Archive for the :: Millennium Country Park Category

Bearded tit at the Country Park, it's possible! (picture Don Morris)

It may be frozen and gloomy but you can’t cower inside until until May; can you?

What might lift the spirits and get the blood pumping is to come to the Country Park for a walk. We have a fantastic network of paths including 5 miles of surfaced trails for cycling if you’re feeling really active. From a long hike to the shortest stroll the Millennium Country Park offers wonderful views and a variety of meadows, woods and water. At the end of a walk the Lakeside Cafe is the place for a cake, hot soup and coffee.

If you’d like to join others, why not come to one of our guided walks? This weekend there are two.

Feathers in the freezer – a bird walk

The Bird walk   will happen on Saturday 4 February 2012, 8am – 11am and costs £3/adult, £2/child. £1 reduction for Volunteers and Friends.  Life’s tough at this time of year and there’s always a chance of rarities in the Country Park. Our volunteer leaders are the people to tell you what you are looking at or listening to.

No experience of birdwatching is necessary because leaders know everything necessary to introduce you to the wonderful world of birding.  Bring binoculars if you have them although these are not essential as there are usually some spares and often the chance to look down telescopes.

Wrap up warm- birders often spend ages rooted to the spot waiting for something to happen! There are some rough paths and short lengths of gradient over 1:6. Please book in advance but pay the leader on the day. Call 01234 767037 to book a place.

Sunday Stroll, a Gentle Sunday Walk 

5 February at 10.30am
Come and join us in the Country Park for a gentle walk to hear how the Park was set up and a little about the surrounding area.

The walk will keep to hard surfaced tracks in the Park which are mostly level but have short sections of gradient up to 1:9.

Call 01234 767037 for more details.
Cost £1, payable on the day – no need to book. Meet at reception. Walks last approximately 2 hours.                              

Why not finish the morning off with lunch in our Forest Centre Restaurant? Call 01234 767037 for details.

Hornet clearwing moth (image Devegg Rudd)

During February there will be some noticeable tree felling in the Millennium Country Park. Anyone who has visited the Park will know that most of the woodland on site is still very young and made up of a diverse mix of British native tree and shrub species. However, there is a significant number of mature trees on site; mostly poplar.

Poplars are fast-growing and naturally short-lived and ours are approaching the end of their lives. The aging process is being hastened by the larvae of the hornet clearwing moth (Sesia apiformis) which create extensive tunnels, generally at the base of trees. The larvae feed on live wood and exposed roots; a process that severely damages trees and leaves them susceptible to being blown over in high winds. Damage caused by the larvae is obvious in severely infested trees that have fallen; the base is reduced to something resembling honeycomb.

Last winter all our mature trees were surveyed by an arboriculturalist for health and condition. This survey will guide the management of these trees in the coming years. It identified a number of trees in particularly poor condition. This, coupled with the fact that many of the trees are in close proximity to well used paths and the railway, means they must be felled for public safety reasons. Some will be pollarded (cut at two metres or more above ground level) where it is safe to do so, to retain standing dead wood. A good proportion of the felled trees will be left to rot down naturally. Dead wood is a hugely important but often overlooked habitat which supports a wide variety of invertebrates as well as the small mammals and birds which feed on them.

This work is scheduled for February to ensure it is completed before the bird nesting season begins and it is likely that a proportion of the poplars on site will be felled each winter in the knowledge that their condition will only deteriorate further in future.

Areas currently dominated by poplar will be restocked in the coming years with the same mix of native species which has been planted in the rest of the Park.

There may be some minor disruption to some of the paths while the work is carried out but short diversions will be marked to ensure this is kept to a minimum.

For further information please contact Anna Charles- Head Ranger at anna.charles@marstonvale.org or 01234 762614

Forest Volunteers take a break from the bashing (image Don Morris)

I’ve done a lot of scrub bashing in my life (really a lot) and it’s usually quite fun as long as the duration of each episode is limited. One can have too much of a good thing and clearing dangerously prickly hawthorn bushes for days on end in bitter cold and often wet conditions is far from my idea of a good time. Last Sunday’s bash was however, the best ever.

