6th May 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Jonathan, Keith, Ray, Neil, David a, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- second half of nestbox survey
- pulled birch sapplings on slope below roller stand
- pulled bracken on M1
- took some peat from roller stand
- continued fencing work across middle of reserve, including taking off low barb and testing heave gates
- lookered ponies
- Keith returned rebuilt fire beaters

Observations:

- one slow worm
- 15 crossbills
- woodlarks, tree pipits
- sparrowhawk
- herring gulls
- raven
- cuckoo
- redpoll


 Martin

29th April 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Alan, Stuart, David a, Mike, Keith, Jonathan, Ray and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- first half of nest boxes
- ragwort pulled from back of top lodge
- filled brochures
- remade the fire beater stand at car park entrance
- started mending, strengthening etc fence across reserve.  Taking out the bottom bared wire
- put back 2 mended nest boxes
- repaired latch on one of gates
- sawed some fire wood
- brought some old fence wood back for firewood
- cut and debarked two chestnut firebeater handles for future repairs

Observations:

- woodcock
- sparrow hawk
- garden warbler
- raven
- redstarts, woodlarks, tree pipits, crossbills

Martin

22nd April 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Stuart, Ray, Keith, David p, Alan and Martin

Activities:

- filled trust brochure box
- brought back broken fire beater stand from outside car park
- Pulled, lopped birch and pine saplings along Reynard's way
- checked and did some repairs along central fence.
- reinstated wooden slot gate opposite causeway
- ring barked a pine near Reynard's boundary ditch
- oiled and tested combination locks on southern part of reserve.  One by car park swopped out for repair
- cut some logs for Stuart
- lookered ponies
- did ragworts along road
- inspected the tins for reptiles


Observations:

- blackcap
- male and female cuckoo
- tree pipits , woodlarks
- swallows
- Mandarin duck (f) flew across sphagnum heath and landed in stream/pond


Martin

3rd March 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

David a, David p, Neil, Stuart, Ian, Pat, Keith, Jonathan, John, Mike, Bernard, Ray, Alan and Martin

Activities:

- gorse bonfire of Sunday groups cuttings
- finished gorse cutting in triangle
- lookered ponies
- filled pamphlet box
- put up 4 nest boxes
- finished making log nest box
- gully work on M1
- rut work on beeches avenue
- mud clearance outside tool store
- pollarding holly in copse beside store
- cut firewood and brought more logs into tractor shed
- took down dead pine on m1, which was unstable and near public area


Observations:

- ravens
- woodlarks



Martin

24th February 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Pat, Neil, Stuart, Ray, Alan, Bernard, David a, David p and Martin

Activities:

- cut some holly behind the tool store, keeping some logs
- made safe a fallen pine along eastern boundary.  This was a dead tree from the four counties fire.  No damage to the fence. Trunk now parallel to boundary, arisings in 3 habitat piles
- lookered ponies
- collected bark from both tool shed and roller stand and moved to entrance path through kissing gate
- repair work to vehicle damage at roller stand and beeches avenue
- put in 6 posts to support fence behind cottages

Observations


- woodlarks
- windy, but nice out of wind
- a few little bunting twitchers
- 2 ravens
- skylark
- successful Norfolk jumble sale
- tree creeper
- ponies eating bark from low horizontal beech branches, a montana clemitis at cottage, nettle roots
- lots of pheasants (males)
- apparently numerous dartfords at friends clump, and so quite close.


Martin

17th February 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Neil, Ray, Mike, Keith, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies below bench
- put up 5 mended nestboxes, mended a couple in situ, and brought back 2 for Keith to mend
- turned on water for ponies
- cut some birch logs from tree just ne of stone pillars
- gathered some bark at roller stand for volunteer perks
- cut and burned some gorse on south heath
- burned some gorse in situ with John's flame thrower as experiment
- created under path culvert at the cross roads, to ensure water is kept off the paths

Observations:

- lots of twitchers looking at a little bunting at the roller stand.  In flock of dozen reed buntings
- ravens
- buzzard being chased away
- cess pool overflowing

