Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Come and join us at the Pump House on April 2nd for a day of Easter Treats…

Egg trail, face painting, craft activities and all free of charge! And of course our lovely local cakes and Fair Trade drinks

Booking is essential for the craft activities as places are limited.  Call 01905 734 934 for further details and to reserve a place.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fun starts at 10 a.m. and don’t forget the clocks will have changed!

See you there…

Spring 2013 DWT Volunteer Task Dates:

After a seemingly endless winter, we’re now less than a month away from the equinox and hopefully some longer, brighter days. This spring will see our involvement in some new sites as well as a return to our more familiar locations. We hope to see you there!..

March 2013

Wednesday 6^th – Atch Lench Community Orchards, Evesham:

This 40 year old orchard was bought in 1999 by local families to save it from conversion into arable farm land. The orchard primarily produces plums, damsons and greengages and we will be helping to keep the less tasty vegetation under control.

Wednesday 13^th – Kidderminster Viaduct, Kidderminster:

The unrelenting efforts of local residents here have seen a massive improvement to the environmental health of this pint-sized nature reserve. We’ll be repairing paths, controlling vegetation, clearing the watercourse and removing litter.

Wednesday 20^th – No Task

Due to the wardens’ involvement in project work at this time, there will be no volunteer task.

Wednesday 27^th – Lusty Glaze, Worcester:

Provided that this site has had a period of respite from the flood waters, we’ll be carrying out improvement works to the public path here. If however the ground is still saturated, we will instead be at Rick’s wood in Rushwick continuing our management of his woodland site.

April 2013

Wednesday 3^rd – Ronkswood Meadows, Worcester:

A site grazed by Rick’s cattle, Ronkswood Meadow is owned and managed by Worcester City Council (WCC) and we’ll be working with the ranger team to construct a cattle pen.

Wednesday 10^th – Lusty Glaze, Worcester:

Returning to this (hopefully dry) floodplain site, we’ll be constructing steps on the public path and controlling vegetation.

Wednesday 17^th – Tom Shell Coppice, Abberley:

Returning to this semi-ancient woodland site, we’ll be clearing scrub and burning brash.

Wednesday 24^th – Task & venue TBA

May 2013

Wednesday 1^st – Cherry Orchard allotments, Worcester:

The allotments are at the centre of Worcestershire Community Land Co-op’s work. There’s a lot to be done here, with everything from fencing and access work to irrigation and water management in the long-term plan. Go to www.wclcoop.org to see what they’re up to.

Wednesday 8^th – Warndon Wood, Worcester:

Working with the WCC ranger team, we’ll be carrying out improvement works to the public path and maintaining the woodland rides here.

Wednesday 15^th – Chapter Meadows, Worcester:

After an unusually wet winter, there is flood damage to repair – we’ll be mending fences, clearing access points and generally tidying the site ready for the return of the cattle.

Wednesday 22^nd – Northwick Lido, Worcs:

With the WCC ranger team, we’ll be bashing a gnome’s hatstand here, a policeman’s helmet there…  Whatever you choose to call it, the Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) is an invasive species which we need to control at this site.

Wednesday 29^th – Task & venue TBA

Please bear in mind that due to weather conditions or unforseen circumstances, these dates may be subject to change. We will endeavour to keep volunteers up to date with any changes.

Early Closing on Christmas Eve and

New Year Eve – last orders at 2pm

CLOSED Christmas day, Boxing day

and New Years day.

Wishing all our customers and supporters a fantastic festive season!

Don’t forget that the volunteer task dates can permanently be found by navigating to ”About Us“  > ”Job Vacancies and Volunteering Opportunities” > then scroll 3/4 of the way down the page to find the “Conservation Task Diary Dates” link.

Winter 2012 Volunteer Task Dates:

After the wettest autumn this century, we have fingers and toes crossed for a crisp, clear winter. Weather permitting; we’ll be seeing the season out at our familiar sites and a couple of our less visited locations too. We hope to see you there!

 December 2012

Wednesday 5^th – Brickfields Park, Worcs:

We’ll be at the K.G. V playing fields planting native English tree species as part of a national campaign. Spearheaded by Trees for Cities (http://www.treesforcities.org), more than 40,000 trees will be planted this season to improve local environments.

Wednesday 12^th – Chapter Meadows, Worcs:

This 15 acre ancient meadow site has been owned and managed by the DWT for 14 years. This season, we’ll be continuing our willow pollarding work and clearing scrub to maintain access to the site.

Wednesday 19^th – No Task

Bringing the year to a close, the wardens will be concentrating on repairing and maintaining tools and equipment for our return in 2013.

Wednesday 26^th – No Task

It’s Boxing Day and our attention is turned to the task of eating the last of the sprouts. We’ll see you in the New Year!

January 2013

Wednesday 2^nd – No Task

Staff Christmas holidays – we’ll see you next week.

Wednesday 9^th – No Task

Due to staff training, there will be no task until the 16^th. Hopefully we’ll see you next week!

Wednesday 16^th – Tom Shell Coppice, Abberley:

Our first chance to burn off a little Christmas “indulgence” – returning to this semi-ancient woodland site, we’ll be clearing scrub and burning brash.

Wednesday 23^rd – Kidderminster viaduct, Kidderminster:

Helping a volunteer group to maintain a small semi-urban nature reserve, we’ll be clearing the watercourse and managing vegetation.

Wednesday 30^th – Lansdowne allotments:

These WCC allotments require some restoration work and we’ll be clearing scrub and vegetation at the site.