For one thing the weather was fantastic; about as beautiful a January day as I’ve ever experienced. Sharply cold and as clear as a well crafted blog post. Somewhere in the region of twenty five Forest Volunteers showed up at the Forest Centre to spend the morning clearing hawthorn from part of the Callow Mounds. And there was the second good thing – a morning scrub bashing. About long enough to work up an appetite and feel like you’ve earned a sit down, but not so much that your hawthorn hatred gets out of control. Followed by a lazy Sunday afternoon doing not ever so much.

This was our more or less annual Volunteer task and lunch at which the Marston Vale Trust is pleased to offer a small token to say a sincere thank you to the legion of people who help us out doing all sorts of things through the year. The token was lunch and everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.

I had a previous lunch appointment so missed the food, so I will use this opportunity to say thank you to all the Forest Volunteers who make the Forest happen. Without you all we would be unable to make such huge progress each year.

And another thing that made it for me was Anna’s scallops (or were these scollops?) Usually on these occasions one is presented with an area of bushes and asked to cut down bushes. Here we were asked to create scallops, gorgeous curves breaking into the depths of the tangled thorn which can only become beautiful refugia for our butterflies come the spring. Thinking while scrub bashing was a revelation – brilliant!

Guy Lambourne

Martin Green appeared in the office this morning having got some good footage of great northern divers on Stewartby Lake. These birds overwinter in the UK, more commonly around or off the shores of the Northern and Western Isles as well as Cornwall, before returning to breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland in the spring.

Although they aren’t seen frequently on inland freshwater lakes at this time of year, it’s not unheard of. Indeed, I see there are records posted today at www.birdguides.com at Grafham, Cambridgeshire and Rollesby Broad, Norfolk.

Martin promised to get his video on Vimeo. When he does, I’ll get a link up here.

Kingfisher in winter (image-Don Morris)

Tuesday 27 December, 8am – 11am.

Shake off the Christmas excess and find out how birds fare at this time of year on a guided walk in the Country Park.

Winter can be a rough time for birds. When the ground’s frozen, worms are difficult to get at and should lakes and ponds freeze, the likes of kingfishers can suffer. However, many species are here to enjoy our relatively mild climate, having flown south to escape the Arctic winter.

Many species arrive in the UK to overwinter and feed in our hedgerows, fields, lakes and wetlands. We should see a good range of these during this walk, given some luck. If anyone can find them, our volunteer bird walk leaders can.

Talk to the experts

You’ll be in good company, with people who really know what they are talking about. But don’t be put off by their great expertise – there’s no point-scoring here (well maybe a little between the experts). However much or little you know about birds, you’ll be made very welcome. If you have binoculars, bring them along but that’s not essential as there are usually some spare pairs and often a chance to look through a telescope. But beware – catching a good view of a beautiful bird through a high quality telescope is a glorious experience and might just be the beginning of a life-time passion.

Binoculars or not – make sure you wrap up warm. This isn’t a hike that will get the blood pumping. These guys are prepared to stand still for long periods to get the view they want. There are some rough paths and short lengths of gradient over 1:6.

£3/adult, £2/child. £1 reduction for Volunteers and Friends

Please book in advance but pay the leader on the day. Call 01234 767037

Hard graft on the boardwalk (image Don Morris)

Last Thursday myself and five hardy souls braved the first icy chill of winter to install some mesh on the boardwalk at the Millennium Country Park. The method behind our madness was that the mesh would provide members of the public with a solid footing on a surface which can resemble an ice rink when it is wet and muddy. We tensioned the mesh over the boardwalk then secured it in place with a combination of different types of staples. Trying to hold the staples in place with a set of frozen digits before trying to hammer them in (and missing one’s fingers) was a great challenge in the cold conditions.

At one point it looked like morale was flagging among the volunteers and I was worried they would scarper when my back was turned. Thankfully they all cheered up and warmed up when I brought out steaming hot cups of tea and coffee and some hot mince pies. We returned to the challenge of completing the job before the dark descended and finished the task just before 4pm. It was a superb effort from the volunteers to finish what was a challenging job in the cold conditions Thankfully it is not one which we  turn our hand to everyday but when finished, makes a big difference to the safety of visitors to the park.

