It would be really useful to have some general feedback about volunteers' experiences and thoughts about project work in schools - the Eschools project, other voluntary work you have done and future opportunities you would like us to create.
We are in the process of putting together a funding bid and your feedback, as potential users of the service we will create will help with the funding application.
The project we hope to deliver will build on our experiences of eschools.
Did you enjoy working in schools? with the children or because it offers chance for habitat creation? Is there any specific training that you think would be good to support volunteers in this sort of work? any other comments
Blog any thoughts, or contact the office.
Thanks
julia
Friday, September 15, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
BEES Nature Reserve
BEES Conservation Volunteers
BEES Urban Nature Reserve - the good and the bad.
The nature reserve is full of life, though it looks a bit unloved at the moment. I think the increase of bindwind might be due to lack of management around the pond edges, and it would be nice not to be tickled by nettles when sitting on the bench. The bog bean in the top pond seems to have increased massively, and we will probably need to remove some this autumn before the pond becomes a marsh. The marsh cinque foil from Howard's garden is in flower and looks lovely - as do the lilies. We saw a brown hawker dragonfly in flight and one on a leaf over the pond. Although we could not see the larval case we think this had just emerged as it was in the same position for a couple of hours. Brown Hawkers should be emerging for the next coupl eof weeks. Loads of damselflies and birds drinking from the ponds.
However not all is rosy. As some people will know the university has been trying to sell the land adjacent and including some of the reserve. The offer they are accepting will not tolerate a sitting tenant so our boundaries are threatened. The plan is to withdraw the reserve back to the old medlar tree, with the potential of officially including the area where we are struggling to control the giant hogweed. The university were not willing to preserve the reserve in it's current shape as the sale of the land is earmarked to fund specific projects (not sure what but a bit ironic if it's anything to do with their eco- versity status)so wanted to maximise their income. Apart from losing the ares of wild flowers we will also lose the only significant bit of land, however small, away from the pond which will affect our educational work with groups. The area over the fence has been fairly secluded over recent years which has created good nesting zone. A new management plan will have to be devised and funding sought to enable us to deliver the changes. sorry i wasn't able to excert more influnce on the university. They have said they will send be plans with the new boundary, and give bees number to the developers. Then we need to keep our eyes open for the planning application.
BEES Urban Nature Reserve - the good and the bad.
The nature reserve is full of life, though it looks a bit unloved at the moment. I think the increase of bindwind might be due to lack of management around the pond edges, and it would be nice not to be tickled by nettles when sitting on the bench. The bog bean in the top pond seems to have increased massively, and we will probably need to remove some this autumn before the pond becomes a marsh. The marsh cinque foil from Howard's garden is in flower and looks lovely - as do the lilies. We saw a brown hawker dragonfly in flight and one on a leaf over the pond. Although we could not see the larval case we think this had just emerged as it was in the same position for a couple of hours. Brown Hawkers should be emerging for the next coupl eof weeks. Loads of damselflies and birds drinking from the ponds.
However not all is rosy. As some people will know the university has been trying to sell the land adjacent and including some of the reserve. The offer they are accepting will not tolerate a sitting tenant so our boundaries are threatened. The plan is to withdraw the reserve back to the old medlar tree, with the potential of officially including the area where we are struggling to control the giant hogweed. The university were not willing to preserve the reserve in it's current shape as the sale of the land is earmarked to fund specific projects (not sure what but a bit ironic if it's anything to do with their eco- versity status)so wanted to maximise their income. Apart from losing the ares of wild flowers we will also lose the only significant bit of land, however small, away from the pond which will affect our educational work with groups. The area over the fence has been fairly secluded over recent years which has created good nesting zone. A new management plan will have to be devised and funding sought to enable us to deliver the changes. sorry i wasn't able to excert more influnce on the university. They have said they will send be plans with the new boundary, and give bees number to the developers. Then we need to keep our eyes open for the planning application.
Charcoal Update
BEES Conservation Volunteers
charcoal update
Keen to try and manufacture more drawing charcoal we finished loading the kilns on friday evening, and in an attempt to introduce some time efficiencies into thhis labour intensive process, we thought it would be good to light the kilns then, and close down in the morning. Maybe it was the wind - or lack of it - or a difference in the way the air sinks in the evening (well about 10pm once we had prepared our willow sticks in their bake bean cans) but the valley seemed to be filled with smoke within minutes. Hope we didn't spoli anyone's evening! Jack and Annie helped out again - initally thinking it would be a good opportunity to spot wildlife but probably more motivated by the excuse for a late night.
The kilns still need unloading - jonathan did a bit on sunday morning but i opted out. We have enough timber left for one more burn at most. I have sold some of the charcoal - £5 a bag of more or less 5Kg.
charcoal update
Keen to try and manufacture more drawing charcoal we finished loading the kilns on friday evening, and in an attempt to introduce some time efficiencies into thhis labour intensive process, we thought it would be good to light the kilns then, and close down in the morning. Maybe it was the wind - or lack of it - or a difference in the way the air sinks in the evening (well about 10pm once we had prepared our willow sticks in their bake bean cans) but the valley seemed to be filled with smoke within minutes. Hope we didn't spoli anyone's evening! Jack and Annie helped out again - initally thinking it would be a good opportunity to spot wildlife but probably more motivated by the excuse for a late night.
