Upton Warren work party (1 Viewer)

Hi everyone on BF,

Just wondered if I could get some information on the work parties that take place on the reserve? Where on the reserve do they generally take place? What time do people meet up? What kind of help is required? Would I need any equipment?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Steve

Steve

Until John (Upstarts1979 - don't be fooled it's nothing like the year of his birth!) gets here to go into greater detail, the work parties are a two-pronged concern that start sometime in September.
Tuesday's see the Moors party in action. They are managed by Gordon Greaves (sp?), the resident Moors warden.
Whereas on Sundays John (and the other wardens) lead a group of merry men (other sexes are available on request) on the Flashes work party.
I believe that most essential tools are readily available, but, if like me you prefer to use your own, you'll be more than welcome.
Things like chainsaw operation however, require the appropriate licence. I think they both start mid-morning; 9 or 10 o'clock IIRC.

There's a start for you.

Rgds

Work Parties

wmtlynx said:

Hi everyone on BF,

Just wondered if I could get some information on the work parties that take place on the reserve? Where on the reserve do they generally take place? What time do people meet up? What kind of help is required? Would I need any equipment?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Steve

Click to expand...

Hi Steve
I think I may have met you yesterday with your Girlfriend/s apologies if it wasn't you.
The work parties season starts at the Flashes in October and continue on every FIRST Sunday of the month until and including March (April if we haven't completed the tasks).They start about 10am and continue all day, so you can stay as long as you want.

No need to bring tools unless specialised as Simon has alluded.
Refreshments (cold drink) and biscuits are provided we also have work gloves but you will need wellies.

I will post on here as will Phil AKA(Upton till I die) who is the leader. We will also put a board at the Flashes giving dates and proposed work details.

At the Moors
PAUL is the leader and the work takes place almost every Tuesday from 9.30 until 1pm. (not sure about refreshments:-O). Stuart AKA 'Warrener' regularly posts on here so he could give more details.

One thing I can guarantee is a warm welcome at both sites. The fact is that without volunteers the whole reserve would be in a sorry state. So if anyone can spend just a few hours a month I promise you it will make a big difference.

I hope that answers all your questions
Also there are Ladies on both sites, hope to see you in October
B John

John,

Yes, that was me yesterday with Rhian (long suffering girlfriend) and Caroline. Had a great day seeing 43 species of bird, plus several butterflies, dragonflies, a squirrel and some bunnies.

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated. We regularly notice work that has been done on the reserve and thought it might be a nice idea to get involved to help out. I'll keep a look out on here for more information about the winter work at the Flashes, and try and get down on a Tuesday morning if i can fit it in around work. I'd like to learn some new skills and meet some new people - Upton seems like an ideal place to go!


Regards,
Steve

wmtlynx said:

John,

Yes, that was me yesterday with Rhian (long suffering girlfriend) and Caroline. Had a great day seeing 43 species of bird, plus several butterflies, dragonflies, a squirrel and some bunnies.

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated. We regularly notice work that has been done on the reserve and thought it might be a nice idea to get involved to help out. I'll keep a look out on here for more information about the winter work at the Flashes, and try and get down on a Tuesday morning if i can fit it in around work. I'd like to learn some new skills and meet some new people - Upton seems like an ideal place to go!


Regards,
Steve

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Steve
After you went I decided to cut down vegetation in front of the Hen Pool good views of reed loving birds worth half an hour when you are next there
john

Hi Steve - all new attendees for the work parties are very welcome. It certainly gives one a new perspective to be involved in the work parties, both in terms of visiting areas of the reserve not normally visible from the hides and learning more about the habitat and its management from our more "long serving" members. It is also a great opportunity to bump into interesting species; the Flashes work party will often flush Jack Snipe whilst other good sightings in recent years have included Merlin, RB Shrike, Rock Pipit and RB Merganser!

upton-till-i-die said:

Hi Steve - all new attendees for the work parties are very welcome. It certainly gives one a new perspective to be involved in the work parties, both in terms of visiting areas of the reserve not normally visible from the hides and learning more about the habitat and its management from our more "long serving" members. It is also a great opportunity to bump into interesting species; the Flashes work party will often flush Jack Snipe whilst other good sightings in recent years have included Merlin, RB Shrike, Rock Pipit and RB Merganser!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll find a day when I can come along soon. It's a great place to go birding, but only because of the people who manage it. If it weren't for you guys then I'm sure the reserve would just be an inhospitable mess of brambles!

Regards,
Steve

wmtlynx said:

... an inhospitable mess of brambles!...

Click to expand...

