28th Dec report

The snow had brought down many trees but the ones blocking the path have been cleared near Ashlawn bridge. 6 of us turned out in the bright sunshine and got stuck in to making the path walkable once more. An excellent advert for our group and satisfying.
We’ll meet at Ashlawn car park again to carry on tidying up. May walk further afield to cut back some fallers that partially block the path too. Mother nature has helped us with a bit of thinning out so we’ll capitalise on it !!
 
message from Steve W following Thursday’s workparty

28th Dec report

It certainly was a good work party, the path was impassable South of Ashlawn and difficult to the North. Good that so many walkers could see us in action. There are still partial obstructions but at least the GCWalk is passable through the reserve and all is safe. And all in glorious sunshine.

Pics from yesterday showing both bits after the snow attacked, showing a couple of bits of the blocked path plus a silhouette of what might be some sort of raptor looking over the pony club field.
Report & pics by Steve Wright

Owl Boxes

Here’s our Christmas present to the Owls, 2 potential new nesting boxes.

Due to “circumstances beyond our control” we put one facing into the DJ plantation on a hedgerow Ash tree near to the one on our embankment. Not our land but a good site and something to interest walkers.
Karl Curtis to advise Chris Worman. So also a gift to a walkers in the new “wood”.
Report from Steve Wright

Workparty report

It was a lovely day today (Sunday 12th Nov).  Fresh but sunny and not too much in the way of noisy brushcutters.  A very good turnout with lots to do, a very enjoyable morning.

Report from Margaret

Congratulations

Both Steve’s are to be congratulated for their well-deserved Sean Lawson Special Awards for an ‘outstanding contribution to Rugby in Bloom’,

Also, to our Swift Valley team for receiving a Gold yet again

Plus, Ashlawn for Gold and First in the same category.

Official Pics to follow

 

Viaduct & Sustrans Route in Rugby

Note what a good area this is.  I found Warwickshire rarity Calamint at Hunters Lane footpath to the Black Path bridge and lots of other good stuff. The viaduct has locally uncommon Kidney Vetch though it was pretty burnt out this year.

The canal and Hunters Lane embankments hold Wych Elm and one of the few local colonies of White-letter Hairstreak.

At the time the Sustrans route was created I liaised with RBC and the contractors to avoid too much damage to the flora on the viaduct and Hunters Lane embankment.  I got RBC to remove recently laid top soil from the shallow cutting at Consul Road, and Malcolm Hall and I seeded with wild flowers.
Some all the way through to the Newbold road.  I also seeded with Calamint and a bit has taken on Hunters Lane rise. This should be out of harm’s way when new road put thro.

The Ivy Bee, new to UK in 2002, arrived at Consul Rd from Devon and set up what still might be the only colony in the borough, if not the county.  It should be on the wing in September.
I got the site surveyed and it is now an LWS.

Mike Slater and his Small Blue team have also helped and cut back the brambles on Hunters Embankment but they have regrown since.  Mike may also have seeded.  I think RBC (Steve Cook) is controlling some of the docks that tend to invade.

I had hoped to get local people to help, but though some were interested nobody came forward. I check it out from time to time but it would be good to get it regularly monitored.

Common Blue has established well on the BFT we seeded, We got Warks Flora Group to pay a short visit to Hunters  recently.  See….Hunters Ln LWS plant survey July 2017

A new road is due to be put through from Hunters Lane and I have been working with Warks Ecologists to try to save the important Wych Elm near the abutment. Mike has also met RBC (Colin Horton I think) to look at the newly disturbed area by the new houses.  I haven’t seen an actual management plan for the route tho I have offered advice. (Most important to rake off after an annual cut, which I don’t think they do.)

Report by Phil Parr

July oddments

Fuligo septica,a slime mould looking like it is a character in Ghostbusters or Casper!

Plus, a nice Small skipper and a Carline thistle about to flower.

Pictures from Steve W.