The next chance to do some practical work in the Country Park is on Saturday 21 January at 10.15am, when we will be doing some willow coppicing.

As ever, wear old clothes and bring lunch if you can stay all day. We provide tea and biscuits (the mince pies were a festive special!) Meet at the Forest Centre.

Please contact me to let me know if you would like to attend –  email or call 01234 762610

Steve Gascoyne, Park Ranger

hedge laying gets technical

It’s that time of year again and in response to the summons for volunteers from Ranger Sven at the Forest Centre, on Saturday 19th November a largish number of us gathered at the Centre on what turned out to be a beautiful autumn day, eagerly awaiting the day’s ‘hedging’ activities – nothing to do with financial markets! For some new members it was their first time ever, for others of us (so called old hands) it was our first hedging session of the season.

As we trudged along in small groups to the work location, maybe some (like me) were trying to recall the techniques picked up last year and realising that the old brain is just not what it used to be. No need to worry though, on reaching the location alongside Station Road, Ranger Sven (mine of information that he is) gave a very interesting overview of hedge laying, why it is done and how, together with a potted history of the art, the tools used and of course the safe use of the same. The regulars at the Forest Marston Centre (Volunteer Assistant Rangers) have been very busy sharpening and re-furbishing the necessary tools to ensure they are in tip top condition for the task – therefore it’s vital that everyone is aware of the damage that can be done in careless hands.

Apparently the hedge alongside Station Road, on the boundary of the Millennium Country Park, is pretty ancient (a few hundred years) so is worth looking after. We were all keen to get stuck in and in a few hours the tangle of hedge, for about 50 metres length, had been cut back, old dead material removed (piles of it) and we could see the wood for the trees so to speak. During the work, ace Volunteer photographer Don appeared with his Nikon camera and took several posed and candid shots of us working, or not, as the case may be. Over the years Don has taken some wonderful photographs of the wildlife at Marston including people working on the various projects so there is an excellent record of events, flora and fauna.

After lunch, it was apparent we could actually get down to some real hedge laying – the moment of truth as it were. Sven gave a demonstration of how it’s done and made it look easy (he always does), then it was our turn. He split us into teams of 4 or 5 – new people with the ‘old hands’ and we were allocated a section of hedge to tackle. Definitely, this work is harder than it looks requiring some skill with use of the tools, so you have to apply yourself to the job in hand and know when to take a breather. That said, it is most satisfying to step back after several large branches or stems have been laid and see how much neater it looks – and this is before the top binding has been done. It starts you thinking about how the other branches will lay, the most suitable ones to keep and which ones to discard – it requires quite a bit of thought and frequent advice from Sven.

All too soon the day is at an end and it’s time to pack up, return to the Forest Centre, unload, clean & lubricate the tools ready for next time – these outdoor activities are the stuff of real teamwork.

Next opportunity to do some conservation work in the Country Park is on Sunday 11 December. Read more…

Nigel (Forest Volunteer)

Don Morris, Volunteer Park Warden, has been at it again and this time it’s more exciting than usual. Armed with a remotely triggered infra-red camera, he’s been trying to catch an image of the otter that we know has been frequenting the Park. We know he or she is around because volunteers are out regularly watching for ’spraint’ (poo to you and me); and often find some.

For some weeks Don’s efforts have produced a small collection of interesting but slightly frustrating images – a fox, woodmouse, a spider and a even slug all feature. But now he has struck lucky.

Don recently appeared in the office looking decidedly pleased and showed us a couple of images. Although slightly blurred in black and white, there is no doubt that the animal pictured is an otter. Don reckons there may be a pair in the Park, which bodes well. The area is well provided for water – there are plenty of lakes, large and small; and the Elstow Brook connects the Great Ouse with the heart of the Vale, so there is a simple route into the area.
We are keeping our fingers crossed and would like to thank Don for these exciting images.

Don't forget to clean up after your dog

The Millennium Country Park is a great spot for walking your dog. We have a whole host of dogs and their owners who come regularly to get away from the traffic and enjoy the quiet and safety of the Park and all it has to offer. The vast majority of our dog walkers are responsible, keep their dogs under control and clear up after them. Happy people and happy hounds…..

