Friday 27 October 2017

Bums on Seats

Please don't forget to vote for us here:-

https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-3761

So that we can have some seating around the Reserve for our visitors to rest.

We need a few more votes. Members and friends, please sign on and help us reach our target. Sign on below.
https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-3761

November 1st. We have 700+ votes.  We need lots more so please get voting for us.

Tree Walk this Sunday, October 29th

       Hi all. There will be a tree walk this Sunday the 29th of October at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve. Free parking.

This will be led by Bel Hale. Walk start 1:30 pm until 3.30 pm. There will be refreshments in the Cabin. 

Remember to look out for our new Sand Martin wall! Pictures below.

All welcome.

Thursday 26 October 2017

Sand Martin Wall

 Sand Martin Wall installed today. Big thanks to Ted Ford for his generous grant, to John and Ben and for the installation and for all who helped at our workday









Tuesday 24 October 2017

What a great start!

Hi Everyone

We're off to a flying start - by teatime today we had 136 votes. The first 200 projects to reach 1000 votes are guaranteed to get their £1000, so the faster we get the votes in the better! Get your friends and families on board and help us out!

Here's the link again:


Thank you so much!

Monday 23 October 2017

Bums on Seats at the Bottom!


Many visitors to the reserve comment that they would love a few more places to sit down for a while. Well, here's your chance to help make it happen.....
We're applying for a grant from AVIVA Community Fund and we need you to vote for us. We need at least  1000 votes.

Please follow the link and cast your votes for "Bums on Seats at the Bottom", and get everyone you know to do it too.

You can also help by putting a link to the voting on your Facebook page, emailing all your friends or doing a Tweet about us.
We were very grateful for all your votes 2 years ago when we got our pond dipping equipment with an AVIVA grant. Can we do it again?

Voting starts tomorrow and is open until 21st November, so please get cracking - you can have a sit down when we get the benches!

Thank you very much!

Thursday 12 October 2017

              ALL HANDS ON DECK THIS SATURDAY

IT IS 12 MONTHS SINCE WE CUT THE REEDS IN THE LAGOON 

AND YES YOU HAVE GUESSED WE ARE IN THE LAGOON AGAIN

CUTTING AND BURNING THEN BACK TO THE CABIN FOR LUNCH 

WELLIES AND BOOTS NEEDED  

                                MEET 9.30 AT THE CABIN

Thursday Work Day

If you're reading this but you've never been to a work day you might be wondering what gets done?

Well, here's  a quick round up of this morning's efforts:






1. The big blue cabin is getting a make-over - we are lining it out so it's a warmer place to be in, especially in winter when inside jobs are preferable!





At the moment it's mainly a woodworking session in here. Later we're aiming to get some lighting in and a few more fittings so we can build birdboxes etc in comfort. Do you fancy joining in?

How many volunteers does it take........



2. Some routine clean-ups of the bird feeding areas at the cabin and in the reserve also got done. We washed some of the feeders and did a round of refills. Down at the viewing area in the reserve we re-sited a couple of hanging feeders so that they are closer to the wheelchair access viewing area. We hope you and the birds will find them! We also brought the empties back - they'll go out next time. This was an enjoyable task on a fine morning like today, and the feeders dried quickly in a stiff breeze!

3. The weekly cabin cleaning session also happens every Thursday. Armed with a mop & bucket, dishcloths and elbow grease a really good clean of the kitchen and serving counter got done and a general tidy up all made the cabin look welcoming for the weekend.

4. Last, but definitely not least - several tea breaks allow for a friendly chat. We usually put the world to rights, plan a few more jobs to add to the never ending list and dream our dreams of what the reserve might be like in the future.
It's a very enjoyable way to spend a morning - so if you fancy joining in just come along to the cabins from around 9.30am on a Thursday. There's always something to do!

Meanwhile, across the tarmac in the compound .......


.......  there's a grand clean up going on following the completion of the bridge works and the area will be landscaped and planted to look much more inviting.
Exciting times ahead for us - come and be part of it.

Wednesday 11 October 2017

WORK DAY _ THIS SATURDAY

Make the most of the fine weather forecast! Come down to the reserve at 9.30am for a practical day with Robin Dalton from Calderdale's Countryside and Woodlands Service and some of the Wildlife Group members.
We'll be doing a variety of Autumn jobs. No skills needed, just your time and and effort.
Refreshments at the cabins, bring a sandwich if you want to stay beyond lunchtime.
Everyone welcome!

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Autumn at the feeders...

Richard Tadman sent these photos, taken on a recent visit.


A beautiful female Bullfinch

Female Chaffinch

The inevitable Jay

And a perky squirrel

And finally........ a juggling Great Tit!!

Many thanks for sharing them Richard.