Hedging at Elliker Field

Posted on 14/02/2014 by committee

The new hedge in the Elliker Field is well underway. Many thanks to those who helped in the rain on the 26th Jan.

Planning the work. all the saplings are bagged into separate species and ready for dividing into lots for planting.

Sue and David from Green Leeds (who funded the hedging project) visitind the Friday Work Party volunteers to see how the project was progressing.

It’s all hands to the deck for the Friday workparty…. dig the hole, plant the tree, insert the cane and fit the spiral guard.

The weather was not so kind two days later on the Winter Work Party, Sunday 26th January.

The weather was not so kind two days later during the Winter Work Party on Sunday 26th January.

Hedgerow creation project at Ox Close Wood

Posted on 12/02/2014 by committee

A series of four marathon Friday work days saw the completion of the new hedge along the southern and western boundaries of Ox Close Wood.

Funded by Green Leeds, The Trust has completed planting over 3,000 saplings to create this new mixed species hedgerow. It is intended to provide protection from spray drift from the intensively farmed fields that surround the wood and to create a new wildlife corridor and important habitat.

The completed southern boundary of Ox Close Wood…. over 3000 plants

The Purchase of Elliker Wood is Complete

Posted on 24/11/2013 by committee

We are pleased to report that the purchase of Elliker Wood was completed a few days ago. We hope to improve the various habitats to make a haven for wildlife and an inviting place for visitors.

Harvest Mice in the Marsh

Posted on 07/10/2013 by committee

After finding possible Harvest Mice nests in the Marsh, their presence has been confirmed by a small-mammal trapping weekend 4th to 6th October.

Visitors from Ossett, Pocklington, Kirby Malzard and as far away as Cumbria attended the joint Yorkshire Mammal Group and EKWT Harvest Mice Weekend in Keswick Marsh.

The Sunday morning proved very successful when 23 of the 50 traps had mammals…

11 Field Mice, 10 Bank Voles, one Common Shrew and one Harvest Mouse.

A Harvest Mouse

A Field Mouse

Weighing and recording small mammals in the Marsh.

Family Day in Elliker Field

Posted on 07/10/2013 by committee

15th September 2013. We invited the local community to come and see the latest plans for Elliker Field and add their comments. Many joined the day’s workparty. Young and old helped to sow seeds and identify wild flowers while the more active helped to clear brash from our initial scrub clearance.
The event was aided by funding from Green Leeds.

The Trust is featured in a local magazine

Posted on 10/09/2013 by committee

Back in August, the local magazine “Wetherby Matters” featured a two-page article about the East Keswick Wildlife Trust.
The two pages are included below.
To see the latest issue of the Wetherby Matters magazine, go to http://emagazines.hibu.com/wetherby.

Corrections to details re- Frank Shire’s Quarry above: “magnesium limestone” should read “magnesian limestone”, “Broomrape thistle” should read “Thistle Broomrape”.

Elliker Fields Community Work Party

Posted on 09/09/2013 by committee

Elliker Fields Community Work Party
Thank you for your support so far.
Management work has now begun.
Please join our work party or just come and have look at the plans.
Sunday 15th September 11am to 3pm
All ages are welcome
Wear sturdy footwear or wellies and bring gardening gloves and loppers if you have them.

Hedging Grant Is Awarded

Posted on 07/08/2013 by committee

The Trust has been successful in obtaining a grant to plant a mixed native species hedgerow along the southern boundary of Ox Close Wood. This will help prevent spray drift and encroachment into the wood from the adjoining intensive farming. Work will commence in the winter.

Please come along and join the planting work parties. Phone 01937 574140

Ox Close Wood Hedge Creation Project

Posted on 23/06/2013 by committee

There is a need to re-establish the boundary of Ox Close Wood to protect the wood from spray drift and the intensive agriculture that surrounds the wood.

The Trust is applying for a landfill grant from Green Leeds to replace the post and rail boundary fence with a native mixed species hedge.

We need your help.

Southern boundary of Ox Close Wood along which a new hedge is to be created.

We need to prepare the site for planting in the winter months. All ages would be most welcome to join us. No experience required; just a love of the countryside and good company. Please contact us to join our weekly work party.

Life on the Verge

Posted on 23/06/2013 by committee

On the 18th May the Trust held a short, informative roadside verge walk to look at the variety of wild flowers and to see which verges might benefit from better management. Since then we have consulted with the Leeds City Council in order to re-schedule the cutting regime of the better verges.

…. a close inspection of a roadside verge !

Then, on the 8th June members of the Trust visited Lincolnshire to witness the results of good roadside verge management. The day started with an enthralling talk by Mark Scofield, the leader of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s “Life on the Verge” Project. Mark recounted the origin of the project, it’s problems and it’s successes. After lunch we had a tour around the best examples of well managed verges which showed a tremendous variety of wild flowers and how this management obviates the need for verges to be cut more than once or twice a year.

Trust members examining well managed wild flower verges in Lincolnshire.

East Keswick Wildlife Trust

For Wildlife, For Our Community, For Our Future

Category Archives: Projects