JUST SOME of the work done in the park by FoMFNP volunteers, sometimes with Oxford City Council Volunteers, sometimes with Oxford Conservation Volunteers,
from April 2015 to the end of 2018
For events prior to 29 March 2015, click here 2019 to end of 2021
2 December 2018
Volunteers removed nearly all the dogwood from the area just north of the ponds. Dogwood is far too invasive and needs constant control. That area will be mown in future to prevent regrowth. Other scrub clearance was also carried out. Judy found four bee-orchid rosettes in the Phoenix area, which is very good news. She reported that there was still a lot of purple loosestrife seed for collection beside the ponds.
14 July 2018 Seed collection - photos
Rod d'Ayala tried out the new leaf-sucker on the meadow area on the Harberton Mead side to collect seed for sowing in other wildlife sites. The very warm weather in the summer of 2018 caused the meadow flowers to bloom and drop their seed earlier than usual. However, a lot of knapweed was still in flower on 14 July and some seed was available, as was seed great burnet. Wild carrot had yet to set seed. The phoenix area does not undergo any cut-and-collect, so seed was still available here later. Around the ponds, purple and yellow loosestrife were still in flower in mid-July. Here, too, there is no cutting by the City Council, so seed, once set, was available until it dropped.
28 June 2018 Oxford City Council Volunteers came to help cut long grass
While the volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, were in the park, Eden House, an Oxford Brookes student who is just finishing the 2nd year of a degree in Animal Biology and Conservation, came to look at the Devil's bit scabious. Her final-year thesis will examine the differences between the late and early varieties of this flower, their morphology and the number and the kinds of pollinators they attract. This is an area that has not been covered by previous research. For photos taken that morning, click here (To see captions, click on white circle with 'i' at top right when view photos full size)
Volunteers removed nearly all the dogwood from the area just north of the ponds. Dogwood is far too invasive and needs constant control. That area will be mown in future to prevent regrowth. Other scrub clearance was also carried out. Judy found four bee-orchid rosettes in the Phoenix area, which is very good news. She reported that there was still a lot of purple loosestrife seed for collection beside the ponds.
14 July 2018 Seed collection - photos
Rod d'Ayala tried out the new leaf-sucker on the meadow area on the Harberton Mead side to collect seed for sowing in other wildlife sites. The very warm weather in the summer of 2018 caused the meadow flowers to bloom and drop their seed earlier than usual. However, a lot of knapweed was still in flower on 14 July and some seed was available, as was seed great burnet. Wild carrot had yet to set seed. The phoenix area does not undergo any cut-and-collect, so seed was still available here later. Around the ponds, purple and yellow loosestrife were still in flower in mid-July. Here, too, there is no cutting by the City Council, so seed, once set, was available until it dropped.
28 June 2018 Oxford City Council Volunteers came to help cut long grass
While the volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, were in the park, Eden House, an Oxford Brookes student who is just finishing the 2nd year of a degree in Animal Biology and Conservation, came to look at the Devil's bit scabious. Her final-year thesis will examine the differences between the late and early varieties of this flower, their morphology and the number and the kinds of pollinators they attract. This is an area that has not been covered by previous research. For photos taken that morning, click here (To see captions, click on white circle with 'i' at top right when view photos full size)
A petrol-driven Cobra mower has been bought out of the residual funds of the former New Marston Wildlife Group to keep stronger-growing vegetation under control. Unlike the large mowers used by Oxford City Council, it can be easily manoeuvred for targeted cutting of specific areas (as in photo on right).
For photos from 29 April, click here Rod D'Ayala tackling the Michaelmas daisies on 29 April 2018 |
11 June 2018:
A couple of frogs and a newt were found in an open manhole by children who were in the park that afternoon. The very kind children persevered for a long time to save the small creatures, which were safely returned to the pond area. Many thanks to all the rescuers involved!
A couple of frogs and a newt were found in an open manhole by children who were in the park that afternoon. The very kind children persevered for a long time to save the small creatures, which were safely returned to the pond area. Many thanks to all the rescuers involved!
25 March 2018:
Oxford Conservation Volunteers and local volunteers tackled the excess vegetation in the ponds and stream bed, as well as cutting back bushes and undergrowth. Great progress was made, including the creation of further dams to slow the water flow and retain more water in the stream. The middle pond was heaving with frogs. Photos here include two short videos (frogs) - they start automatically (blue swirling circle). Click on right of screen to move from video to next photo. More frog photos and a video by Ben Martin, who waded in to take them.
Oxford Conservation Volunteers and local volunteers tackled the excess vegetation in the ponds and stream bed, as well as cutting back bushes and undergrowth. Great progress was made, including the creation of further dams to slow the water flow and retain more water in the stream. The middle pond was heaving with frogs. Photos here include two short videos (frogs) - they start automatically (blue swirling circle). Click on right of screen to move from video to next photo. More frog photos and a video by Ben Martin, who waded in to take them.
