Friends at work and flora & fauna
On 21st December the group continued with the Beanhill Wood dead-hedging.
Putting in some more stakes.
Over the garden fence?
Lovely job everyone!
Thank you Karen Tomlinson for bringing this to our attention (and Jo McCarthy who made the original post on the Dothill community Facebook page).
The rapid response team cleaned it on the same day - thank you Jerry.
Ian's good but can he wield that many spades?!
On 14th December we were joined by Guy and Richard from the Environment Agency.
Here is Richard demonstrating water divining.
The group searched for pipes to break up in the wetland area, thereby encouraging a slower flow of water.
Due to the recent storms, a few trees were down on the Reserve.
Friends cleared the tree and repaired the fence.
We also removed a gale-damaged tree from the path on the south-east side of Tee Lake.
Mike Hughes pictured with Richard Teague (left) and Guy Pluckwell of the EA. Mike is receiving last year's River Champion award - see http://www.dothillnaturereserve-friends.com/447235050
Winter sunset, Donnerville Oak
On 30th November, Friends planted disease-resistant elms along the path between Severn Way and Dothill Pool...
...The trees were donated by Colin Evans, pictured with Friends and staff from Small Woods. Photo by Love Wellington.
Great fungi pic taken by one of our volunteers Marion Atkin.
November colours
16th November: Ian looks as if he's supervising the building of this dead-hedge!
Taking shape nicely.
Work done 9th Nov: some overhanging branches needed sorting...
...That's better!
More clearing of the 50 Tree Trail signs was also done - tree 11, Wellingtonia...
...tree 8, Elder.
Marion and Ron coppicing hazel in Beanhill Wood. Coppicing promotes vigorous re-growth in these trees.
Work done 2nd Nov: Joerg doing some scalloping. This creates zoned habitats valuable to butterflies.
Some crown-lifting was done, which lets in light...
...we cleared the rowans at the south end of Tee Lake...
...and another team did some path clearing.
On 26th October we planted 500 snake's head fritillary bulbs.
Others did some brushcutter work and cleared some of the 50 Tree Trail markers.
We also reinstated another uprooted Shropshire Way sign.
On 12th October, Friends cleared the path from Harley Close to the sports field ...
...and others cut back near Tee Lake Boulevard - much fun was had!
On 5th October we did some litter-picking and path clearing around Dothill Pool and on Severn Drive.
Another team cleared the aspens by Tee Lake and did some work on the nursery.
On 28th September, volunteers cut back the nettles at the Teme Avenue entrance.
Another team did some path clearing at the Donnerville Close entrance ...
...while others worked on the nursery.
Donnerville Close path cleared 28th September.
On 21st September volunteers laid down membrane on the nursery to suppress weeds.
Some cleared out the Tee Lake outlet...
...and more Friends seeded Yellow Rattle on the newly-mown Spa meadow ...
...and went on to more path clearing by Shawbirch Bridge. Great work all!
Meadows by Tee Lake mowed, grand job thank you!
Wellington Walkers recently enjoyed a history tour followed by a bat walk on the Reserve.
Donnerville Field was mowed today by contractors, which aids regeneration - 15th September 2021.
On 14th September we cleared the path from Admaston Road to the big oak - before ...
... and after. Other Friends did path repair work and litter-picking...
...which left two on weeding duties...
....and replacing the damaged Shropshire Way post at the top of Tee Lake.
Someone had decided to stick some labels on one of our interpretation boards ...
...cleaned up nicely!
On 7th September work continued on removing old fencing ...
...path clearing by Shawbirch Bridge ...
...here's Glenys on sweeping duties!
Another team used stone to fill some gaps around the Reserve...
...and other Friends continued clearing the aspen and weeding the nursery. The reinstated scarecrow kept a beady eye on them!
A good number turned out on 31st August. Some cleared the aspen self-sets by Tee Lake...
...some did some path clearing near Shawbirch Bridge...
...and Duke of Edinburgh student Jozef and his dad Nick did sterling work on the paths to the south and west of Tee Lake.
Maelor Forest Nurseries have kindly donated around 200 saplings. Many thanks to Ben Goh.
A small team planted service trees, hazel and downy birch among others on 19th August...
...our thanks also go to David Bromley for extending the nursery, it made our job so much easier!
17th August - path clearing work on the Dothill side of the Reserve - before ...
... and after.
Another group removed some old wire fencing - sterling work chaps!
We also reinstalled the vandalised Shropshire Way posts.
More path clearing work was done near the playground.
Another team did some laurel clearing on the south end of Dothill Pool - before ...
...and after.
We recently replaced the Three Bridge Way sign, which had faded, and it got a lovely new post & frame too.
On 10th August, Friends did some Himalayan Balsam management...
More HB was cleared from the Shawbirch Road entrance to the Reserve.
...while others did some path clearing - before...
...and after.
Here's Simon cutting back by Admaston Bridge.
3rd August - ragwort-picking on the Spa meadow, to stop it taking over.
Lovely common blues. The name doesn't mean they are common, it refers to their preferred habitat.