Ah, those were the days!

Next Work Party Dates

Work parties at the Flashes
The Flashes' work parties commence on Sunday 26th September, then Sunday 3rd October and every first Sunday of the month thereafter. Work starts at 10:00 and usually lasts into mid afternoon although any time that anyone can spare is appreciated. Light refreshments (squash, biscuits) are provided, together with tools. Participants are asked to wear whelies or other waterproof footwear and bring gloves.
The work programme for 2010/11 includes (but not exclusively):-

- Thorough checking of the fox proof fence (to assist breeding waders in 2011)
- Raking up sedge to be cut by the Trust (to provide suitable Snipe habitat)
- Preparing the winter feeding station (hopefully to attract the return of Tree Sparrow and other farmalnd birds under pressure)
- Management of the scrub between the Hen Pool and the Feeding (improved feeding / breeding potential for warblers)
- Dredging out channels in front of the hide (partially completed in 2010 - to provide wader feeding areas)
- Review / improvement of the islands (to provide suitable breeding areas for waders)
- Cutting to foreshore in early Spring (to provide suitable feeding areas for migrants and early breeders)

We are currently keeping the water level low at the Flashes to assist with several of these tasks.

All participants - new and old - are welcomed. Work parties are a great way to meet like-minded people and see the reserve from a different perspective, both literally and also understand what makes it and the birds that visit it tick. I have learnt a huge amount since I first started 11 years ago both in terms of birds and the habitat. It is also a fantastic opportunity to see birds such as - Jack Snipe that is regularly flushed and other good sightings in the last 12 months include Merlin, GBB Gull, RB Merganser, Stonchat etc. I will let those of you who were at the October 1999 work party bore the forum silly with the RB Shrike sighting .......going back further we can include Bearded tit, marsh harrier and short eared owl.
All the work is done for a reason and we will explain why and what wildlife will benefit from our endeavours, it is a laid back relaxed day full of banter with a small amount of sweat..

The more of us there are the more we achieve


I wont be available for the first two work parties so they will be lead by John (upstarts) in my absence.

In the meantime the weekly work parties continue at the Moors Pool every Tuesday, starting at 09:00. These are led to Paul Moseley with assistance from Warrener (Stuart Andrews)

All the best
Phil

Ref: Sundays 'Emergency" work party.
I intend to be there as long as I have all the jobs complete on the Landie...50/50, I guess.
Assuming all goes to plan I'll fetch my barrow and spade with me. Do we need anything else in particular?
Spades?
Forks?
Sickle?
Machete?
Brush cutter?
Strimmer?
I really regret having my trailer nicked as this would have been the ideal w/e to use the mini-tractor to move aggregate etc.

Sy V said:

Ref: Sundays 'Emergency" work party.
I intend to be there as long as I have all the jobs complete on the Landie...50/50, I guess.
Assuming all goes to plan I'll fetch my barrow and spade with me. Do we need anything else in particular?
Spades?
Forks?
Sickle?
Machete?
Brush cutter?
Strimmer?
I really regret having my trailer nicked as this would have been the ideal w/e to use the mini-tractor to move aggregate etc.

Click to expand...

Just bring yourself Sy :-O
Joking apart weather looks good and hopefully we will be able to make up for Octobers wash out . If you can bring a wheelbarrow that would be great :t:

cu SundayB John

Thought this might help for reference if you want to explain to the less knowledgeable visitors whereabouts the next Flashes work party may be operating.

Source:http://www.e-dat.info/OSGridRef.aspx

Sy V said:

Thought this might help for reference if you want to explain to the less knowledgeable visitors whereabouts the next Flashes work party may be operating.

Source:http://www.e-dat.info/OSGridRef.aspx

Click to expand...

Hi Sy
good idea
we will be working at C3 and C2 initially where we will be re-shingling the left 2nd flash island, also digging out a couple of channels and using the spoil to create another 'spit' the crescent island will also be refurbished to stop the polythene flapping around. The burnt grass will be raked up and moved. If we have time and enough people we will do some scrub management in C5.

For anyone wanting to help out please come along we start at 10am Sunday 7th Nov, so whenever you can until 4 ish.
drink and biscuits provided weather looks good so hopefully we will get a good turn out.
B John

Photos from Sunday's work party can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmtlynx/sets/72157624801703767/ towards the bottom of the page

Was a most enjoyable and entertaining day, well worth the effort!

Regards,
Steve

wmtlynx said:

Photos from Sunday's work party can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmtlynx/sets/72157624801703767/ towards the bottom of the page

Was a most enjoyable and entertaining day, well worth the effort!

