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Local Orgs Conservation Trust Bergh Apton Conservation Trust July 2007 Update
Local Orgs Conservation Trust Bergh Apton Conservation Trust July 2007 Update
| Bergh Apton Conservation Trust July 2007 Update |
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| Parish Organisations - Bergh Apton Conservation Trust | |||
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Bergh Apton Conservation Trust JULY 2007 Update The Trust has been characteristically activate during the summer months. The work days (third Saturday in the month, meet in the Church field at 10.00) continue to provide fresh air, exercise and a great deal of fun as members maintain and improve the conservation trust reserve, among other things. The new purchase provides the extra challenge and excitement of dealing with water in ponds and the river. In May, a group of early risers met at 5.30 am to walk around the area listening to the early bird song and enjoy the early morning sights and sounds. The walk culminated at the Davys’ house where a full English breakfast was served. (It was unfortunate that this event had been planned before the Davys realised that they would be without a kitchen on this date but they rose to the challenge and produced breakfast by a variety of cooking methods, including a barbecue, microwave, camping gas and electric rings!) Fortunately their kitchen was finished by the time of our next event: ‘breakfast with the moths’. John and Judy Geeson set up a moth trap in the garden overnight and opened it for inspection the next morning. Despite the poor weather and low temperatures an impressive diversity of moths was caught including magnificent Privet Hawk moths, Eyed Hawk moths and Poplar Hawk moths. The provision of bacon rolls, croissants and churros with chocolate sauce (thank you Jacquie Ratcliffe!) all made the event a very sociable one, and John and Judy’s identification skills and explanations meant that we all learned a lot as well. The mid-summer barbeque and bonfire had to be postponed as torrential rain made the event a wash-out. The bonfire is still there and another event will be organised (if it ever stops raining). Our annual Pond Dipping in early July was very well attended - we were delighted to see so many new children with their parents and grandparents. A wide range of creatures was found both within the pond and on the nearby vegetation. Indeed, a particularly handsome spider was caught on one mother’s jumper! Tadpoles of both frogs and newts are an encouraging indication of the pond’s potential as a wildlife habitat. This year the water as particularly clear, perhaps an unexpected benefit of the unusually high rainfall. Although we have kindly been given access to the pond for many years, it was particularly gratifying to ‘dip’ as its new owners this year. Our next special event is the official opening of our new reserve area (see separate item) and our Fungus Foray is on Sunday September 30th at 2.30. We would be delighted to see you all there.
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