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23 September 2018

After a very wet morning, the weather brightened up and children were able to sow seeds donated by Kew Garden’s “Grow Wild” initiative. Their page about us is here if you want to have a look.
However, conditions were just right for autumn wild flower seed sowing in a prepared corner of the meadow.

Families also enjoyed a guided tour of the nature reserve. Unfortunately the meadow was too damp for the ‘sweeping’ activity, so trays of pond water were set up indoors with magnifiers and microscopes for close encounters with the pond creatures.
Indoor activities with an environmental theme included making grasshoppers using old fashioned wooden ‘dolly ‘ pegs, cotton pipe cleaners and natural materials and making hedgehogs using clay and twigs. The delicious refreshments encouraged visitors to relax in the afternoon sunshine and reflect on our wonderful environment.

13 October 2018 : The Make a Difference Day

This is an annual event on an autumn weekend for volunteers to tackle a specific project for the nature reserve. This year’s project was The Bird Hide. The plan was to convert the old donkey shed at the back of One Acre Meadow. This shed and the surrounding area has been neglected of late. The donkeys, Rupert and Smarty, have not been resident in the meadow for almost 20 years so there was plenty to be done! The project involved determination of what renovation or reconstruction was needed for the building and the execution of those tasks – re-felting the roof, replacing some of the woodwork, creating observation windows, levelling the surface within the building, creating a safe access route. Clearance of the vegetation was needed, removing nettles, brambles and other vegetation from the surrounding area to allow safe access to the hide and an area of clear observation behind it.

Our volunteers worked enthusiastically and made great progress. We had a wonderful day of sunny weather, enjoyed soup and ploughman’s lunch and delicious cake at teatime and at the end of the day’s session, great strides had been made in the Bird Hide Project.
Many thanks to all who donated their Saturday to come along and Make a Difference to our nature reserve.
If you would be interested in helping out at these annual events, please check our website next autumn. If you have a little more time and can help on a Monday afternoon or a monthly Sunday morning, please see the Volunteering section of the website.

26 October 2018: “Imaginary Creatures”
So many inventive creations by the 61 children and their parents on this half-term event!

An afternoon of colouring, modelling, sticking and cutting out. Plus face painting and exploring the nature reserve to find the “eyes” of many creatures hiding in the trees, shrubs and undergrowth.

Thanks to the many volunteers who made this such a very successful event.