Martin

10th February 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Keith, Mike, Ray, David a, Stuart, Ian, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- put up barn owl nest box, which Keith made, near the pillow mound behind cottages
- pulled a few saplings there
- two brash fires from Jim's arisings
- cut down some of birch that Jim did not do
- checked some of the first nest boxes, bring one back to be mended
- lookered the 5 ponies
- took down broken car park sign

Observations:

- 2 woodlarks singing
- ravens
- tawny owl
- woodcock
- siskins
- a veteran other side of sphagnum heath has lost one large leader.
- something is eating the soft rush... Ponies?
- getting quite dry for bonfires
- some of flame thrown gorse is dying
- ray going to looker this Friday

Martin

3rd February 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Ray, Ian, Pat, David a, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- 3 bonfires in wood at bottom of sphagnum heath where Jim had been working.  At least two more to be done there
- moved some pine logs to form berms in the boggy areas.  Partly to slow the run off.


  observations:

- 3 Ravens
- some norfolk produce distributed
- rangers having big fire just other side of boundary from ol1
- some fire wood taken


Martin

27th January 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Mike, Pat, Ray, Neil, David p, David a, Ian, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- John did bit of work on tracks near roller stand
- bonfire of gorse and birch at end of pillow mound behind cottages
- pollarding previously pollarded birch trees nearby
- pollard 2 new birches, one pulling its roots out, and the other being swamped by a pine
- stacked firewood on Reynard's way

Observations:

- 2 woodlarks singing and flying
- 3 buzzards
- Raven
- lots of reed buntings
- hen harrier (female) on way home
- distributed some tools and products from house clearance
- talked to Jim and two chainsaw pupils

Martin

20th January 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Ray, Bernard, Jonathan, Keith and Martin.

Activities:

- drilled hole in nestbox made two weeks ago
- inspected fencing for imminent arrival of ponies.  Only question is potential for jumping out onto Pippingford along boundary with road.
- marked up about 30 trees for Jim's training session
- re-pollarded a few birch along Reynard's way
- cut gorse and burnt arisings at the Reynard's way end of the pillow mound
- told group about public comment period for open access
- swapped locks on roller stand gates and heave gate to south heath.  Oiled them both.
- started to organise rota for lookering

Tuesday - group
Wednesday  - Martin
Friday - Ray and a n other
Sunday - Jack from top cottage

Observations:

- Ravens
- again received rude comments from an individual visitor for taking down birches by entrance.  He was not open to discussion and walked away.
-

Martin

13th January 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Keith, Neil, David a, Ian, Ray, Mike, Alan, and Martin

Activities :

- brought into the shed some logs to dry ready for cutting
- covered up the gorse log pile, and the end of the long log pile with off-cut roof material from Mike
- major clean of gully going under the road,
- and exposing the pipe ends which feed rain water into the gully
- filled visitors brochures at car park
- bonfire just east of birch grove of pine brash
- took down hung birch branch nearby
- felled thin birch in birch grove sphagnum area, using logs as mini-berms to increase bogginess
- walked back along stream inspecting storm damage to ponds.  Rather little.
- stored some donated tools in shed
- cleared some soft mud from parking area


Observations:

- very wet underfoot, with very large stream
- some nice sun and blue sky, followed by heavy rain and cold
- 2 woodlarks
- 2 woodcocks
- 1 raven


Martin

6th January 2015 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, Neil, Stuart, Mike, Jonathan, Ray, Ian, David p, and Martin

Activities:

- final hardcore at roller stand
- cutting fire wood
- made rustic nestbox almost
- gorse bonfire and coppicing on south heath near tool store
- brought lot of gorse logs back to log piles

Observations:

- not a nice day, drizzle and rain
- pair of collared doves on top lodge


Martin

30th December 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Keith, Stuart, Neil, David  p, Ian and Martin

Activities:

- experiment with in situ burning of gorse.  Not very effective.
- reorganise of log piles
- cutting firewood
- bonfire of remaining brash near car park.  Some logs which will need Mark's vehicle
- brought some logs in store ready for rainy day

Observations:

Happy new year

- pretty cold


Martin

23rd December 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, Ian, Stuart, Neil, Mike, Jonathan, Bernard, and Martin

Activities:

