All change this time around – the annual chance to hear about some of the current themes and potential new worksites around the patch with Countryside, Parklands & Gardens Manager Pete – took place on a Sunday!! …and proved to be more of a static event than on previous occasions, as some of the Group spent a day interspersed with rain showers across just the Dudmaston Estate – half of them having spent the day before working there.
First stop was a new and interesting plot, part of the revamped Comer Wood, where as part of a grand plan to retain and improve the soils, reducing run-off into the water courses, pools and ultimately the Severn, a number of initiatives are underway, or in discussion…..Look out for example, for heather bales transported from NT Long Mynd to increase the stock and re-establish acid heathland…..There are whole swathes of heather which have been put in some of the meadows to retain the sandy soils…..In some case heather seeds have been commercially dried and prepared to be transported to their new home, as a new seed rather than established plant….in other cases, those heather seeds have been planted in nursery beds, to be planted out as new tender plants…all part of attempts to discover which process is the most effective from many points of view to reintroduce new plants. Dog walkers might have spotted the volunteers’ cagoules searching the meadow plants for new growth on Sunday in the rain (hence no pics!)
SSNTV scything skills learnt at Hopesay might be put to use on future Sundays, if the plans at Comer to increase the wildflower meadows prove successful……Volunteers efforts and cows hooves are good apparently for stirring up the ground and promoting wild flower growth!
…There was also widening of woodland paths into “rides” to consider, as the Group passed the still relatively-new Shepherds Hut catering and paused to enjoy the brownies and victoria sponge.
…A quick look-in at the recent tree-planting efforts by SSNTV & the property volunteers revealed much new regen’ of a number of species and good initial success rates, by both the broadleaf and conifer saplings.
…Then it was on to the Dingle where the results of efforts to reinstate the original eighteenth century vistas in the wooded valley were on view. It’ll be interesting to see what seeds and spores will come to light, now that the ground has been disturbed and more sunlight gets in. After the likely bluebells, I wonder what else there’ll be next Spring?
There’ll be “cut & burn” too, as more trees are selectively removed. Monies permitting, there’ll be work on the silted up Mill Pool, adjoining the Big Pool dam, to reduce the reeds for example. In other cases, as the long-lasting big trees eventually succumb to old age, the weather, or disease, they are left standing as homes for smaller wildlife, as we saw.
An informative day finished up back at the Gardeners Yard, as the Group’s members stumbled across some well-stocked supplies of brownies and other snacks (well that’s how they started off…honest!!) which made for a comforting end to the day. Thanks to Pete for his time and explanations!
Shropshire and Staffordshire National Trust Volunteers 