge. There is time for a quick update first though.

Once again I forgot to bring a camera, and I really kicked myself this time as we could have had some fab before and after shots! The groups is growing steadily month on month, new faces for January were Tom and Stuart (Hurray for Tom and Stuart, throwing off the shackles of the desk job - at least for one day a month) and Martyn who is a regular volunteer come to teach the art of dead hedging. The usual suspects were also present, me, Ruth (our beloved leader), Devon, Caroline and Paul, plus new-to-me faces from November, Caz (same course as me at UWE so obviously a class act), Nick and Si.
Due to the wonderful amount of tasks we split into 3 groups for snowdrop weeding, coppicing and dead hedging. Snowdrop weeding was very successful, as it naturally would be with myself and Caroline on the case. We found hundreds and millions of little green shoots (only a slight exaggeration), some with buds and even managed not to stand on more than a couple! I came away feeling very spring like and uplifted, in spite of the rain. Until someone (who shall remain nameless) did a bit of doom mongering with forecasts of frosts to kill them all off. Hedge making along the side of the falling down ruin-y bit was ably handled by Si, Caz, Tom and Stuart with Martyn supervising. It looks very impressive – officially a ‘work of art’, although some people were not entirely satisfied with their handiwork – apparently Tom intends on bringing his spirit level next month……. Moving swiftly on, this left Paul, Devon and Nick with the role of removing the woodland, I mean, ‘coppicing’ the woodland near where the minibeast hunts take place. Never ever let these lads prune your favourite cherry blossom tree. Ever.
So a good day all round – and we had peanut and chocolate chip cookies, who could ask for more?!

DON'T FORGET: Next opportunity to bash some plant life (in a totally wildlife friendly way) 12th February 2007 (that'll be this saturday then)

Ho, ho, ho.

Poor, poorly Tori. So poorly, and yet so brave and uncomplaining. What a trooper……..

Sadly I missed December’s Volunteer Day due to a chest infection. I also missed Willsbridge’s Christmas party, the Tree Dressing, swimming (not at Willsbridge – although it would bring a new dimension to ‘pond dipping’), oh and work for a week and a half. So every cloud has a silver lining then!

Anyway, I’m told it went very well, and a certain amount of path building was done. As I cannot provide anything more interesting I have instead included a picture wot I drew - an artist's impression of what the new path might look like. Lovely I think. Although the bunny might be taking it a tad too far.

Don't forget there will be an amazing opportunity to work off all the post-party bulge at the next volunteer gathering on the 13th January 2007.

Happy Christmas and a Merry Mince Pie to you all!!

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!

Liz - Tree sculpture pictures

Pictured here are some of the tree sculptures

I helped make in South Gloucestershire schools. As you can see these ‘tree form’ sculptures are very different in style due to the variety of materials available on each day. The sculpture pictured on the left contains many curved lines and I feel has a lovely sense of movement. The sculpture on the right is more abstract in design, constructed from large interlinking shapes. If you look closely at both sculptures you may spot some wooden spoons and a variety of other items you may recognise! These sculptures are unusual and powerful structures that look great outside stood amongst nature.

These two photos show the replica ‘furniture’ we attempted to construct from natural woods such as willow, hazel and wild cherry. The inspiration for each piece was taken from wooden furniture displayed at Dyrham Park, a National Trust property in South Gloucestershire. Each child sketched chosen pieces at Dyrham and when we visited the schools we helped them construct them in 3D form. The children enjoyed the challenge of making standing structures and worked extremely hard to complete them. Pictured on the left is a double bed complete with pelmet made from wire strung with conkers, whilst the ‘pillows’ are tastefully arranged log slices! To the right is a stylised doorway complete with doormat! I enjoyed helping construct both types of sculpture and am glad I had the opportunity to share such work with the children in each school.