- finished processing felled trees at car park.  Moved about 5 loads back to tool store.  Some large logs still to come, and brash to burn
- put in 2 end stakes for newest log pile
- John worked on the ditch before coffee

Observations\;

- festive food and drink consumed
- discussed experiment with flame thrower
- Raven
- one visitor did not approve of new entrance, thinking that this was place birds congregated
- congrats to Keith's diplomatic success in Cuba, and with Dolphins
- Martin took Xmas tree, and some firewood
- john took bow saw to reset

Martin
`

16th December 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Alan, Ray, Pat, Mike, David a, Neil, Bernard, Ian, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- Gorse coppicing and bonfire on South Heath
- cutting up felled trees near car park, piling up brash and moving logs to store
- pollarded a sickly holly
- bonfire of the brash arising

Observations:

- only half a load of pine logs left at roller stand
- Neil has covered new log pile with old pond liner
- views of south downs and pippingford from the entrance are superb.
- clear blue skies
- d warbler seen in reserve last week
- bullfinch, redwings, fieldfares


Martin

9th December 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Pat, Mike, Ian, David a, Neil, Ray, and Martin

Activities:

- John and Ian did more road work at log pile
- Ian and Ray helped Mark at car Park, taking down about 10 birches along bank and across to the west.  Brash and logs partly dealt with.  One load of logs moved to tool store
- two gorse bonfires on south Heath, coppicing, and making log piles

Observations:

- 5 ravens
- reed buntings
- mistle thrushes, Redwings, redpolls
- long tailed tits
- cold, clear with little wind to start.  Not so nice at end
- cattle in the new year. Rota to be organised ray and Neil to go on first aid refresher course
- could not contact fire service at end of day.  Just rang


Martin

2nd December 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Stuart, Neil, Bernard, David p, Ian, Pat, Ray and Martin. Sue Heitkamp was a guest, doing work for Hadlow course.

Activities:
- continued from last week with bonfire, processing felled trees and gorse cutting
- 5 more birches and an ash were felled.  Mostly small things
- wood taken to pile behind the tool store
- more work on the mud/ruts at the wood pile by the roller stand
- 3 xmas trees taken

Observations:

- horrid cold damp windy weather.  Misty.
- redwings
- Neil and Alan birthdays this week
- discussed Xmas/ new year arrangements


Martin

25th November 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Ray, Keith, Stuart, David a, David p, Rob (David's son), Bernard, Ian, and Martin.  Plus Mark, Nick and Rachael

Activities:

- cleared gutters
- moved wood from long pile into store
- cut up fire wood, including much splitting
- moved birch logs from roller stand to behind store
- filled in ruts and other track works near roller stand, making good some of the vehicle damage
- birch felling near car park
- bonfire of brash
- cut much over grown gorse
- moved newly cut logs to behind store
- marked up trees between sphagnum heath and stream for Jim's chain saw training

Observations:

- skylarks
- redwings
- woodcock


Martin

18th November 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Keith, Pat, David a, Ian, Bernard, Ray and Martin

Activities:

- gorse bonfire on South Heath
- including some ditch work and more gorse coppicing
- looked for nail fungus, nil
- gorse bonfire other side of stream near power lines, clearing old coppicing and clearing all gorse bushes there
- pond work on high and top ponds


Observations :

- Raven
- woodlark singing
- skylark, meadow pipit
- brambling, bull finch, tree creeper, redpolls
- ceps, russula
- raft spiders


Martin

11th November 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Keith, Ian, Ray, Stuart, David a, Pat, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- 2 brash bonfire up from the hunt gate, out of strong wind

- fencing work along M1, raising top strand of barb, and moving second strand to top of stock fence and tieing together
- coppiced some chestnut for fence posts and burnt brash
- filled in some deeper ruts created by forwarder
- cleared some birch on boundary with ol2


Observations:

- windy and cold
- raven
- skylark


Martin

4th November 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Pat, Ray, David p, Ian, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- pond work on beeches pond
- 3 diagonal drainage channels on path down to high beeches
- 1 new pondlet in ditch down to Amex pond
- 5 bonfires at top end of Owl wood
- various environment piles there

observations
- beautiful day
- Ravens
- Crossbills, wood larks
- lt tits, goldcrest group
- tree creeper, nuthatch
- buzzard
- lots of fungi, including fruiting bodies of the green wood fungus
- red admiral


