February 2024

 

There is an unusual fungus in the Carr called Scarlet Elf Cup  (Sarcoscypha austriaca). As its name suggests, the scarlet elfcup is a bright red, cup-shaped fungus. It is widespread, but scarce, and can be found on fallen twigs and branches in damp woodland and can be seen between December and March. It's not easy to spot from the path - you need to look where the spring/stream runs from the embankment into the carr.  Last February we only found one specimen, but this time there was loads of it!

LATEST NEWS

 

Look out for the free forthcoming "Well-Being" walks at Moorend Spout on September 20th and 21st.  They are being run by Avon Wildlife Trust under their Wilder Waterways project funding and are aimed at adults who maybe do not get out and about in natural surroundings too much and would enjoy the opportunity to explore the reserve in a leisurely way.

Booking details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wilder-waterways-wellbeing-walks-tickets-988373380387

 

Our next workdays will be Saturday 7th September and Saturday 5th October 2024 at 10am.

 

Work mornings occur every first Saturday of the month (except January unless otherwise notified) at 10am on Pound Lane outside the schools, ending around 12 noon.

 

If there is any doubt about the weather you may want to phone us before coming. We provide all of the tools and the refreshments.

June 2024

 

We are pleased to announce another successful year in one of the owl boxes. Two Tawny Owl chicks were found in the owl box next to the carr on 25th April. They were too small to be ringed at that time and therefore it wasn't possible to ring this pair. The last time an owl, which appeared to be a well grown juvenile, was seen at the nest box entrance was on 14th May around 8pm in the evening. An adult owl was spotted on the edge of the carr a week later.

 

Bad news this year on the kestrel front though - the second box contained five abandoned eggs when it was checked. It is likely that the birds were either immature and inexperienced or one the parents died, causing the other to abandon the nest.

 

A good number of tall orchids can be seen in the reeds area at the far end of the meadow/behind the top pond.

 

We have had funds approved by North Someset Council for replacement of the boardwalk along the public footpath, using recycled plastic boards. Volunteers have been working hard during recent workdays to clear the space around the boardwalk for installation and allowing the public to pass while work commenced, as well as cutting new paths through the meadow. Watch this space for installation dates!

 

The other key improvement this month was the installation of the new boardwalk. The contractor began the work on 18th July and was finished by the end of the day on 24th July, which was astonishingly quick work! The weather was perfect for getting the job done without interruption.

 

The replacement structure is higher off the ground than the original but this is designed to last. It is higher than the wooden one as this version keeps to the same level most of the way rather than following the ground level. Once the vegetation grows up it'll soften the construction considerably. The contractor have also used flat bottomed posts which  should be much more resistant to subsidence compared with the original pointed wooden ones.

 

Many thanks to Mike Watts Countryside Contracting for the installation, Bison Bridges for the materials and North Somerset Council for the funding for this project.

 

July 2024

 

We were lucky to have a volunteer workforce of 13 from Wessex Water come to spend a day in early July on the reserve. They did a great job of clearing and extending the drainage channel in the meadow to help the over flow of water from springs away from the meadow and into the Middle Yeo.  It looked like a mucky job, but at least it was a fine day!

 

The channel is helping to remove excess water from the southern part of the meadow and drain it into Jacklands (Middle Yeo) rhyne. We also think that water from the underground, but blocked, Jacklands Tunnel is now forcing its way up into the drainage channel, which should also help to dry out the meadow.

 

August 2024

 

A keen group of volunteers from Avon Wildlife Trust came to the site to do brushcutting on 16th August.  The funding for this comes from the Wilder Waterways Project.  A few days later, another large group of 14 volunteers came from the Gordano area to do the raking up. Cutting and clearance of the grasses provide the opportunity for other species to grow more freely.