Each year we give the wildflower a bit of a trim. This keeps the grass in check and helps the wild flowers to thrive.
The grass has been cut. Now we need to rake up and remove up the cuttings and put them to good use elsewhere. This year we’ll be using them to mulch the new trees in our Miyawaki Forest and Celtic Circle.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s good fun. Our volunteers are a fabulous group of people.
We’ll be working in the wildflower meadow from 10am until about 12. All ages welcome (there’s a job for everyone).
Our monthly gathering for volunteers who want to help us maintain HBUF.
Given the high temperatures expected we’ve moved the start time a bit earlier to avoid the worst of it. Sue & Andy will be there for 9am.
If you want to still come along at 10 then that’s fine, there will still be plenty of balsam to get rid of! We’ll keep going while people are happy to do so, with a cut-off at 12.
Last year we cleared the Himalayan Balsam along the section of the Hreod Burna that runs through HBUF. It’s an invasive species that has taken up space usually occupied by native plants.
The work we did last year has made a big difference… there’s a lot less this year but we still have work to do!
This year we are teaming up with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to make sure it is removed along the entire length of the Burna.
This is the first of two sessions to clear the Balsam from our section of the Burna.
We’ll meet at the container at the top of the picnic field at 9am. We’ll be working west from the Cricklade Road end if you arrive later, just follow the stream 🙂
Our monthly gathering for volunteers who want to help us maintain HBUF.
Given the high temperatures expected we’ve moved the start time a bit earlier to avoid the worst of it. Sue & Andy will be there for 9am.
If you want to still come along at 10 then that’s fine, there will still be plenty of balsam to get rid of! We’ll keep going while people are happy to do so, with a cut-off at 12.
Last year we cleared the Himalayan Balsam along the section of the Hreod Burna that runs through HBUF. It’s an invasive species that has taken up space usually occupied by native plants.
The work we did last year has made a big difference… there’s a lot less this year but we still have work to do!
This year we are teaming up with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to make sure it is removed along the entire length of the Burna.
This is the first of two sessions to clear the Balsam from our section of the Burna.
We’ll meet at the container at the top of the picnic field at 9am. We’ll be working west from the Cricklade Road end if you arrive later, just follow the stream 🙂
Two dates in July to help rid the Hreod Burna of this invasive species… see below or in our events section for more details.
Last year we did some clearance work along the section of the Hreod Burna that runs through HBUF to remove the Himalayan Balsam. It’s an invasive species that has taken up space usually occupied by native plants along the bank of the burna.
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust undertook similar clearance work along other parts of the brook.
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839, but soon escaped and became widely naturalised along riverbanks and ditches, especially close to towns. It is fast-growing and spreads quickly, invading wet habitat at the expense of other, native flowers. Its explosive seed pods aid its spread by sending the seeds into the river, causing further dispersal downstream.
Volunteers working with the Trust have recently started to survey Himalayan Balsam along the length of the Hreod Burna Corridor and have confirmed that the work they undertook last year has resulted in a reduction in Balsam. We’ve been out to some of the areas we cleared last year and there is a lot less now than there was back then.
Their survey also indicates that it may be possible to really make a difference along the corridor, and they are hoping to join forces to make sure it is removed along the entire length of the Burna.
HBUF will be organising two sessions where we hope to be joined by other volunteers working with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to clear the Balsam from our section of the Burna.
Our monthly gathering for volunteers who want to help us maintain HBUF.
This month we’ll be giving the place a bit of a trim. Left to their own devices, the brambles and nettles would take over. As much as we love them, we do need to keep the paths and fields open to the good folk of Swindon!
We’ll meet at the container at the top of the picnic field at 10am.
They don’t always go quietly, so dress appropriately to avoid getting too many stings and scratches!
Our monthly gathering for volunteers who want to help us maintain HBUF.
This month we’ll be giving the place a bit of a trim. Left to their own devices, the brambles and nettles would take over. As much as we love them, we do need to keep the paths and fields open to the good folk of Swindon!
We’ll meet at the container at the top of the picnic field at 10am.
They don’t always go quietly, so dress appropriately to avoid getting too many stings and scratches!
Gaby and Juanjo have been regulars at our volunteer sessions since 2020. They have tried their hands at most of the things we get up to, from coppicing to tree planting.
Juanjo & Gaby helping to plant the Miyawaki Forest in 2022
My husband and I walk daily in this lovely forest and are grateful to all volunteers who look after it. Today we spent a very pleasant afternoon with nature-loving people working together for present and future generations.
Planting a tree is one of the most rewarding things one can do. It is a thrilling experience placing the small tree carefully in its place whilst imagining what it will look like in the future when it reaches its full splendour. Today, we planted many trees and this feeling multiplied.
Gaby
Gaby
Juanjo
I walk in the Hreod Burna Urban Forest and The Venny every day, and I feel privileged to have such wonderful spaces so close to where I live.
Volunteering now and then to plant trees, coppicing or just picking litter up while I walk, is my way of giving a bit back for that privilege.
Juanjo
Juanjo has also used his camera skills to document some of our activities. If you’re part of our Facebook group, you might have seen his video fly-through of the Burna during a session spent battling the invading Himalayan Balsam or his montage of one of our coppicing sessions.
Chris and Lizzie joined us to plant our Celtic tree circle in February. Like a lot of people, Chris had been planning to come along for a while, but things just seemed to always get in the way.
Chris is the one with the holly
Finally the stars aligned…
Lizzie and I came along despite the drizzly weather as we wanted to get some fresh air and do something good for wildlife in Swindon! We had a lovely time digging holes and planting trees with the very friendly group – we’re looking forward to going back to see how the trees we planted are getting on.
Chris
Lizzie got the oak (everyone wants to plant an oak tree!)
The pair say they’re looking forward to coming back again to help out. Not least because it’s a great way to spend a morning, even when the weather isn’t on your side!
If you don’t want to miss out on your chance to get involved, you can subscribe to our mailing list and we’ll let you know what we’re up to each month.
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.
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.
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.
