Author name: Andy

April Powers

Events, Volunteer Days, Volunteering / By

Your superpower? Creating a wildlife oasis in the centre of Gorse Hill and Pinehurst for generations to enjoy.

We’ve got a lot to do again this month, with a wide range of jobs that we need your help with across the site. Please join us on our usual outing on the 3rd Sunday of every month between 10 and 12, next event on 25th of April.

Photo of purple and white fritillaries in the grass of the wildflower meadow
Fritillaries in the wildflower meadow

While you’re there, be sure to visit the wildflower meadow, where the fritillaries that we planted last year have started to come up!

As well as the familiar clearance and planting jobs that need doing we have unwanted visitors to evict! The Himalayan Balsam growing along the banks of the stream is an invasive species that’s crowding out native plants and has to go.

Checkout the event for more details of exactly what we’ll be up to and where to meet.

April Powers Read More »

March On…

Events, Posts, Volunteer Days, Volunteering / By

Our work party this month sees us tackling a wide range of jobs. We’ve got chipping, strimming, planting, and all sorts planned. There are even some trees that need to be freed!

We’ll be spread out in a few areas across the site, so everyone can keep distanced. Please RSVP so we know how many are coming and can plan accordingly.

We’re giving our new chipping attachment for the tractor it’s first outing. To make way for our new birch grove we’ve removed a big pile of brambles that need to be chipped.

In the picnic field the trees have outgrown their supports and need to be freed from the rubber bands holding them. In many cases it’s now the trees that are holding the posts up rather than the other way around.

And in the areas that we’ll be clearing there are new trees to go in, as well as the ongoing task of making sure our 2019 plantings are looked after.

Please RSVP so we know how many people are coming and can plan to keep you all safely distanced. We’ll send you details of exactly where to meet and what you might need to bring for the various jobs.

March On… Read More »

We’re back..

Events, Volunteer Days, Volunteering / By

We’re restarting our work parties this month with some more tree-planting.

We will be doing this in a covid-safe way by avoiding meeting as one big group. To help us plan this please register for the event so we know who’s coming.

We will be doing some new planting to replace trees that have been damaged or removed and giving a bit of TLC to our younger saplings. Depending on numbers we may also be doing a bit of litter-picking in some areas.

The planting will be happening on 21st February.

If you’d like us to keep you up to date with the latest events and goings-on at HBUF, why not subscribe to our mailing list? We’ll send you a maximum of one or two emails a month with event details and other news.

We’re back.. Read More »

Cancellation notice for Jan 17th Work Party

Work Party Suspended

Events, News, Volunteer Days, Volunteering / By

Sorry folks…

The trustees and have agreed to cancel January’s session, and we will review when we can start up again on an ongoing basis.

Even before the lockdown, when we were at Tier 4, it seemed wrong to go ahead. With the national lockdown now in place our decision seems even more justified.

Technically there might have been a way we could work within the restrictions, but we would prefer to act in the spirit of the measures being taken, rather than trying to work to the limits of what we can get away with.

Thankfully, Hreod Burna Urban Forest remains a fantastic place for people to come for their daily exercise. An oasis in the middle of Gorse Hill and Pinehurst.

We’ll be back up and running normally just as soon as we can. In the meantime we are looking at ways that you or your family group might be able to ‘adopt’ an area to look after on an individual basis, without the need for us to all meet up. For instance, maybe you could adopt an area of planting and keep the saplings staked and protected. We’ll be exploring the practicalities of that over the coming week.

If you’re not already, please do consider subscribing to our mailing list to be the first to hear of our plans as they unfold.

Work Party Suspended Read More »

Let’s get to work…

Posts / By

So that it can reach its full potential as a haven for wildlife and people alike in the urban landscape of Swindon, the Hreod Burna Urban Forest needs a lot of work.

Following on from the huge success of our efforts to mow the wildflower meadow in September, we have plans to take on a series of vital jobs in other parts of HBUF.

