News
Welcome to our new website
This replaces the website originally set up in 2008 by Steve Spelman and managed until recently by Hans Rieder. Unfortunately Hans is no longer able to continue this work and as the platform had become outdated we decided to establish a new one. Fortunately we have had tremendous help from Chris Vaughan, who lives in the village, in setting up a new website. This has proved to be a difficult and time consuming project and we are most grateful to Chris for his knowledge, skill and enthusiasm, and for his patience in involving members of the management group.
Jo Watson, a graphic designer, has taken on the task of giving the website a new look which I hope you will like. It includes a new illustrated monthly feature of “What to Spot” as well as news items.
Contributions from the public are welcome. If you see something of interest or unusual please let us know. The wildlife lists have been updated and include a request to notify rarer species.
Finally, if you have any suggestions on how the website might be improved do get in touch. We are a group of enthusiastic amateurs, and hope the website will steadily evolve and improve with your help.
Keith Dodd, Chairman of Management Group
April 2019
Successful litter pick on 13 April
We had a very productive session with 11 volunteers, including several new faces.
We collected about 20 black bags plus iron work and timber, a lot of which was produced by badger digging in the swamp and by the river. The photo shows only a fraction of the work.
Many thanks to Dave Winslow and Mick Connel for organising it.
Keith
Open Meeting held on site - 8 April 2019
Nine people were there, including 3 who are not members of the management group.
We walked around the whole of the reserve, noting fallen river bank at north pasture pump, fresh otter tracks in muddy beach, evidence of badger digging near river bank, areas where Japanese knotweed is being treated, beneficial effects of grazing and scrub clearance on main grass area, alder sapling growth near the corral which is to be treated, ephemeral pond to be dug out to make a shallow pond, and scalloping of scrub along main path.
It was agreed to ask the Derbyshire Mammal Group to undertake a small mammal survey, which they last did here in 2008.
The highlight of the evening was to walk along the length of the swamp and observe the extensive tree felling and scrub clearance done recently by the MUNIO project with the aim of reducing water loss from the swamp, and preserving this valuable habitat. Two photos are attached.
We are most grateful to the MUNIO team and also to the Derby Parks Volunteers, and the DerwentWise project for their excellent work on site over the last year.
KLD 9/04/19
