Conservation Work

Despite the drizzle on Bank Holiday Sunday some intrepid All Strettoners visited Batch Valley for some conservation work.  First job (photos 1&2 ) to construct with Steve Butler dormouse boxes for our furry little friends recently found at Inwood.  Much talk of the feasibility of constructing and utilising recently planted hedgerows to “corridor” the mice through to Castle Hill and perhaps eventually to Batch Valley woods. 

Then off to research Park Coppice with Dick Ward and Chris Stratton the evidences of water creatures in both the ponds and stream.  A good selection of water invertebrates found.  Stonefly larvae proving a good water quality and dragonfly expert Steve revealed Golden ringed Dragonfly Larvae.  Some helpful discussions all round about how to possibly improve the quality of stream and ponds for these wonderful invertebrates. A successful morning without us noticing our cold damp springtime.

This is part of a series of invites to the village families connecting common interests between local experts, NT and community for looking after our wildlife habitats.

Tree Planting

Last week the Rangers and volunteers were out tree planting in Batch Valley as part of the All Stretton Community Tree Planting Project.

Patrick and James

Emma and Dave

Batch Quarry

The quarry in Batch Valley has been cleared, with all the stone going to a site on top of the hill. Some of this stone has already been used on the new path to Pole Bank, while the rest of it will be used for other paths. The quarry looks much nicer now, with the last few bits to be taken away in the next few days.

Tree Checking in Batch

Isabel and John spent Friday morning in Batch Valley checking the hedgerow plants. Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Hazel were planted in early 2013 to form a hedge around the fields, but some of the plants have died off. Isabel and John were counting how many need replacing. 

They got some gorgeous views while they were up there!

Fixing The Fence In Batch Valley

The recent storms blew down a large branch in the Batch Valley where our flock of Hebridean sheep live. Thankfully none of them were hurt, but the branch damaged a section of the fence, so Isabel, Richard and John went over today to fix it.

The fence was pulled over by the branch, though the posts were still intact.

The first job was taking off the old fence. This included the tricky task of getting the staples out the wood, which took a lot of patience. Once that was done, the posts were secured in the ground again, and finally the new fencing was stapled on.

John and Richard were feeling the cold by the end, they were very grateful for their woolly hats!

Damson Picking

Autumn is starting to set in, and the trees are starting to show it! Nick, Richard and Darren were picking Damson Plums in the Batch Valley yesterday. These will go to Grant in the kitchen to make Damson jam, mmmm! Perfect for having with a scone.

Nick and Darren get stuck in!

Happy Sheep

The sheep we keep in the Batch Valley are protected by standards set by legislation called Freedom Foods. A recent inspection by the RSPCA told us we have 'the best possible husbandry standards', which we are very happy with!



One of our beautiful Herbidean Sheep



Sheep Off to Wenlock Edge

 This morning 13 of the Hebridean Sheep who currently live in Batch Valley were taken to Wenlock Edge, where they will graze a field with some of their friends for Rangers Chris and Al. This was FTVs Isabel and Rich's first experience handling the sheep, and job they definitely enjoyed! Once their job is completed the sheep will return to Batch Valley.



FTV Isabel prepares to start moving the sheep





Ponies in Batch Valley

These ponies were spotted in Batch Valley last week munching on the grass by the ticket machine. Normally they live on the top of the hills but are free to roam wherever they like. If you see the ponies please enjoy them from a distance as they do scare easily!

 

The ponies enjoyed the sunshine and grass!

 

What a cute foal!

Fighting Bracken

The small hedgeplants in the Batch field are being threatened! Bracken has taken over and is shading out all our saplings and trying to ruin all our hard work! So over the past few weeks the TTF have been battling it out with the Bracken pulling out the roots to give the hedge room to breath.



Eileen, Barbara and Patrick wading through the Bracken





Batch Hedge Planting is Finished!