Weekend volunteer work group

Hi, I'm Tori, one of the merry band of Willsbridge Volunteers! I've been volunteering at Willsbridge since my time at UWE, and now I work for Community Action, the Rural Community Council for South Glos, North Somerset and B&NES as Projects Assistant on the Rural Transport team. This is me at our annual conference, looking official with a clipboard.
That's not what I really enjoy doing of course. I still volunteer at Willsbridge as often as I can, simply because I like doing it. And it opens doors to other volunteering events too. I recently went on a Otter Holt Building day at Elm Farm (nr Keynsham). It was a fantastic day - you'd never believe how precise and otter likes his holt to be! What I thought was going to be basically a pile of logs and leaves turned into a 4 chamber mansion with ensuite river!
But back to Willsbridge and all it's splendours. Next week, Saturday the 11th November to be exact, I will be joining the first meeting of the Weekend Volunteer Work Group at Willsbridge Mill. I'm told we will be doing such fun things as putting up bat boxes, clearing the pond and so on! It's going to be a monthly venture - run by the very organised Ruth Clarricotes, and will run every second Saturday of the month from 10-2. Everybody's welcome, the more the merrier, so you should come too!
So I'll see you there then, bright and early! (If you really can't make it, perhaps I'll try and get some photos so you can see what you're missing!)

Liz - Twilight Zone day

This week I helped out at the Twilight Zone activity day held at Willsbridge Mill. The fun began at ten in the morning when several families arrived to try their hand at making a variety of craft items. A pen pot in the style of an owl with leaves for feathers and sticky-back plastic for eyes was a firm favourite – it was a hoot! What with leaves flying everywhere and glue stuck to small hands it was a miracle any of the paper tubes resembled owls at all! Fortunately all of the adults were willing to get stuck in and seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the children. Another challenge for all involved was scary spiders with dangling concertina legs. Now, folding strips of paper takes time and patience so most spiders left with only two or three legs – just as well they didn’t have to ‘walk’ very far to the next table! Other activities the children could choose from included making masks in the shape of nocturnal animals including the popular fox and hedgehog designs. Once coloured, the younger children in particular, had a great time running about the mill involved in their own role play.

Making a kite in the shape of a bat was another favourite activity. Straws and sticky tape were all that was required to support a black bat shape which soared into the air when pulled along by a piece of string. All I could see out of the barn window was a spectacle of flying bats being put through their paces by their owners. My delight in finding out that the last table contained materials to make a hat was short lived when Alison suggested I should wear a sample hat to show the children. Although intricately designed with dangling bat shapes, inky black really isn’t my colour but I wore it anyway.

The day was extremely popular despite the weather and as soon as one group of children left to search for mini-beasts in the woods with Alison, more children descended on the mill. I was busy the whole day demonstrating and helping to make each craft item and was surprised when four in the afternoon arrived and we had to pack all the materials away for next time. I only wish now that I had taken the time to make a bat kite for myself!

Volunteering at Willsbridge

Hi, my name is Liz and I’m a volunteer at Willsbridge Mill. I have been helping with various activities for the past three years whilst studying for a Biological Sciences degree and completing a PGCE Primary course. I have spent time with school groups pond dipping, river sampling and going on nature walks. My particular favourite activity is helping with the pond dipping because we never fail to catch something of interest although I’m sure each newt has resurfaced at least 10 times during the summer months! The children are always amazed that so much can live in a small, muddy pond and enjoy identifying each creature. I have also hunted minibeasts on my hands and knees and constructed dens in the woods for a ‘teddy bear’s picnic’. More recently at the Big Switch Apple Day event I found myself putting my artistic skills to the test by helping children make ‘Apple people’. With twigs for arms and legs and leaves for hair the resulting ‘people’ were lovingly made whilst their parents sampled the local cider! Each child proudly carried their ‘person’ home to remind them of their fun day.

Over the past few weeks I have been assisting Ruth and local artist Peter Margerum with Tree Sculpture workshops, part of a South Gloucestershire schools project. We have visited ten local schools to highlight the significance of trees by creating 3D ‘tree forms’ constructed entirely from reclaimed wood and also used natural woods such as willow and hazel to make furniture. Until now I had never considered myself in competition with Bob the Builder but after weeks of sawing and using power drills I consider myself quite handy with tools! In each school the children enjoyed experiencing the freedom to create large sculptures. They were involved in every stage of the process from initial designing to choosing and placing the raw materials. Each ‘tree form’ sculpture has turned out differently and the variety of wooden objects brought from home such as chair legs, banisters and wooden spoons allowed for unique pieces of art. They can be viewed as an overall tree shape or seen as a collection of forms and lines. The furniture pieces on the other hand were more representative of actual items such as tables, chairs, fireplaces and even a grandfather clock! I have really enjoyed working with the children and finding out how creative they can be when given a challenge. I look forward to helping with more projects in the future.