Small copper
A good number of us again on 27th July. Some collected Yellow Rattle seeds from The Paddock...
...some of us removed old wire fencing from the path to Admaston Bridge...
Can you see Australia yet? Russell & Jon.
Others did some path clearing - before ...
...including dealing with a dangerous tree...
...and after.
20th July - stayed in the jungle for relative cool, and plucked Himalayan Balsam. Here's some of the beast!
The end of another session - great progress on the HB!
On Saturday 10th July we had a session on Himalayan Balsam, with the help of the 2nd Wellington Scouts...
Some tackled Himalayan Balsam - here's Zoe getting stuck in...
As you can see, it can grow very tall! More Scouts did some litter-picking. Great work, everyone, thank you.
A very hot 13th July! Friends tended the oak nursery ...
...and began extending the area for more saplings.
Another team cleared the paths south and west of Tee Lake.
On 29th June we did some path clearing by Dothill Bridge ...
...come back Stu, all is forgiven!...
...the end result...
...more Friends weeded the oak nursery... (the one with the scarf didn't do much!) ...
... and Simon & Jon dealt with some wire fencing in Beanhill Wood.
On 22nd June we continued painting the woodwork at the Shawbirch entrance...
...another team cleared the path to Downing Bridge...
...that's better! After that we all moved on to Himalayan Balsam control at Beanhill.
Nice light on Tee Lake this evening...
... here they come!
Common spotted?
The meadows are a riot of colour at this time of year.
Fox 'n cubs
The rather magnificent monk's hood.
A lovely Southern marsh orchid, thank you Anna Parkinson.
On 15th June one group cut back the overhanging vegetation from the path to the south of Tee Lake...
...another team finished the painting at the Donnerville Spinney entrance ...
...a 4th group cleared some wire from the path by Admaston Bridge and a 5th did some dock control and an orchid count.
The buttercups are looking particularly good this year.
On 8th June we installed a new bench at the top of Tee Lake...
...Dotty & family, the first folk to use it!
Some more 'Friends' began tackling the Himalayan Balsam in Beanhill Wood. Here are Glenys & Ron...
...and Ian plucking one from Beanhill Brook. Great job everyone.
On 1st June one team cleared the self-sets by the Tee Lake main path ...
...and we were joined by Jozef, who is volunteering for his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. Here he is working hard at litter-picking.
On 25th May we cleared the entrance off Shawbirch Road, and the painting team got to work again!
Jon and Russell collecting stone ...
... to help manage the flooding of this path. Good work everyone.
One of the tasks for this week was weeding the oak saplings and laying down bark chips - 18th May.
One team painted the woodwork at the Morville Drive entrance to the Reserve.
We installed some new signs - this one is on the wetland area by Shawbirch Bridge.
Joerg planting spindle in a gap in the Spa Meadow hedge.
Not our native bluebell but still rather lovely.
Work in Donnerville Spinney continued apace on 11th May. Here's the new channel we dug, flowing nicely.
The Friends also put up some bird boxes ...
...carried on with prepping for painting before the rain came down ...
...and removed some barbed wire and tree guards.
On 4th May, volunteers worked in Donnerville Spinney. Some dug a channel to re-divert a stream flowing into Beanhill Brook.
The new route for the water will slow the flow of Beanhill Brook and enhance the wetland.
Other groups did some tree guard removal and tidying up the entrance.
On 27th April, volunteers cleared the holly hedge by Charlton Pool - here are before and after photos...
...Another team removed wire fencing near Admaston Bridge and a third group got the whacker on the 'snake field' path to prep for the final layer.
A good number of us again today (20th April). Here are Jon and Joerg collecting stone for the new steps off Donnerville Close.
Ta-dah! L to R - Russell, Simon, Jon, Joerg, Ron, Keith. Fantastic job everyone.
Some of us watered the oak saplings in the new nursery...
...Ian with his new bike! This was retrieved from Tee Lake...
...and another team did some tree management and litter-picking - here's Glenys about to cut a stake. A good morning's work.
A good number volunteered today (13th April). Some of the group laid bark chippings around the oak saplings ...
... some of us set to work cutting up dead wood and clearing brash in Beanhill Wood.
Annette wielding some material for dead-hedging.
Lisette doing some dead-hedge work.
Simon tackling the barbed wire in Beanhill Brook.
A cracking turnout on 6th April. Some of the Friends worked on the oak nursery ...
... another group did some dead-hedging in Beanhill Wood ...
... a third team continued with the Donnerville Close path and a fourth filled the hole to the west of Admaston Bridge.
On 30th March some of the Friends tackled the weeds in the new oak nursery ...
... and when they'd had enough of that they removed some tree supports from the copse at the top of the Tee Lake main path.
On 23rd March some of us continued clearing the brambles on the wetland ...
... another team carried on with the path at the end of Donnerville Close ...
... and a third team began alleviating the drainage issues on the path by the old canal.
Work continued on apace on the wetland - 16th March.
The Friends dealt with a felled tree. It was important to remove it as this part of the meadow is quite rich in orchids.
A good turn-out again today. We continued work on the wetland area - 9th March.