Martin

28th October 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Alan, Keith, Stuart, Ian, Pat, Ray, David, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- dug extra clay for top of causeway
- pond work on Island and lake ponds
- bonfire opposite 13th pond
- made some environment piles there
- coppiced 4 alder in the stream
- repaired fence along the top where dead tree fell on it

Observations:

- darter, raft spiders
- brambling, meadow pipits
- lovely weather
- left fire beater from Ride junction at fire site
- 20 redpolls
- distributed damsons
- some alder logs at fire site for pond work
- a number of pond inundations

Martin

21st October 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Mike, Ian, Stuart, Neil, Jonathan, and Martin

Activities:

- 2 bonfires opposite 13th pond by birch grove
- prepared for another bonfire there
- mended fence along M1 where a young deer was cut down having got its foot stuck in top wires last Thursday.  Amazingly the deer ran off apparently fine
- put more earth on causeway, and improved drainage of the surfaces

Observations:

- rutting deer
- possible barn owl last Sunday
- brambling and lots of chaffinches
- chiffchaff
- forwarder has done a grand job
- all large birch logs have now gone

Martin

14th October 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Ian, David a, Mike, Keith, Stuart and Martin

Activities:

- 3 bonfires in wood before the bench
- refilled leaflets
- reviewed some birches near car park

Observations:

- Raven
- woodlark
- coal tit
- lizard
- forwarder working on west side
- transport taking away the birch pile
- kestrel


Martin

7th October2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Stuart, Keith, Ray, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- moved some logs into tool store
- bonfire on bank beyond slope along beeches avenue
- sapling pulling there plus en route
- pollarding in copse by tool store
- some dung collection

Observations;

- cottage beeches pruned further by tree surgeons
- a lot of rain last night
- kestrel, sp hawk
- more fungi
- dead lizard (squashed) on road
- elder tree sapling on bank


Martin

30th September 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Pat, Neil, Ray, Bernard, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- bracken clearing along M1 and along the top to the end of the power lines
- pond work in one stump pond (I think), at end of power lines
- started cascade of bog pools in ditch feeding Amex pond (experimental)
- ring barked 27 trees in the swamp (source of stream )
- collected one nest box to be mended

Observations

- slow worm
- s hawker
- many common darters
- Woodlarks 3+
- chiffchaffs
- meadow pipits, kestrels, pied wagtails
- CORMORANT
- two big patches of dodder
- horrid rain at coffee time, lovely later.

Martin

23rd September 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Keith, David a, David p, Bernard, Neil and Martin

Activities:

- bracken and nail fungus searching on South Heath.  No punctata.
- ring barking 15 trees either side of beeches avenue
- pine saplings up from beeches avenue near cross roads
- clearing rush from west pond
- more work near mallard pond including coppicing more trees and removing brash
- some work on birch trees shading stream.  More to do
- John did more bracken work near batters clump and towards west pond

Observations:

- ergot
- beech mast
- 2 hobbies, kestrel, buzzard
- 2 stonechat
- meadow pipits, house martins, swallows
- dragon flies, darters


Martin

16th September 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Pat, Neil, Stuart, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- with help of Mark plus vehicle, brought in and stacked firewood logs.
- the recovered barb wire from the central fence
- bracken clearing near west pond
- brought back a fence post from near stony pond

Observations

- discussed lookering cattle
- meadow pipit
- bullfinch, gs woodpecker, tree creeper, stonechat


Martin

9th September 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, David a, Keith, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- John did bracken pulling on east side of reserve
- did repair work on Mallard pond.  Cleared pond weed, sediment, vegetation on south side, and willow in stream.  Plugged the hole causing pond to have drained and built additional dam barrier at that point and extra height to the likely run out point.
- included felling 4 tall thin pines for the straight logs.

Observations:

- hobby, kestrel, buzzard, Raven, and possible sparrow hawk
- swallows, house martins heard migrating
- emperor, golden ringed, black darter.
- John gave out BOOK technical notes, with PENCIL addition.