Joe's Wildlife Journal

Joe Middleton – Nature Reserves Assistant

Most people think conservation volunteers are lovely tea drinking, hob-nob eating eccentrics, and to be honest they’re not far off. Every Sunday and Wednesday a random collection of Wildlife Action Group (WAG) volunteers meet up on the Jacobs Wells Road and go off in a minibus to one of the 30 or so nature reserves around Bristol to chop, cut, bash and rake the local wildlife back into shape.
I started volunteering for Avon Wildlife Trust back in the summer after graduating from UWE, and now help lead the volunteers two days a week with another 5 or so Nature Reserve Assistants. Recently we’ve been getting our feet wet clearing scrub on the banks of Chew Valley Lake so the birds (bitterns in particular) can hopefully start nesting. We’ve also been pushing loads of wheel barrows full of gravel around Folly Farm Nature Reserve near Bishop Sutton, putting in an ‘access for all’ pathway, and wading in the pond at Willsbridge Mill near Longwell Green pulling out the overgrown reeds. But the most important job is making sure everyone’s mug is full of tea and the biscuit collection is well stocked up!
As a Nature Reserves Assistant we also spend Mondays getting trained up by Justin Smith who teaches us all the skills we need to lead the volunteers and carry out the work that needs to be done on the reserves. Justin’s a fungi expert (and also one fun guy!) and on Monday we had a fungi course where we went to the Ashton Court Reserve to pick some specimens and got taught how to identify them which was wicked as I can now put a name to some of the mushrooms we all see growing in the fields around Bristol.
Last Monday Justin also taught us how to put up fences for sheep and cattle, which are used by Avon Wildlife Trust to look after the grasslands and stop them turning into scrub. It was a lovely hot day and we spent most of it putting up this solid barbwire fence and bashing in big wooden posts and you can see me and the other reserve assistants Liz, Wendy and Sarah hard at work in the pictures.If you fancy joining us volunteers for the day check out the WAG programme under the volunteer section and turn up at the meeting place just down from the Hope and Anchor Pub on the Jacobs Wells Rd before 10. You can find me every Wednesday, we’re off to Browns Folly on the 18th for some scrub clearance with the best view of Bath your likely to see since the Romans arrived and Weston Big Wood the week after (25th) to restore the rides and pathways. I went to Weston Big Wood yesterday on a site visit to see what needs doing and we found a massive hornets nest with hornets as big as your thumb so we’ll make sure we avoid that like the plague! I’ve also got my minibus license test coming up in the next couple of weeks so wish me luck! and I’ll let you know how I do…

Amber McCarthy

This is my web log of my volunteering experiences at The Avon Wildlife Trust.......

Ambers Wildlife Journal: Four

Not all my tasks have been outside or working with people. I have carried out a lot of projects independently in the office. The most exiting one (sarcastic) was starting and completing the data entry for the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) on the new data system called BARS (Biodiversity Action Reporting System). It took so long and was extremely tedious, however I did learn a lot of biodiversity related acronyms. I also learnt a lot of other information about the BAP which is very useful for my degree. There are so many conservation projects happening in Avon it is hard to keep track. The web-based information system supports the planning, monitoring and reporting requirements of national and local BAPs. This allows partnership organisations to update their progress and for other people to see. I am glad I spent the time doing it because it is good to see the end results, and I could always do it in between other projects.

Another project that is ongoing:

In 2005 there was a set of bat information boards designed by AWT. These were made to raise awareness of bat populations in the area to the local residents of North Somerset. When I started they had been made but hadn’t reached its destined audience. My job was to organise a little tour for the display boards. I called all the libraries in the North Somerset area and arranged when the boards could be dropped off and collected. The tour lasted from March to September and some libraries were lucky to have the display two or three times. I was able to use the superb collection of wildlife trust pool cars for the journeys. I visited Weston Super mare, Long Ashton, Worle, Clevedon and many more. I got lost quite a few times but now I know my way pretty well. The display now has an exciting new home, the Bristol City Museum, this is where it will spend its winter.