Some of the group dealt with bramble incursion to let in light and space for wetland plants.
The beginnings of a new water channel.
We had an extra session on the wetland this week - 5th March.
Still a long way to go but it's looking better already!
At the beginning of March we started work on the wetland area. We coppiced trees and collected material for future hedging jobs.
The overflow gully from the long canal was opened up to encourage water flow - great work, Jerry!
One of our tasks is to clear competing vegetation from around newly-colonising wetland plants.
An overgrown tree which was creeping in from the perimeter ...
... and part-way through it's 'haircut'.
Lovely day on the Reserve today - 27th February.
Some of the Friends did an extra session on 26th February - here's Kevin.
Common frog spotted by one of the volunteers.
One of the reasons for coppicing is that it allows light onto the ground, benefitting a range of flora and fauna.
A great turnout today! We split into socially distanced teams and worked on coppicing, path laying and removing old barbed wire - 23rd February.
Ian and Maisie tackling some barbed wire in Beanhill Brook - 23rd February.
Lisette collecting the old farm fencing by Admaston Bridge.
Well done everyone.
Some of the Friends and a team from Small Woods planting a further 180 oak saplings - 22nd February. Great work everyone!
Contractors have started clearing the fallen trees on the east side of Dothill Pool.
A few of the group were out with a chainsaw, pull-saws, loppers and billhooks to do some hazel coppicing - 16th February.
The beginnings of a dead-hedge made from some of the coppiced material.
The crocuses are emerging in the woods.
Keith by the new hurdle fencing for the oak nursery - 10th February.
Jerry unaware of this one being taken!
The finished article.
You might spot a man in the middle of the photo. What is he up to? ...
... taking this eye-catching view of Beanhill Brook - 10th February.
Some early spring flowers are starting to appear now - this is cyclamen.
Beautiful lichens, captured by Neil. This one is Cladonia pixie cup ...
... common dog lichen ...
... and oak moss lichen. Exquisite, thank you Neil.
Lisette and Ron prepping the nursery extension - 9th February.
Another team continued with the hazel coppicing - 9th February.
Kevin having fun with branches!
Difficult to snap the stunning male bullfinch keeping still. Nice photo, Jerry.
Dodgy character? Keith carrying branches for the hurdle fencing - 5th February.
One group extended the new oak nursery, prepping for another donation of saplings from Extinction Rebellion. 2nd February.
Jerry and Keith doing a spot of coppicing. This is vital to stop the trees dominating space and to let light onto the floor of the wood, invaluable to the flora and fauna. Only trees that can regenerate are coppiced, and it is good for them even though it might look a bit drastic.
Jon had a break from path laying today. Piles of branches and brash create important habitats for wildlife.
A man on a mission - Keith with his chainsaw.
Because we don't have enough to do...? Jerry fished these out and took them to Morrisons. Thank you Jerry.
Some lovely tracks in the recent snow, by Neil. This is a grey squirrel ...
... and this is a rabbit. Thank you to Neil for these photos.
Willow clearing by Charlton Pool.
A fall of snow doesn't stop our hardy path-layers Jon and Russell! 26th January.
Another team started extending the nursery in preparation for more donated saplings ...
...while a third group cleared some of the self-starter poplars by Tee Lake.
A coal tit inspecting one of the bird boxes on the Reserve. Good spot, Jerry.
Snowy scenes on the Reserve this January.
A lovely snow family has appeared. What a nice sight!
Blue reflection, Dothill Pool.
Bottoms up! Tee Lake swans - great shot, Jerry!
A good turnout again on 19th January. One pair laid bark chips on the new oak nursery, while another pair cleared the mud from the bridge by Shawbirch Road.
Hen pheasant spotted in the wetland by Jerry Williams. Her pale colouring could be the result of leucism, a genetic condition.
Lovely female goosander on Tee Lake...
... the males are distinguishable by their darker heads. Thank you to Jerry for these pics.
On 12th January we removed branches overhanging the path by the 'Wellingtonia field' ...
...this should reduce the leaf mould on the path and it also provides loppings we can use to create habitats for wildlife.
Another pair did more work on the new path by Donnerville Close.
Lovely russet oak leaves in winter sunshine - Beanhill.
Monthly water testing.
Some lovely sunsets over the Reserve this winter.
Mud cleared from Dothill Bridge.
2021
Work done 2nd Nov: Joerg doing some scalloping. This creates zoned habitats valuable to butterflies.
On 5th October we did some litter-picking and path clearing around Dothill Pool and on Severn Drive.
On 15th June one group cut back the overhanging vegetation from the path to the south of Tee Lake...
Latest comments
29.10 | 09:14
Wellington UDC Sewage Works were just beyond the end of the blocks going north.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.3&lat=52.71466&lon=-2.53383&layers=193&right=BingHyb
04.10 | 18:40
I think a water pipe or sewage pipe was supported on those blocks many years ago, they look pre war.
28.04 | 15:50
A big thank you to all you wonderful volunteers, what an amazing paradise you have developed.
03.04 | 14:38
What are the large concrete blocks that are along one of the paths in nature reserve walk please
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