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

Conservation Work

The National Trust relies on the support of people to help with management of the properties, one of these people at the Long Mynd is Ian Cheeseborough who has done a lot of work for the Trust to help improve the ecology of the property.

Clearing snipe plots at Wildmoor

 Ian works in carrying out practical habitat management on various sites and for a variety of organisations in the county including National Trust, Shropshire Council and Field Studies Council. Work includes footpath maintenance, hedge laying and planting, scrub control and tree work. He also teaches courses on bees, wasps and ants for the Field Studies Council looking at identification and ecology.

The work he has been involved in for the National Trust on the Long Mynd has included pond clearance on Wildmoor and the strimming of various sites to encourage breeding snipe (see previous post). He has also previously helped with hedge planting in Batch Valley and tree planting in the Wern.

Survey wise he has helped on grouse counts for a number of years and provided a baseline survey of the bees and wasps around the Mynd and recorded the breeding dragonflies on ponds around Pole Cottage.

Here at the Shropshire Hills we really appreciate the support of our volunteers, if you would like to get involved feel free to email us at cardingmill@nationaltrust.org.uk

Learning Volunteers Training Day

Last Friday Learning Volunteers had their first winter training day.  Carrying out a review of the year’s services to schools and working outdoors to exchange with each other the helpful practices each of us uses.  You can see Pete muscled in on the chocolate cake opening of one of our new indoor lunch shelters.  Our thanks to Patrick and the LTVs for their stirling work in so quickly creating it!  In the afternoon Malcolm explained how we can provide services for the new Secondary School  Geography curriculum, although I think the photo was when he justified what he calls very close misses in Liverpool’s last game! 

The WAGs have started!

A new volunteer group has recently been set up by Area Ranger, Patrick to run alongside the TTF (Tuesday Task Force). This new group has been named the Wednesday Action Group (WAGs) and since they started they have done tasks such as dam busting in the stream, digging drainage channels, and work in the kitchen garden.

If you are interested in volunteering as part of the WAGs then feel free to send Patrick an email at patrick.edwards@nationaltrust.org.uk or come in for a chat!

Volunteer Training Day Bird Walk

Last Thursday we had an introductory bird identification training day for volunteers. It was led by Pat who told us all about the species we could find on the Long Mynd throughout the year.  

It was glorious weather and we walked up to the reservoir to search for birds before heading onto the top to Pole bank looking for bramblings. Pat was a brilliant enthusiastic teacher and everyone enjoyed the day.

Volunteer group help out!

Every year accountancy firm Whittingham-Riddall hold a "Make a Difference" day where they head out and volunteer in the local area.

This year the group joined the National Trust rangers to clear gorse in Carding Mill Valley, this creates a fire break between the left over gorse and the near-by houses. The team were great and got really stuck in, despite the thunder storm in the afternoon.

Attingham Ragwort

Tuesday saw a huge gathering of Shropshire rangers, wardens and volunteers. Over 20 joined forces at Attingham to wage war on the ragwort, making a huge impact. This follows the success of the mega bracken bash here at Carding Mill Valley.

Heather Burning

The rain has finally gone, allowing rangers and volunteers to do some effective heather burning! Burning the heather allows it to regenerate and regrow better, creating a better habitat for red grouse and other ground nesting birds.

The area on the right is freshly burnt heather. The aim is to create a mosaic of habitats, as the greater variety of habitats attracts a greater number of species.

The fire burns right to the soil, which removes all competition for the new heather shoots when they germinate.

They were burning on Stiperstones as well!

Pre Season Meeting

Staff and volunteers gathered yesterday in the Tea Room for a talk about the season ahead. This talk provided our volunteers with a better idea of the bigger picture, what happens in different departmants, and also gave everyone a chance to ask questions. There was a great turn out, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! Many thanks to all who attended.

Burning Brash

Volunteers stayed warm yesterday when they burnt the brash from the trees that have recently been pollarded. This is a job they always look forward to!

Busy Christmas

A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers who gave up their time over the Christmas holidays, your help was invaluable! Many helped out in the Tea Room, along with Rangers, to ensure everyone got their Christmas cuppa.



Volunteer Christmas Lunch

Today volunteers from all departments came together to celebrate another fantastic year for Carding Mill Valley, the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge. The day started off with some of the volunteers taking a walk with Pete and Chris, who explained where work has been done, and where they are hoping to get some done next year!

The walk took them up Dr Motts road, across the top of the hill then back down Light Spout.

Then it was back to the Tea Room for a delicious lunch! Over 50 of our volunteers turned up!

There were then talks by many members of staff, including Caroline, Chris and Pete. Service awards were also given out, earned for 5 years, 10 years, and even one 15 years of volunteering!

We could not function as we do without the volunteers, they are a huge help and a valued part of our team, so thank you for all your work this year, and we hope to see you again next year!

CMV Bird watching day

 This Tuesday at Carding Mill Valley, Peter Carty set up and led a bird song course for NT volunteers. Due to glorious weather they started on the rooftop terrace listening to bird song using an app on Pete's phone.



Thrush



Then the group walked up the valley and to the reservoir all the way looking for birds, taking pictures and listening to Pete who gave an in-depth talk about bird species and their song. The highlight of the morning was the Buzzard that they spotted.



Mmmm Pasties!

Volunteers Eileen and Sylvia have been working hard cooking delicious delights in the kitchen this week! The amazing smell of warm pasties have been wafting through the tearoom , I can't wait to try them!

Eileen and Sylvia looking pleased with their pasties!



Walcot Walk

Today in the glorious sun, many of the volunteers and staff went to visit Walcot wood. As it is very tucked away many people don't often get to visit if at all, so today we spent the morning exploring. We learnt about the habitat, the management, other users of the site such as local schools and the species there which make it so important and interesting.

Pete Carty, talking to us all about Walcot wood

Exploring Walcot

Working in the Garden

The Rangers and TTF volunteer John Worrell have been busy in the kitchen garden this week. They used the extendable pole saw to reduce a Laurel hedge which had become overgrown, by half. The brash was careful disposed of on a fire created at the opposite side of the garden. Our neighbour Mrs Rehana and her son kindly helped as well. Another of our volunteers, Lucy has been mixing manure into the flower beds and helping us with the laurel hedge.

John and Nick trimming the hedge.