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BTCV  COMMUNITY  NETWORK  NEWS  -  Radio  4  Appeal

In February's Radio 4 Appeal, environmentalist and writer Jonathon Porritt made a passionate plea for support for BTCV:  "Today, you can support an army of people who are willing to take responsibility for local green spaces.  Your donation is crucial in keeping conservation volunteers active across the UK – in thousands of parks, woodlands and allotments."   The recording is also available on-line from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/appeal.

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BTCV  CONSERVATION  HOLIDAYS

Your chance to change the world

Unique events designed to help our partner organisations in the UK and overseas achieve what they couldn’t otherwise do.  With dedicated leaders and a group of like-minded participants, the holidays of course give you a fantastic experience but the real value is in the legacy left.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous

 

BTCV’s Health and Safety policy?  No, Lord Byron, as described by his lover Lady Caroline Lamb, and whose journey through rural southern Albania in 1809 is the inspiration for one of our most inspiring and ground-breaking projects yet – real cutting-edge ancient history!  We’re working with the Albanian National Trust (ANT) on two distinct projects:  the recording of ancient carved stone inscriptions in UNESCO world heritage site Gjirokastra;  and the first stages in developing a new long-distance trail following the ‘mad, bad and dangerous’ Lord Byron’s journey, inspiration for the work that made him famous, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.

 

Something old, something new, something Bulgarian and everything green – BTCV team top picks for 2010:

Pomorie, Bulgaria, 3-10 September   We'll be continuing our work constructing artificial stone and wooden islands for nesting sandwich terns, common terns and avocets.  This holiday isn't all about birds, but as Bulgaria's most important migration bottleneck site, it's certainly a good place to find them. The area also has a rich archaeological heritage, and is still home to the traditional methods of salt production that built the town of Pomorie.  Between jolly and sociable days wading in the sea creating safe artificial nesting sites, there'll be plenty of time off to explore the area, and the best of Bulgaria's golden beaches.

Harz National Park, Germany, 16-27 August Variety of work relating to restoration and maintenance of habitats and access, in wilderness forest in far East of Germany, steeped in mystery and tradition, and home to an unholy alliance of witches and naked sledgers.

 

Chateau de Fressin, France, 10-17 July      Celebrate 14 July with our own castle to storm!  Bringing back to life an overgrown 17th century castle with a local community organisation who have complemented it with a medicinal plant garden.  It’s a hop onto the Eurostar in London and a lifetime away in an hour.
Skaftafell, Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland,  projects through July and August   Building and repairing mountain trails and camping out under the midnight sun.  Serious upland trail building that’s always been popular, now even better value and more important than ever thanks to that business with the banks!

Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, Portugal, 7-17 July  Brand new project.  Slipped in between rivers and sea, the park plays host to unique sand dune habitats and amazing beaches.  Our work is protecting the delicate sand dune ecology and preserving the area’s naturally high biodiversity.

Something for the Weekend?

Hedging in the Blackdowns, 5-7 February   You don’t have to dedicate your life to conservation – or even your hard-earned two weeks.  We’ve got some great weekend projects like one in the stunning Blackdown Hills.  Lower Mackham Farm is a privately run smallholding situated in the middle of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Devon Somerset border.  The farm is used for Forest School trips and other education activities.  Unique geology creates an exceptional environment where rare plant, insect and invertebrate species can flourish.  We’ll be laying one of the many hedges on the farm.  Satisfying, fun, educational – and home in time for tea on Sunday.

For more details of these and other fantastic projects in Cameroon, Estonia, Italy, Japan, Romania and the USA, see www.btcv.org.uk.

 

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From:  BTCV  COMMUNITY  NETWORK  NEWSLETTER
BTCV believe that actions speak louder than words.