7 January 2018
The ponds were covered with quite thick ice. Judy Webb and Ellen Lee braved the cold to hack down more willow shoots, sustained by hot coffee brought by Steve Lee, who was recovering from a cough, so didn't join in the hacking - photos here
In subsequent weeks, despite very cold weather, Judy Webb and Rod D'Ayala made further progress with tackling the bramble shoots and overgrown blackthorn. See photos taken on 12 and 17 February 2018, which also show the water level in the ponds being maintained well by the dam.
September 2017: Pond maintenance Click on 'i' in white circle for info on a photo
Unfortunately persistent rain deterred local families from joining in with weed removal. However, some regular volunteers carried on regardless. Judy Webb's eagle eyes spotted some Whorled Water-milfoil (National Status of Near Threatened and on the County's Rare Plans Register), and a China-mark moth Elophila nymphaeata on pond vegetation.
The ponds were covered with quite thick ice. Judy Webb and Ellen Lee braved the cold to hack down more willow shoots, sustained by hot coffee brought by Steve Lee, who was recovering from a cough, so didn't join in the hacking - photos here
In subsequent weeks, despite very cold weather, Judy Webb and Rod D'Ayala made further progress with tackling the bramble shoots and overgrown blackthorn. See photos taken on 12 and 17 February 2018, which also show the water level in the ponds being maintained well by the dam.
September 2017: Pond maintenance Click on 'i' in white circle for info on a photo
Unfortunately persistent rain deterred local families from joining in with weed removal. However, some regular volunteers carried on regardless. Judy Webb's eagle eyes spotted some Whorled Water-milfoil (National Status of Near Threatened and on the County's Rare Plans Register), and a China-mark moth Elophila nymphaeata on pond vegetation.
17 August 2017: Work by Oxford City Council Volunteers and visit of nearby Marston Court residents
Some Marston Court residents, with Carl Whitehead, Coordinator of Oxford City Council Volunteers, talking to Paul Lucas, Coordinator for Activities at Marston Court, who said residents often came to the park and looked forward to their visits. The second lady in the line of scooters, Barbara Harvey, was a pupil at Milham Ford School when it was in Cowley Place (the building is now part of St Hilda's College). Barbara, aged 101, enjoys looking for different wild flowers and has many books on the subject. Her enthusiasm has inspired activities in Marston Court that are related to the park. (More info in the slideshow).
Paul, a former professional photographer, kindly supplied his photos of another visit of Marston Court residents to the park - click here
Some Marston Court residents, with Carl Whitehead, Coordinator of Oxford City Council Volunteers, talking to Paul Lucas, Coordinator for Activities at Marston Court, who said residents often came to the park and looked forward to their visits. The second lady in the line of scooters, Barbara Harvey, was a pupil at Milham Ford School when it was in Cowley Place (the building is now part of St Hilda's College). Barbara, aged 101, enjoys looking for different wild flowers and has many books on the subject. Her enthusiasm has inspired activities in Marston Court that are related to the park. (More info in the slideshow).
Paul, a former professional photographer, kindly supplied his photos of another visit of Marston Court residents to the park - click here
Thursday, 6 July 2017
Carl Whitehead, Coordinator for volunteers at Oxford City Council, came with OCC volunteers to tackle the overgrowth in the lower pond area. At the end of the day water was again visible, which will be much appreciated by the dragonflies and damselflies, as well as other aquatic insects, in the park. For photos, click here
To reveal any info added to the photos, put mouse pointer on a photo and click on the white circle with 'i' in it at top right.
Carl Whitehead, Coordinator for volunteers at Oxford City Council, came with OCC volunteers to tackle the overgrowth in the lower pond area. At the end of the day water was again visible, which will be much appreciated by the dragonflies and damselflies, as well as other aquatic insects, in the park. For photos, click here
To reveal any info added to the photos, put mouse pointer on a photo and click on the white circle with 'i' in it at top right.
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Oxford City Council Volunteers
reinforcing the temporary dam on 2 Feb 2017 |
7 May 2017: Building a dam to stop water leaking from the ponds
Oxford Conservation Volunteers (above, left) did a splendid job constructing the dam and helping with pond maintenance. Some local residents helped too. OCV also helped FoMFNP attack the brambles. For photos, click here. There are also two short videos of dam construction and the creation of a new mini-pond after excavating clay from near the ponds to reinforce the dam. Oxford City Council Volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, had reinforced the temporary dam on 2 February - for photos of that event, click here The dam was very effective and subsequently the water level in the ponds remained high even after a spell of dry weather.