Just some of our wildflower volunteers

Over the coming months we have volunteers from various groups coming in for one-off events and we’re launching a regular get-together once a month to tackle a long list of jobs that the trustees have identified:

  • Strimming, clearing of brambles and cutting back in some areas to allow new planting and maintain previously planted areas.
  • Creating a grove of birch trees around the trees rescued from the Moonrakers roadworks.
  • Preparation and planting of our Celtic tree circle.
  • Strimming and clearance of existing paths and cutting back trees/undergrowth in preparation for laying of new paths.
  • Coppicing – this was started last autumn and needs to be maintained.
  • Planting of trees & under-storey shrubs (e.g. box, yew, holly).
  • Planting of 1,000 fritillaries and wildflower plug plants in the wildflower meadow.
  • Clearance of the Himalayan balsam growing along the brook – it’s an invasive species.

Our regular work parties will be on the first Sunday of every month, starting on the 1st of November.

The events will be covid-safe. We have plenty of jobs spread across the site to allow small groups to work at distance within government guidelines.

We’ll post more details of the particular works planned each month closer to the date, and what particular skills & equipment (gloves, tools, etc.) might be required. If you can join us every month, or just for an hour or two every now and again, your efforts will be greatly appreciated (not just by us but by everyone that gets such joy from the forest both today and for years to come).

You can check back here or on Facebook for news of upcoming events. If you haven’t already, why not subscribe to our mailing list for advanced warning of events and other updates from HBUF.

Let’s get to work… Read More »

Minutes of Meeting, April 2019

Meeting Minutes / By

Present at meeting: John Ballman, Steve Thompson, Kate Henery, Bob Sherman, Mary Farragher

Apologies for absence:

Sue Gwinnell, Amanda Musto

Minutes of last meeting:

Accepted as a true record

Matters Arising:

  1. New lock for shed – Steve has approached company but received no response as yet.  Will follow up.
  2. As to security – John Ballman reports that the Parish has taken over the depot off Pinehurst Road so that will be secure for HBUF to use.

Compact Tractor:

HBUF has £17,500 in our funds towards this.  The Parish is willing to share buying and costs with us, with the condition that only named drivers will be able to drive it.  We will then share in its use.

Eco-Fest 14th April:

Details about this once more.  Steve has been asked to give a talk about HBUF, which is to take place at 2.00.

AOB:

Because of elections responsibilities, HBUF will have no meeting in May.

Meeting closed 8.00

Next Meeting: 7.00 Monday 10th June 2019, St Barnabas Small Hall.

Minutes of Meeting, April 2019 Read More »

Minutes of Meeting, April 2018

Meeting Minutes / By

Present at meeting: Kate Henery, Steve Thompson, Josie Lewis, Bob Sherman, Amanda Musto, Marieanna MacPherson, Mary Farragher

Apologies for absence: Sue Gwinnell, Stuart Batsford

Minutes of last meeting: Josie stated that she had amendments; Steve moved that the meeting accept the unamended minutes as an accurate record and this was passed.

Matters Arising:

  • Josie handed out an extended version of the minutes which the meeting dismissed as an irrelevancy.
  • Steve asked Josie to email to him the quote for planings that she had found.
  • Celtic Tree Calendar: Kate has estimated the costs at £1,200 inclusive.
  • New bank account: Kate is starting the process online (as the bank has indicated).
  • Mini opinion poll: Amanda reported a positive response to this. She will bring the results to May’s meeting.  Hedgehog run query as well.
  • Tree pruning: Steve reported that the Council has not got the budget for this, but that Rob Cove would send someone out to have a look.

Chairman’s Report:

Steve has paid the bee-hive deposit; he will advertise exactly when it is to take place via Facebook.

Mini-Dumper:

The wrong mini-dumper was delivered so we have to wait a little longer for the one we want.

Jobs for Well-being Group:

This is for Mon 23rd April.  Steve suggested that concrete posts, wire mesh, rubble should be taken to one spot next to the sleeper bridge, where it should be covered with topsoil and chippings (with reminder about wearing of masks).

AOB:

  • Steve suggested droppable bollard at main entrance – all in favour; he will get an estimate.
  • Josie – road planings quote from a council source
  • Reminder of Britain in Bloom in July; any photos please send to Steve who will pass on to Richard
  • Litter-picking along cycle track a good idea.
  • Concern about presence (and possible source) of used nappies being dumped in the woodland.

Meeting closed at 7.55.

Next Meeting: 7.00, Monday 14th May, St Barnabas Small Hall.

Minutes of Meeting, April 2018 Read More »

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