Another good turnout of 10 volunteers last week enabled us to make good progress cutting Sea Buckthorn regrowth in slack 48 north of Sands Lake. This week, we will aim to finish slack 48 and move on to slack 47. Thursday looks like being clear but cold.
A great turnout of 11 volunteers last week enabled us to cut an enormous amount of Sea Buckthorn regrowth in our target area north of Sands Lake. This week, we will aim to clear slack 48 and it looks as though there will be a break in the otherwise unsettled weather on Thursday
Lunt meadows is a nature reserve owned by the Environment Agency and managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, primarily known for it's wetlands and the birds they attract. The reserve also provides a great habitat for small mammals, however they are currently underrecorded across much of the site.
October is supposed to be our wettest month but, with measurable precipitation on only nine days, this time it did not live up to its reputation. Confounding the forecasters, one of two named storms produced no rain at all! The trend for mild autumns continued, with several warm spells and no frost at all. Regularly monitoring of the dune water-table showed that it started to rise, as would be expected, surface-water appearing in the deepest slacks but not in the Devil’s Hole, which remained stubbornly dry.
The Gems in the Dunes project are looking for a group of volunteers to help survey and record three of the rare bryophytes on the coast: Petalwort, Bryum warneum & Bryum calophyllum.
This training session will include identification, monitoring and recording techniques. You will need warm waterproof clothing and lunch - drinks will be provided, also a hand lens & GPS if you have them.
Another excellent turnout of 12 volunteers last Friday resulted in a tremendous amount of buckthorn re-growth being cut west of Sands Lake. This week I can only manage Wednesday, so the next Buckthorn Bash will be on Wednesday 8th November meeting at 2.00pm at the Sands Lake carpark. As usual bring long-handled loppers, if you have them, and thick gloves. We will finish at 4.00pm. The weather forecast is favourable.
Gems in the Dunes will hopefully provide spare loppers again.
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