February 2013

Wednesday 6^th – Plantation Drive, Worcs:

Continuing on previous years’ work, we’ll prepare a section of the remaining standing hedge line and begin laying.

Wednesday 13^th – Plantation Drive, Worcs:

Following our work last week, we will be finishing the staking and heathering to complete this section of hedgerow.

Wednesday 20^th – Fort Royal Community School, Worcs:

With generous backing from Worcester’s Round Table group (www.worcester.roundtable.co.uk), we will be constructing a disability access ramp and pond-dipping platform for students at the school. This initial stage will see the groundwork and construction of the timber frame structure.

Wednesday 27^th – Hornhill Wood, Worcs:

Returning to this ancient coppice site, we will be working with former DWT warden, James Cooper to manage his oak and hazel coup. The materials harvested now will be used for future hedge-laying and green crafts work.

WRE, Worcester’s Scrap Store, is looking for a Warehouse Asssistant.

For further details visit

http://www.wre.uk.com/news-and-events/job-opportunities/

New!

Pump House cafe loyalty card- buy 9 hot drinks and have the tenth on the house-

Just pick up at the till or ask a member of staff next time your in.

It’s that time again when we start our autumn/winter opening hours.

Daily opening times are 10am to 4pm from Monday October 1st 2012 with last orders for hot drinks and food at the cafe at 3.45pm.

Don’t forget that the volunteer task dates can permanently be found by navigating to ”About Us“  > ”Job Vacancies and Volunteering Opportunities” > then scroll 3/4 of the way down the page to find the “Conservation Task Diary Dates” link.

After a somewhat damp summer, we’re looking forward to a dry and mild autumn with a full task schedule to keep us busy. There’s nothing like a clear autumn day in the woods – the smell of a bonfire, the brilliant colours of the changing season, good company and rewarding work. We’ll see you there in September!

Autumn 2012 Volunteer Task Dates:

September 2012

Wednesday 5^th – Lusty Glaze, Worcs:

We’ll be clearing scrub, burning brash and reducing trees. There’s a bumper crop of apples on the way at Lusty Glaze, so if you’re making cider, juice or baking crumble this autumn – bring some bags and get picking!

Wednesday 12^th – Chapter Meadows, Worcs:

Our pleasant pastures need a lot of upkeep so we’ll be tackling scrub, maintaining access routes and pruning trees. With any luck, we should have Rick’s cattle for company too.

Wednesday 19^th – Cherry Orchard allotments, Worcs:

A new site for 2012, the allotments are the centre of Worcestershire Community Land Co-op’s work. There’s a lot to be done here, with everything from fencing and access work to irrigation and water management in the long-term plan. Go to www.wclcoop.org to see what they’re up to.

Wednesday 26^th – Tom Shell Coppice, Abberley:

Paul and Steph’s 9.5 acre semi-ancient mixed woodland is the site for our return to coppice work. The birds have flown the nest and it’s time to get the trees back under control. There’s also hedge work, step building and scrub clearance to be done.

October 2012

Wednesday 3^rd – Amestry wood, Rushwick:

Now fully back into the coppicing swing of things, we’ll be continuing our work in the woods at Rick’s farm. This old English broadleaf wood with fishing pond and pasture is the perfect setting for a fire and a cup of soup – and that’s just what we’ll do!

Wednesday 10^th – Amestry wood, Rushwick:

Adding to our previous work, we’ll be tackling a new section of coppice to get the trees under control, clear scrub, create new wildlife habitats and burn brash. Any excuse for a fire…

Wednesday 17^th – Cherry Orchard allotments, Worcs:

This 10 acre site was formerly a donkey sanctuary and there’s plenty of work to be done to turn it into the cider producing, brick making, fertile allotment that co-founder Nigel Leech has in mind. It’s a great project that we’re proud to be part of. See www.wclcoop.org for details.

Wednesday 24^th – Perrywood coppice, Worcs:

This large mixed woodland, managed by Worcester City Council (WCC) is another site in need of coppice work and with the birds having flown the nest and the sap now falling; this is the time to do it.

Wednesday 31^st – Perrywood coppice, Worcs:

With the sound of sawing, chopping, burning and slashing in the air, we’ll be producing firewood, opening habitats and creating the conditions for energetic re-growth next spring.

November 2012

Wednesday 7^th – Amestry wood, Rushwick:

Our final visit to this woodland this autumn; the hazel stools should be prepared for their next lease of life and Rick’s firewood piles should be looking full, ready to fire up his biomass heater and warm his new home.

Wednesday 14^th – Copcut Park, Droitwich:

This is the final year of our 3 year plan with Droitwich Spa Town Council to improve the woodland and pond at the park. The project, which has seen precision logging operations; towing trees across the pond with the landrover, should be as engaging as ever as we consolidate our hard work here to date.

Wednesday 21^st – Tom Shell Coppice, Abberley:

With the sun now low in the sky and the temperature falling, there’s still plenty of coppice work to be done here and no better excuse for another fire!

Wednesday 28^th – Chapter Meadows, Worcs:

Returning to our very own meadows for the final task this season, we bring autumn to a close with scrub clearance, tree pruning and repairs to any wear and tear that the cattle may have caused. Oh go on then, we’ll have another fire and a bit of warm grub.

Alastair.

The Pump House will now be open daily from 10am to 5pm

We’re hoping that the weather may have improved by September and have rescheduled the Scrap Games for Sunday 23 September 3pm start.

All teams need to register first here and teams registered for the Games in June will still be registered for the September Games unless we hear otherwise.

All details are on the registration form, should you wish to speak to a human with regards the Scrap Games please phone WRE on 01905 726796 or Anda on 01905 730601