The kilns still need unloading - jonathan did a bit on sunday morning but i opted out. We have enough timber left for one more burn at most. I have sold some of the charcoal - £5 a bag of more or less 5Kg.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Barbecue 9th July!
Another batch of charcoal turned out well today. The artist's charcoal experiment was a success and plans are afoot to produce on a larger scale.
And to celebrate this wonder of traditonal industry a barbecue is planned for the 9th July, 3.30pm. This will be at the Community Orchard in West Bowling http://www.civictrust.org.uk/regeneration/includes/Orchard.pdf The World Cup Final is at 7pm that day so it may be off to the pub around this time for those who are interested. Come on England! Everyone connected to BEEs (and friends) are welcome. BYO drink and food for the barbie. A few things may be provided. Please let me know if you want to make something to share around, that would be great! Cover will be available for any light rain showers. Downpours will be good for the orchard and we can all marvel at nature and stuff! Or go to the pub or someone's place. Anyone volunteer their place as a backup?
Come along for a taste of our hard work!
Thanks to Annie and Jack, the masked charcoal makers from the West, who helped out today.
And to celebrate this wonder of traditonal industry a barbecue is planned for the 9th July, 3.30pm. This will be at the Community Orchard in West Bowling http://www.civictrust.org.uk/regeneration/includes/Orchard.pdf The World Cup Final is at 7pm that day so it may be off to the pub around this time for those who are interested. Come on England! Everyone connected to BEEs (and friends) are welcome. BYO drink and food for the barbie. A few things may be provided. Please let me know if you want to make something to share around, that would be great! Cover will be available for any light rain showers. Downpours will be good for the orchard and we can all marvel at nature and stuff! Or go to the pub or someone's place. Anyone volunteer their place as a backup?
Come along for a taste of our hard work!
Thanks to Annie and Jack, the masked charcoal makers from the West, who helped out today.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Black Gold!
The 2nd burn completed, the kilns were opened on Friday and inside.... black gold! Bags and bags of it.
Everyone seemed to have a good time. Treats this time were provided by Chris. His fresh pineapple chunks went down well. Paul (the Russian-German) chopped wood tirelessly but for the second time the axe he used couldn't match his incredible strength. Paul 2, axe handles nil.
After emptying the charcoal into bags we could have been mistaken for a group of miners fresh from the pits. Either that or we could have been a hippy commune in the woods as the men from the golf club commented. They kindly used their pick-up to take our black gold down the hill to our minibus so we'll let them off.
We restacked the kilns ready for another burn this Sunday and it looks like the production line has begun. I made some artists' charcoal makers fashioned from beer cans slotted inside cat food tins (patent pending) stuffed full of bark-stripped twigs. This experiment was placed amongst the wood in the kilns and I'm excited to see if it will work when they are next emptied.
Everyone seemed to have a good time. Treats this time were provided by Chris. His fresh pineapple chunks went down well. Paul (the Russian-German) chopped wood tirelessly but for the second time the axe he used couldn't match his incredible strength. Paul 2, axe handles nil.
After emptying the charcoal into bags we could have been mistaken for a group of miners fresh from the pits. Either that or we could have been a hippy commune in the woods as the men from the golf club commented. They kindly used their pick-up to take our black gold down the hill to our minibus so we'll let them off.
We restacked the kilns ready for another burn this Sunday and it looks like the production line has begun. I made some artists' charcoal makers fashioned from beer cans slotted inside cat food tins (patent pending) stuffed full of bark-stripped twigs. This experiment was placed amongst the wood in the kilns and I'm excited to see if it will work when they are next emptied.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Why we couldn't turn wood to charcoal
Sorry about the failure last week - yes i don't think we let enough oxygen into the kilns so the fires went out...the theory is that the oxygen is limited so that not all the carbon turns to carbon dioxide...but there's no smouldering without oxygen (as the saying goes). anyway i've checked it out and fingers crossed we should do better tomorrow...if not i will abandon my plans to live in the woods. Will try and post some more techical info, or links to other website once i've found some.
Emptying the Kilns
So we went to see our lovely new charcoal on Friday, the kilns were opened and inside.... some slightly charred wood. Well, one more step on the road to success! We discovered the problem: some blocked flumes and perhaphs the wrong configuration for keeping the air flowing through it.
Stickie buns at Lunchtime! Provided by Alyson, these were warmly received then duly scoffed.
Tomorrow we will start the burn and we are confident of turning the wood into pure eco friendly charcoal by the end of the day!
Stickie buns at Lunchtime! Provided by Alyson, these were warmly received then duly scoffed.
Tomorrow we will start the burn and we are confident of turning the wood into pure eco friendly charcoal by the end of the day!
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