Martin

2nd September 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Pat, David a, David p, Neil and martin

Activities:

- rounded up ponies for moving to Blackcap near lewes
- strengthened small wooden gate
- ring barked 8 birches behind cottages

Observations:

- herring gull


Martin

26th August 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, Stuart, David a, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- cut fire wood from dry logs in the tractor shed
- set and sharpened 2 bow saws and a 2 man saw
- split some of the logs
- tightened up mike-s saw horse
- inspected fence around cess pit.  Need 4 extra posts

Observations:

- heavy rain
- 30 redpolls
- Keith took sawdust for hens
- discussed possibilities of pigs
- discovered the BOOK

Martin

19th August 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Pat, David a, Neil, Stuart and Martin

Activities:

- bracken pulling along beeches avenue and up slope
- thinning alder in bed of stream up from causeway
- taking out willow above mallard pond
- lookered ponies


Observations:

- bullfinches
- 3 migrant hawkers
- 3 ravens
- buzzard
- orange slime-mould
- fungi
- redpoll

Martin

12th August 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, David a, Mike, Keith, Bernard  and Martin

Activities:

- final clear out of nestboxes and taking down for repair. 2 brought back to tool store
- lookered ponies.  11+1
- bracken on ne side of reserve/stream
- and some on beeches avenue
- and along path to car park

Observations

- Raven, Buzzard
- redstarts, woodlark, stonechat, willow warbler
- interesting beetle in a nest box
- golden ring


Martin

5th August 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Alan, Mike, Pat, Keith, David a, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- pollard trees around top cottage, to open out some glades
- lookered ponies
- pulled ragwort near top cottage

Observations:

- brown, southern hawker
- bullfinch

Martin

29nd July 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Alan, John, Jonathan, Neil, David a, David p, Mike, Keith, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- 5 new posts added to central fence.  One more to go
- pollarding in wood by tool store
- bracken pulling on north east slope of stream and m1
- ragwort in various places


Observations

- redpoll
- golden ring, southern hawker


Martin

22nd July 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Mike, John, Alan, Keith, Stuart, Pat, David p, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- put up some protection for dodder along the road. 6 stakes to prevent close mowing
- bracken pulling on SH
- lookered ponies
- bracken slashing on paths under powerlines south of stream
- pine sappling work uphill from crossroads
- pond survey and dragonfly count
- moved 5 fence posts over from one stump pond to corner on central fence, awaiting final post strengthening
- ragwort from various places including cricket pitch
- bracken along ridge near bench
- pollarding coppice near tool store

Observations:

- bracken sprayers present from 10
- gatekeepers , s coppers, peacocks, s white, meadow browns
- emporers, g ringed, c darter, l red, azure, emerald damselfly, migrant h, brown hawker, keeled skimmer, bb chaser 4 spot chaser
- 3 woodlark


Martin

15th July 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

 John, Jonathan, Mike, Bernard and Martin

Activities :

- lookered ponies
- removed ragwort around tool store
- more clearing of path to car park
- bracken on south heath
- collected in firewood logs with Mark,Rachel and Nick. Stacked at back of store
- bracken on slope with trough, and wide sweep of reserve by John


Observations

- Frank has left the heathland scheme.
- power problems on site. Generators going
- redpolls


Martin


-

8th July 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Stuart, Keith, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- moved ponies onto south heath.  Took a bit of time.
- birch pulling on slope near trough
- hung gate at cross roads. Left off hinges.
- bracken pulling on beeches avenue below slope
- put back up 2 mended bird boxes

Observations:

- redpolls
- kestrel
- buzzard
- woodlark
- showers stopped play

Martin

1st July 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Neil, Stuart, David P, Keith, Bernard and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- bracken digging on South Heath, road and M1
- put back up 2 nestboxes
- ragwort work on cricket pitch, some for tw composting, rest hidden in brash pile.  Those with cinnabar moth caterpillars left.

