Over recent weeks with the continuation of the dry
weather, our team of staff and volunteers have been busy on Wheldrake Ings - helping
out the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with their winter work programme. The team have been burning some of the last brash piles remaining from the autumns scrub
management programme, whilst retaining some of the older, rotten stumps and
limbs for Willow Tits to nest in, as well as being an important habitat for a range of
invertebrate species. Whilst on site we also continued installing fence posts
and roping off the paths between Pool Hide and the new hide at Swantail, with aim
of helping to hold back the reeds and vegetation during the summer months. There
has also been a few odd repairs to the hides as part of the ongoing maintenance
– and if you haven’t visited the site recently, then please take time to read
and look at the new YWT/Wren funded interpretation panels, (completed with thanks to
match funding from the Friends of the LDV, and for all the talk donations, and log/cards/calendar sales as well as kind donations to our Go Fund Me page). As always when visiting the site please let us know of
any wildlife you see by using the log books provided, thank you.
Visitors to Skipwith Common NNR lately will be aware of recent
conservation work happening on site - contractors working with Escrick Park Estate,
supported by our own volunteer team have been thinning out and managing some of
the more mature woodland and scrub areas. This is to further increase the
structure and diversity of the ground flora in the woodland areas, helping
reduce the amount of scrub encroaching onto the more open heathland area for
which the site is internationally important. The contractors are clearing birch
scrub from the heathland and wetter parts of the sites, which will go on to be used
for horse racing jumps around the country. Access routes are also being created
into some of the denser areas – creating sunny glades for invertebrates and reptiles
which will enjoy basking in the sheltered spots. Increased light will also
benefit the ground flora, such as Common Spotted Orchids, Twayblades and
Broad-leaved Helleborines found around the bomb bay loop. At present the work may look a bit harsh and stark, however come the
spring we’re looking forward to seeing the benefits.
No comments:
Post a Comment