During the UN Climate Change summit, 3,000 delegates from governments all over the world gathered.  BTCV’s Carbon Army is responding by carrying out 3,000 days action – one for every delegate at the summit.  Some are volunteering at BTCV local food growing projects to reduce the carbon impact of food miles while others are helping to conserve urban green spaces to keep cities cool.  Joining BTCV’s Carbon Army is frontline action on climate change and directly enables YOU to make a difference.

You are not just making a hot air statement and as a Carbon Army member you’ll be taking direct action and making a difference to your community and the planet.  Join our Carbon Army today and find out how to join a local BTCV Carbon Army action day. You could sign our letter to the UK government, donate essential funds or write a letter to your local paper or MP.  Visit the Carbon Army website to see photos and videos of our army in action www.btcv.org/carbonarmy

What’s the nation’s favourite park or green space?

Vote for your favourite Green Flag award-winning site.
 
Are green spaces in Gateshead more gorgeous than in Glamorgan? Does Birmingham have more beautiful parks than Bradford? Are the cemeteries in Cheltenham more cherished than in Chelmsford?  Do people prefer to admire the allotments in Aylesbury rather than Accrington?
 
If your local park or green space stands out from the rest then visit the Green Flag Award Scheme website www.greenflagaward.org.uk and vote by going to the ‘Get Involved’ section.
 
If your favourite park or green space isn’t listed then why not nominate it to win a Green Flag Award telling us why you think it deserves to win. The site that receives the most votes by September 2010 will receive a special award at the Green Flag Award Scheme’s annual awards ceremony in Autumn 2010.

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GREAT  WOOD  -  GREAT  EFFORT!

 

After working on what must have been one of the worst days that the group has ever experienced, we would like to take the unusual step of thanking everyone for displaying 'grit and determination' in the face of atrocious conditions on 29 November!!  We will remember this day when we return for a maintenance visit in the spring/summer!  Here is the photographic evidence to prove just how awful it was.

 

Planting in the wet at Great Wood School!

David C. and John putting the finishing touches to a Rowan in rather wet conditions!

 

 

Screening the concrete eyesore, a Scots Pine in the foreground

New shrub layer planting to help create a wildlife corridor to and from Great Wood itself

 

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HEDGEROWS

 

Our hedgerow management work is just a small part of what is happening across the UK - some 41% of hedgerows (101,665 miles) are now managed through environmental schemes and around 13,000 miles of hedgerows have been restored in the last 10 years.  We are doing our bit!  

 

For more information on the recently introduced Campaign for the Farmed Environment, a voluntary approach to looking after farm landscapes and wildlife organised by the farming industry, rather than the compulsory set-aside approach originally put forward by Defra, please visit www.cfeonline.org.uk

 

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LANCASTER  DISTRICT  CVS  AWARDS  2009

 

Lancaster District Council for Voluntary Service presented their Volunteer Achievement Awards 2009, at The Platform, Morecambe, on Tuesday 2 June, as public recognition for voluntary effort.  Maggie was our nomination and she received her certificate from the Mayor, supported by Laurie, representing our group at a very pleasant do.

 

 

4922 Maggie Trewhitt, Lancaster and District Conservation Volunteers by Lancaster District CVS.

 

 

Maggie's certificate

Maggie and Laurie enjoyed refreshments

 

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VISIT  TO  RSPB  LEIGHTON  MOSS  -  SUNDAY  17  MAY  2009

 

Leighton Moss was the site of the group's very first task 25 years ago, so it was fitting that one of our anniversary celebrations should be a guided walk there.  Our RSPB guide was Jim, who gave us an insight into the management of the 80 hectare site, particularly the reed beds.  By the reedbeds a bearded tit was seen and we watched and heard a reed warbler.  Several swifts were circling above us.   From the public hide a visiting spoonbill could be seen beyond some gadwalls.  We didn't hear or see a bittern but Jim pointed out an area where they were known to nest.  

 

Afterwards we greatly appreciated deliciously hot soup in the cafe after our rather chilly walk but thankfully the rain had held off.   No doubt we will be visiting Leighton Moss again to enjoy the birds and surroundings at other times of the year.