Observations:

- cess pit emptied.  Note lock on gate now positioned so that it needs combination
- woodlarks at cricket pitch
- owl nestbox used, but now has 6 cold addled eggs, probably 2 per year.  Fresh fluff in nest.
- moles at work at cricket pitch
- gold finch, redpoll, bullfinch
- Monty next week
- explained attitude to ragwort
- nightjar count on Wednesday at 9.30


Martin

24th June 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, Stuart, David p, Bernard, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- bracken along top, and some wood edges down to causeway and bridge. Also on Pippingford boundary and a bit towards the m1
- new gatepost installed, but gate not hung, awaiting correct size bit
- lookered ponies

Observations:

- discussed about committee visit to site on Monday.
- planned nightjar visit for week tomorrow
- 3 spotted flycatchers
- woodlark, tree pipits
- buzzard
- mentioned brilliant emerald and emerald damselfly on yesterday's walk
- golden ring, bb chaser, azure, large red


Martin



-

17th June 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Pat, Jonathan, Keith, Bernard, Neil, David a, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- slashed bracken on paths under powerlines
- finished taking bottom  barb off central fence.  Rolls are by final heave gate and crossroads
- tried to hang gate, and gate post snapped due to rot.  Will need replacing.
- did 2nd quarter of nestboxes.  2 taken down for repair and are now with Keith
- pulled and scythed bracken along beeches avenue, and up onto plateau above chestnuts.  Saplings as well.
- more along edge of m1
- Keith put out large tin, cut into two

Observations:

- yellow hammer
- garden warbler
- blackcap, nuthatch, family of bullfinches
- Alan took engineering catalogue

Martin

10th June 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David a, Mike, Alan, Pat, Keith, Ray and Martin

Activities:

- bracken, birch and pine clearing both sides of stream at the bridge.
- scything along the path up stream
- last round of nest boxes up to cricket pitch
- taking off bard from cross roads to hunt gate


Observations:

- Raven
- Cuckoo
- woodlark, tree pipit
- crossbills
- emperor, 4 spot, banded demoiselles, keeled skimmer, bb chaser, large red, meadow brown


Martin

3rd June2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Keith, Alan, Pat, David p, Mike, Stuart, Neil, Ray and Martin

Activities:

- Ditch work along road
- bracken on south heath
- tool sharpening and oiling in shed
- lookered ponies, none limping
- moved 6 posts across to cross roads
- finished the post work on cross reserve fence.  Some barb work to do
- scythe work around willows and track to car park
- repaired gate across Reynard's way
- discussed future plans for reserve, including more ring barking and exclosures


Observations:

- woodlark, tree pipits
- redstarts
- nasty rain before and a bit after coffee.  All got wet

Martin

27th May 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Jonathan, Stuart, Ray, Neil, and Martin

Activities:

- bracken on South Heath
- moved 4 posts from end of power lines to cross roads
- Lookered ponies.  None obviously limping.
- dug up ragwort patch near cross roads, other side of fence
- sawed some wood and brought  more into shed

Observations:

- grotty drizzle
- showed sundew to Ray and Stuart
- flock of 15 crossbills
- singing woodlark at shed and bridge.
- tree pipits
- young gsw calling at roller stand
- sharpening stone borrowed
- iron crowbar returned


Martin

20th May 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Bernard, Alan, David a, Neil, Ray, Pat, Keith, Jonathan  and Martin

Activities:

- dug up and disposed of three cornered leak flowers in car park.
- pulled bracken along the east boundary
- lookered ponies. Eyeball still lame. Will telephone Monty.
- pulled bracken on south heath
- pulled birch saplings opposite foresters cottage, including using the A frame system.
- almost completed the fencing work across the reserve

Observation:

- young woodlark along east boundary. Singing males west of bridge and tool store
- cuckoo
- tree pipits
- sparrow hawk
- green hairstreak, bb chaser
- redstarts, willow warblers, raven

Martin

13th May 2014 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Keith, Pat, David a, Stuart, Bernard, Ray and Martin


Activities:

- pulling saplings on slope below the roller stand
- first third of nest boxes
- work on the fence across the reserve
- dug up a number of rhododendrons
- bracken pulling on M1
- brought recovered barb back to tool store

Observations:

- whitethroat
- male and male cuckoo
- 20+ crossbills
- redpolls
- woodlark
- willow warblers, chiffchaff, blackcap
- heard firecrest singing
- woodlark, tree pipit


Martin