Regards,
Steve

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Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Good to see photos from a different perspective other than from the hides.
Hope to see you and your Dad of course on the next one in Decemeber
B John

December's Flashes work party

Advanced warning of work party at the Flashes on Sunday 5th December.

Workload to include:

- Continuing with the scrub management of the area between the Hen Pool and Feeding Station (to regenerate the vegetation at various levels, removing dead wood and stimulating low level growth currently blocked out by tall woody branches / trees; will benefit breeding warblers but also butterflies)
- Complete the preparation of the winter feeding station
- Pruning back the taller growth close to the Tower Hide (to improve sight lines into the nearer channels)
- Removal of the encroaching reedbed in front of the sewage works; hopefully the frost will get to the rhyzomes (to maintain an open shoreline providing quiet feeding areas away from the hide and stop the Flashes becoming too enclosed to the detriment of passage / roosting birds; also removes potential cover mammalian predators)

10am start; light refreshments (squash and biscuits provided). All welcome - please bring gloves and wear old clothes and boots / wellies. Last time we had 19 volunteers; a great turnout which resulted in a really productive day.

upton-till-i-die said:

Advanced warning of work party at the Flashes on Sunday 5th December.

Workload to include:

- Continuing with the scrub management of the area between the Hen Pool and Feeding Station (to regenerate the vegetation at various levels, removing dead wood and stimulating low level growth currently blocked out by tall woody branches / trees; will benefit breeding warblers but also butterflies)
- Complete the preparation of the winter feeding station
- Pruning back the taller growth close to the Tower Hide (to improve sight lines into the nearer channels)
- Removal of the encroaching reedbed in front of the sewage works; hopefully the frost will get to the rhyzomes (to maintain an open shoreline providing quiet feeding areas away from the hide and stop the Flashes becoming too enclosed to the detriment of passage / roosting birds; also removes potential cover mammalian predators)

10am start; light refreshments (squash and biscuits provided). All welcome - please bring gloves and wear old clothes and boots / wellies. Last time we had 19 volunteers; a great turnout which resulted in a really productive day.

Click to expand...

Also on Tuesday 7th December at the MOORS 9am -12.30pm

on going scrub management
B John

Work Parties for 2011
The weekly Tuesday work party season commences:-
4th January

The monthly Sunday work party season commences:-
9th January and reverts back to the first Sunday in the month thereafter.

I am sure Phil will post details nearer the time


please note there are no work parties Tue 28th Dec or Sunday 2nd Jan
B John

Just a quick reminder that the first work party of the year at the Flashes is this forthcoming Sunday (9th). I wont be present as I will be sunning myself in Dubai but John will be leading from the front. Its the usual 10am start with light refreshments provided (squash and biscuits). For anyone thinking of joining as a New Years' resolution please wear old clothes, boots / wellies and bring a pair of gloves. General plan for this year is as follows:

JANUARY (9th)
- Continued work on the management of the scrub between the Hen Pool and Feeding Station to benefit breeding / passage warblers
- Potentially starting work on the tall hedgerow on the south side of the path to create more diversity and light

FEBRUARY (6th)
- Completing any scrub management work
- Thorough checking of the fox proof fencing including the infilling of any holes
- Removal of the reed bed in front of the sewage works
- Ensuring clear sight lines from the main hide
- Time permitting, an initial cut of the grass in front of the main hide

MARCH (6th)
- Close cut of the grass in front of the hide and foreshore to provide wader / wheatear / wagtail feeding habitat.
- Review of the islands, adding additional gravel where neccessary
- Removal of vegetation from the islands
- Cutting vierwing channels in the Hen Pool reedbed
- Follow up check of the fox proof fencing

This work will be complemented by input from the Trust in mid March by treating the islands and cutting the sewage works meadow.

The final scheduled work party takes place at the Flashes on Sunday 6th March. The work programme includes:-

• 
  Fixing the holes identified in Februay in the fox proof fence
  Clearing the islands of vegetation
  Re-shingling islands and spits where neccessary
  Strimming and mowing the foreshore and islands
  Undertaking a thorough fox flush and resecuring the sewage work gates
  Cutting back any obstructions to views from the Tower Hide
  Strimming the reeds in front of the Hen Pool hide

Due to the volume of work it will be an earlier start at 9:30am. Any time you can spare would be very much appreciated; we will be very busy with up to 3 strimmers and 3 mowers on the go. As always light refreshments (squash and biscuits) will be provided; please wear old clothes, gloves and boots / wellies.

Any queries just send me a PM.
Phil