Unfortunately there is a small minority of people who are not as considerate. We have nine bins available on site where dog waste can be disposed of. It costs over £1500 pounds a year to employ a contractor to empty them. This is no minor cost to The Marston Vale Trust, yet still some people allow their dogs to foul the paths and verges and don’t clean up after them. This is thoroughly unpleasant to all other visitors to the Park, can be an infection risk and does put people off from visiting. It is so unnecessary as it takes moments to pick up and dispose of dog poo responsibly. When you take on the responsibility of owning a dog, the responsibility for clearing up after it is yours- nobody else’s.

Dogs are an important member of the family and are much loved by their owners. However, your beloved pooch may not be quite as loveable to other people. You are welcome to exercise your dog off the lead but please keep it under close control. You may think Rover bounding up to people is a sign of him being friendly, but other people find this behaviour intimidating and it isn’t acceptable to allow your over-exuberant dog to spoil someone else’s walk.

We mustn’t forget our ground nesting birds either- it only takes one dog torun through the undergrowth to destroy a number of nests.  If your dog doesn’t immediately respond to commands then please keep it on a lead.

Following these simple rules ensures a great day out for you and all other Park users. Dogs can be walked on all paths around the Park but not on the Wetlands Nature Reserve as this area is managed for wildlife. Around the Forest Centre, dogs on leads are welcome in the picnic area and dog drinking water is provided outside the cycle hire building. If you ever forget your dog bags then don’t despair, pop into reception where we have plenty we give out free of charge.

If you have any questions or would like to report irresponsible behaviour, please contact Anna Charle, Head Ranger on 01234762614 or anna.charles@marstonvale.org

Hay Raking in the Country Park

Raking the hay meadows after machine cutting is a vital part of annual work in the Park, to preserve native wildflower and grass species and encourage bio-diversity. 

The last raking of the year takes place immediately after the early autumn cut and ensures that the meadow plants have the best chance to flower and set seed and that wildflowers and grasses can grow the following year.  It also prevents thistles, docks, brambles and scrub from taking over.   The only apparent downside to this form of meadow management is that cutting and raking is a sudden and unselective form of vegetation removal. A better method is often grazing, but that’s not always possible. The Park’s Ranger team consider all the pros and cons when deciding how best to manage the various areas of the site.  There are several publications dealing with the technical aspects of meadow management and many factors to be taken into account.   
On a nice day in mid-October responding to an email from Sven (one of the Park’s Rangers) a small team of us hardy volunteers assembled at the Centre ready to go a raking.  After gathering all the required implements together (including the tea making kit) we trooped off to Jubilee Corner at the far side of the site. As there was no tractor and trailer available to share the load, everything was carried manually.    After negotiating stony tracks and a field of nosey cattle we reached the meadow and unloaded the kit while Sven gave the safety talk including how we were to tackle the raking, locations for the cuttings, etc.  Amid much laughter he said “It would be good if we could finish all of this meadow today – its only about 1 hectare in size”. 
After an hour it seemed like we had already done a day’s work so the mention of tea was well received.  The acrid smell of the wood smoke from the Kelly kettles indicated that a brew was in the offing, when Sven made a shock announcement “We forgot the mugs – I’ll have to send back to the Centre”   It’s unusual for Sven to forget anything; he narrowly avoided a lynching and before long Tony (another Ranger hero) turned up with the mugs, the tea was made, biscuits plus some home made rock cakes distributed and we sat down under the trees to enjoy.  
After a concerted effort during the rest of the day the whole area was raked, the cuttings piled up in pre-selected areas to decompose and we returned to the Centre mid-afternoon. 

The job does not end there as Bernard (one of our number) has put much time and effort into making wooden hay rakes and good as these are, the wooden teeth (cut from lengths of dowel) snap off during use – the meadows are a tough environment.   These implements have to be repaired quickly and kept in good order ready for next time.  Such is the nature of volunteering that we have the opportunity to turn our hands to a variety of tasks.  Next volunteer task in the Country Park – Saturday 19 November – hedge laying
Nigel Davis (Volunteer)  October 2011