After months of hard work the hedge planting in the Batch valley is finished! This Tuesday the TTF and the rangers spent the morning planting, caning and guarding the remaining hedge plants then went back to the valley for some very much deserved celebratory cake!

We undertook this project through the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme and have been funded by Natural England. Once these plants are old enough they shall be laid, creating a stock proof barrier and wildlife corridor.

Hebredean Update

Our flock of Hebridean sheep are doing well and are currently grazing in the Batch valley. Recently hedge planting has been done in this field by volunteers as part of landscape improvement for HLS (Higher Level Stewardship Scheme).

The Herald Moths

These stunning moths were found in the Batch valley, they are Herald moths (Scoliopteryx libatrix) and although are common throughout England, they are rarely picked up in moth traps. It is one of the few nocturnal moths that overwinters in the moth stage, often in old buildings and barns.

This beautiful red brown moth is quite distinctive in shape and markings and is often one of the first and last species to be seen each year. Its bright fore wings are always on view to its predators and so it camouflages itself among dead leaves during the day.

Clearance at Cargan

Last Tuesday some of the TTF continued hedge planting in the Batch valley and the others used brush cutters to get rid of the bramble at Cargan which had taken over. In the afternoon the Assistant Ranger, Nick, John Worrell, Tom and Kate continued clearing at Cargan by using a chainsaw to selectively thin hardwood and softwood trees and raking the brash.



Nick cutting limbs off of a tree.



Clearance along the path.



The view after clearing.

TTF hedgeplanting

Yesterday three members of the TTF and the Rangers began hedgeplanting in the Batch, they planted Hawthorn, Hazel and Blackthorn between a double fence then caned and guarded them.

Other members of the TTF were also; litter picking, helping fell a tree and cutting Heather.

Before work began.

Working our way up the slope.



The finished section of hedge plants.

Batch Resurfacing

Over the past few weeks Mark Farmer, the contractor, has been resurfacing the Batch Valley track and digging drainage ditches. This has removed pot holes and should keep water away from the car park after heavy rain.



The finished track



Hebridean Sheep Update

Some of our new Hebridean sheep have gone to Wenlock edge, this meant they needed to be tagged. The rangers and some volunteers Dave, Nick, Lucy, Kate and Tom tagged the sheep and separated them into two groups. Five were taken to Wenlock Edge and ten stayed at the Batch valley.


Kate, Dave and Lucy organising the tags



Tom trying to find the right ones



New Hebridean Sheep

Fifteen new Hebridean sheep have been picked up from Chirk and brought to the Batch Valley, their role is to graze the valley to keep species such as Bracken down and to encourage wild flowers. This is a traditional management tool on the pasture and the sheep are also a traditional breed.

Path and Track Maintenance

With all the wet weather recently, tracks around the Long Mynd have suffered. The Batch Track has been getting worse for some time, and some of the TTF spent last week filling in the holes. Material was bought along from Buxton Quarry in the bucket on the tractor and then deposited and spread into the holes. This week, they carried on further up the track, creating drainage channels where puddles were forming.

Work has continued with regards to cutting back overgrown vegetation along footpaths. TTF members have cut back over hanging branches and slashed back any other vegetation at Cwmdale and around Castle Hill.

Also, in preparation for 800 Mountain Bikers taking on to the Long Mynd's tracks on Sunday, essential repairs were made to the track in Minton Batch. Area Ranger, Dave was joined by Matt and Work Experience student Joe in putting drainage channels in to prevent the runoff from various valleys going along the path. Major work was also needed on an area that had washed out quite severely. The bank was cut into to move the path away from the stream and to level it out.





Dave and Joe diverting the runoff off the track.

Cutting into the bank

Tack moved away from the stream and levelled off.

Batch Quarry

Before...

Work in the Batch Quarry was undertaken a few weeks ago by the TTF. Vegetation was removed from the base and the rock faces to allow for greater visibility of the variations in geological formations that make up the Mynd. More work will be carried out at a later date to expose the important geological feature.



After



After