“Pop up” Jubilee Wood Knowledge Share

"Pop up" Jubilee Wood Knowledge Share

Next event – Pond life in, on and above & habitat construction

Sunday 12th May 2.30pm.

The May event focuses on the pond environment (although if it doent rain hard soon we may just be looking at a deep muddy puddle) Always facinating to see an active pond and we will try to have some jars showing the micro life that inhabits the lower reaches. All welcome, dogs on leads please or we wont be able to see into the pond.

Bring a flask or bottle of cold drink, you never know it may be warm

Look out for some monthly themed topics that will take place in the Jubilee wood this spring and summer.

On the second Sunday of each month starting at 2.30pm there will be a chance to learn about a particular topic using the Jubilee wood as the source of inspiration. The knowledge will come from amongst those who come along.

So far the list of themes is as follows

March 10th – Close up photography How to use your camera phone to get pin sharp close ups or using a big digital SLR to get right in with macro shots using elements of the Jubilee wood for inspiration and subject matter.

April 14th – Tree identification in the Jubilee Wood

May 12th – Pond life, in on and above, plus Habitat Construction

June 9th – Grass and plant identification

July 14th – Nature & Well Being

August 11th – Crafts – Leaf and bark rubbing, drawing and natural sculptures

It is hoped that those who have an in-depth knowledge of the subjects will be happy to attend and share with the attendee’s. All ages welcome.

If you have reference books they’d be useful or apps for the well connected.

We will have a “pop-up” meeting point within the wood

Jubilee Wood April 2018

Jubilee Wood  April 2018

Jubilee Wood

April was quite a month of extremes in terms of weather, but nature has a way of forging on regardless whilst most of us humans are struggling to cope.

The great crested newts are a good example, having overwintered near to the pond under stones or vegetation, they returned to the pond in Jubilee Wood to mate and lay eggs. If you were lucky enough to see them earlier on in the month, you might have been surprised at just how many there were, but if you didn’t get to see them we’ve attached some photos taken at the pond. Apologies for the quality but you have to take the opportunity when you can and although these photos taken with a  phone may not be the best, they give an idea of their form and colour.

Spotting the newts may take a couple of minutes before you recognise them as they tend to look like dark bits of small vegetation floating under the water’s surface until you see them suddenly shoot along, splaying out their legs and waggling their tails. The males have more of a  crest during the mating season and females lay individual eggs on plant leaves and carefully wrap them up to protect them. Two to four weeks later larvae (sometimes called newt tadpoles) will hatch out with feathery gills around the head, distinguishing them from frog and toad tadpoles. A couple of months after they hatch the larvae start to grow their front legs followed by the back legs. Later on in the summer they’ll leave the pond but will stay close by to find a place to overwinter, and next Spring it will all begin again…….wonderful!

Video

The Woodland Walker.

 

Video

Michael is runner-up in ‘Green Champion of the Year’ award

Michael is runner-up in 'Green Champion of the Year' award

This year’s Green Heart Community Awards, backed by the News & Crier and organised by Huntingdonshire District Council, took place at the Burgess Hall in St Ives. Judges received more than 30 entries for six categories including: Best Primary School, Best Secondary School/College, Green Champion of the Year, Best Wildlife or Nature Initiative, Best Environmental Project and Best Business Environmental Project. The shortlisted nominees for each of the categories were invited to an evening dedicated to them and their hard work in helping to improve the environment of Huntingdonshire.

Great Gidding Parish Council nominated Michael Trolove for the Green Heart Community award and he came runner up at the awards ceremony held at the Burgess Hall on Saturday 15th June.

The Parish Council’s nomination:

Working with the Parish Council and the wildlife Trust, Michael Trolove has always been a valuable asset to the wildlife of Great Gidding.

In the last year Michael has dedicated a great deal of time to the renovation of two village ponds and installed a dipping platform. He has recently prepared a third pond in the Jubilee Wood and as a trained Newt Officer, Michael has also developed the Great Gidding Newt Trail; popular with villagers and visitors alike.

As a Tree Warden, Michael keeps a full list of trees on site and all of them have been given a numbered tag for identification. He has been in discussions with DEFRA concerning Ash Dieback Disease and spends much time planting trees around the Parish, organising a planting event and pop up coffee shop, enjoyed by all for the Diamond Jubilee.

Michael works hard on the maintenance of Jubilee Wood, monitoring, weeding, planting new trees and mulching and in the last year added some old varieties of fruit tree to the planting scheme, created log piles and built bug boxes to further encourage wildlife to the area.

Michael Trolove is instrumental in co-ordinating the upkeep of the Jubilee Woods, ponds in the area and all the trees in the Parish and demonstrates log-term commitment to protecting and improving open space within the village of Great Gidding.

Well done Michael. Very well deserved.


Michael Trolove – Runner-Up in the Huntingdon District Council Green Heart Community award

Alfred’s Recommended website of the week

Alfred's Recommended website of the week

The Wildlife Trust  for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

Laura Watson, Community Conservation Officer produced the survey of the ponds in Great Gidding  their website, is packed with information and ideas to help us all enjoy our environment.

Look out for the Species A -Z  Everything you need to know from Acorn Barnacles to Zebra Spiders

Have you seen any toads this month? why not join Garden Watch or if you love Bluebells they have information just for you!

You can even sign up to receive their E-newsletter and so much more.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire wildlife website