 

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LANCASTER  GUARDIAN  ARTICLE  10 APRIL 2009

 

A COMMUNITY group helping to improve the environment around the Lancaster district celebrates 25 years of success this year. Lancaster and District Conservation Volunteers (LDCV) was set up in 1984 as an autonomous local group within the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), and is now a member of the BTCV Community Network (www.btcv.org.uk).  Its membership of enthusiastic volunteers has worked effectively for 25 years to improve the quality of the local environment for community benefit.

 

The group is largely funded by the work that it carries out for clients in the public, private and voluntary sectors. These include local authorities, national charitable organisations, private landowners and farmers and local schools. This income is supplemented through fundraising which includes the sale of the group’s own ‘No Puffin’ stickers which have been particularly successful in Shetland.

 

Work carried out by the group includes tree planting and maintenance, hedgerow restoration and management, drystone walling, ponds and school nature reserves, orchard management, footpath management and fencing.  Recent work has included woodland work at Penhale Gardens in Heysham, hedgerow management at Belmount Farm in Slyne and tree planting at Whittingham Orchard near Longridge, as well as a tree plant at Great Wood Primary School in Morecambe, a site they have been involved with most of the past 25 years – and where it was thought apt to plant an anniversary tree.  Joint programme organiser David Alexander said: "The LDCV have appreciated the regular opportunity to work with the school and for the local community environment over the years. "It has been very satisfying to help manage the small but locally important Great Wood and other trees that have been planted in the school grounds."

 

The group’s new programme began this month and includes drystone walling in the Arnside/ Silverdale AONB, together with regular management work at school and farm sites.

 

Mr Alexander said: "We try wherever possible to build in regular follow-up maintenance work, rather than undertake one-off jobs and then simply walk away with little or no aftercare taking place.  "This has allowed the group to build up a number of regular sites where volunteers can see the results of their growing land management skills over time."

 

The group will be celebrating its anniversary with a special visit to RSPB Leighton Moss on Sunday May 17, which ex-volunteers are welcome to join.  For further information about LDCV, please contact David or Elizabeth Alexander on 01524 412938, 7-9pm (answerphone available) or go to www.ldcv.org.

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25TH  ANNIVERSARY  TREE  PLANTING

 

On 1 March, at the front of Great Wood Primary School, we planted our Anniversary Tree, a Field Maple.  We chose to plant it here as we have been involved at this site for most of the past 25 years.  At the same time we also planted other trees for the school including varieties of Mountain Ash and a variety of Cherry. 

 

Great Wood, behind the school, is shown on the 1910 Ordnance Survey map surrounded by fields.  We are glad that Great Wood community appreciate our support in managing Great Wood.  We are all custodians for its future.  

 

The children enjoy using the Wood to support their learning.  Recently, reception children went on an expedition to the Wood and discovered a 'dinosaur egg'.  It was taken back to the classroom, where it grew and grew before hatching!!!

 

John Ross, headteacher, has said the school values the fact that it is a volunteer group who maintains the Wood and appreciates the time and effort put in by all our volunteers, past and present, during the past 25 years.  He would also encourage former pupils to think about and help maintain the Wood for future generations of children.

 

David and Elizabeth Alexander have said how much the LDCV have appreciated the regular opportunity to work with the school and for the local community environment over the years.  It has been very satisfying to help manage the small but locally important Great Wood and other trees that have been planted in the school grounds.  Volunteering for environment management to improve local communities can be very rewarding as well as helping you to keep healthy.

 

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'A Cut above The Rest'

 

This is a free DVD about hedgerow management and the options available, the life cycle of a hedge and the many different types of hedges that occur.  It encourages the landowner to 'read' a hedge before deciding on a course of action.

 

It is available from Natural England's Enquiry Service, tel. 0845 600 3078, or enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk.  Clips from the DVD can be seen on http://www.hedgelink.org.uk/index.php?id=41.  

 

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