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Volunteering with Stephen and the SAS - the SEVEN ACRES SQUAD!
Recently, we prepared the Bury Road entrance: ready to be sown as a Wildflower Meadow.
See some of the Team below working on what is known as Toothill Meadow (opposite Audio Trail post No. 1)   The photo above shows part of the area after being mown.
Next, the LWT contracts team will cover the whole area with 20mm of grit. Then the SAS will sow it with wildflower seeds.
Next Spring, it should be spectacular!
Looking back with the SAS!...
The Seven Acres Squad were hard at work, recently, creating habitat piles on 'Seven Acres Forest School' area to get it ready now that the school bookings are starting to come in for this year.
Unfortunately in the past the habitat piles that we have created in this area have been pulled apart and set on fire so, we borrowed an idea from Low Hall LNR in Wigan - we have tied our piles down using fencing wire, burying the bottom logs underground!
We had collected various wild flower seeds from around Seven Acres back in August/September so we spread those seeds on an area of bare soil which was created during our recent ditch-digging works: we spread Sweet Cicely, Angelica, Black Knapweed, Meadow Vetchling, Bush Vetch and Devil's-bit Scabious.
We noticed that Bistort and Tormentil has also started to grow on the bank, due to us disturbing the seeds which were lying dormant in the soil!
We spent the afternoon identifying trees and discussing various wild folklore tales. Did you know Lesser Celandine was Wordsworth's favourite flower!
Activise your life - by Volunteering!: Volunteering is a fun and sociable activity, and a great way to get a bit of exercise outdoors while getting closer to local wildlife. You don't need to be super-fit or an expert in conservation to take part - just willing to try something new and get your hands dirty!
The SAS volunteer group meets at the Environment Resource Centre on Bury road every Friday from 10:00am - 3:30pm.
There is no need to book - anyone is welcome to turn up on the day - but we'd recommend phoning ahead on the number below in case the activity is cancelled for any reason. Activities will be taking place outdoors, so please wear old clothes and sturdy footwear.
The Trust can provide waterproofs, refreshments and all necessary tools.
We may be in a position to offer accredited training awards from AQA and the John Muir Award - please ask for more details.
For more information, contact Stephen on 01204 663754 or email scartwright@lancswt.org.uk
Activities:
The group carry out various habitat management, site maintenance and surveying tasks at Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve in Bolton. These include:
Coppicing - a method of cutting back trees such Hazel and Willow in order to encourage vigourous new growth. The cuttings can then be harvested as a sustainable source of wood, and, leaving coppiced trees at different stages of re-growth is good for biodiversity.
Grassland management - clearing scrub and cutting the grass at certain times during the year, in order to encourage as diverse a habitat for plants and animals as possible.
Wetland management - clearing excess vegetation, building dams or digging in order to control the water levels and encourage insects and amphibians.
General Maintenance - repairing fences, keeping paths clear and litter-picks to keep the sites both safe and accessible for members of the public.
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