Oxford Conservation Volunteers (above, left) did a splendid job constructing the dam and helping with pond maintenance. Some local residents helped too. OCV also helped FoMFNP attack the brambles. For photos, click here. There are also two short videos of dam construction and the creation of a new mini-pond after excavating clay from near the ponds to reinforce the dam. Oxford City Council Volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, had reinforced the temporary dam on 2 February - for photos of that event, click here The dam was very effective and subsequently the water level in the ponds remained high even after a spell of dry weather.
Volunteers at work 5 February to 9 April 2017 - photos
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Oxford City Council Volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, came to reinforce the 'dam' built as a temporary measure to slow the fall of the ponds' water level (due to water leaking through a fissure in the clay beside the concrete chamber controlling the outflow). To see them in action, go to this photo album, (photos and video by Judy Webb, who also joined in the work). Carl did some sterling work too with his brushcutter on a large area of tall, dead, plants. The ground-clearing is to allow smaller wildflowers to grow without being choked by Michaelmas daisies and other 'thugs', thus increasing the biodiversity of the Park.
Sunday, 22 January 2017
Lage chunks of ice in the frozen-over ponds but cold weather didn't deter Judy Webb and Rod D'Ayala from turning up to clear brash from around the poplars along the Marston Road side of the park ready for when the City Council team came to fell the ones that were rotten and becoming dangerous.
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Oxford City Council Volunteers, led by Carl Whitehead, came to reinforce the 'dam' built as a temporary measure to slow the fall of the ponds' water level (due to water leaking through a fissure in the clay beside the concrete chamber controlling the outflow). To see them in action, go to this photo album, (photos and video by Judy Webb, who also joined in the work). Carl did some sterling work too with his brushcutter on a large area of tall, dead, plants. The ground-clearing is to allow smaller wildflowers to grow without being choked by Michaelmas daisies and other 'thugs', thus increasing the biodiversity of the Park.
Sunday, 22 January 2017
Lage chunks of ice in the frozen-over ponds but cold weather didn't deter Judy Webb and Rod D'Ayala from turning up to clear brash from around the poplars along the Marston Road side of the park ready for when the City Council team came to fell the ones that were rotten and becoming dangerous.
Sunday, 8 January 2017 First volunteering day of the new year.
Clearing dead tall vegetation and cutting down shoots of female Willows to prevent them spreading by dropping seed. Considerable progress was made with clearing ground to help smaller wildflowers grow and consequently increase the biodiversity of the site. Seed of Purple Loosestrife was collected for sowing on other wildlife sites in the city. For photos click here. On that day a lot of photographers were seen along Marston Road by the park. This was because of the arrival of some Waxwings, so called because the red tips to some of their wing feathers resemble sealing wax.
Clearing dead tall vegetation and cutting down shoots of female Willows to prevent them spreading by dropping seed. Considerable progress was made with clearing ground to help smaller wildflowers grow and consequently increase the biodiversity of the site. Seed of Purple Loosestrife was collected for sowing on other wildlife sites in the city. For photos click here. On that day a lot of photographers were seen along Marston Road by the park. This was because of the arrival of some Waxwings, so called because the red tips to some of their wing feathers resemble sealing wax.
11 December 2016 Last volunteering day of the year.
Brambles and excessive growth of vigorous plants were tackled once again. Purple Loosestrife seed was gathered to give to other wildlife groups. Some of it was sown in the Lye Valley on 14 December. Small holes were made in the bee wall to help the bees who will come to build nests there. The stream was flowing strongly after a recent period of rain For photos, click here. The end of a short video also shows work on the bee wall.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
Volunteers tackled the overgrowth of Willowherb in the stream bed and also removal of Himalayan blackberry from the bank on the west side of the park. Some Ragwort flowers were still in bloom. The Ragwort family is beneficial to a large number of insects but is toxic to animals, if a sufficient quantity is ingested. The Ragwort in Milham Ford Nature Park poses a very low risk for stock because it is more than 100 m from the land used for grazing for horses in Marston Meadows and the hay from the cutting is never used for feed/forage. For Google Photos slideshow, click here.
Brambles and excessive growth of vigorous plants were tackled once again. Purple Loosestrife seed was gathered to give to other wildlife groups. Some of it was sown in the Lye Valley on 14 December. Small holes were made in the bee wall to help the bees who will come to build nests there. The stream was flowing strongly after a recent period of rain For photos, click here. The end of a short video also shows work on the bee wall.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
Volunteers tackled the overgrowth of Willowherb in the stream bed and also removal of Himalayan blackberry from the bank on the west side of the park. Some Ragwort flowers were still in bloom. The Ragwort family is beneficial to a large number of insects but is toxic to animals, if a sufficient quantity is ingested. The Ragwort in Milham Ford Nature Park poses a very low risk for stock because it is more than 100 m from the land used for grazing for horses in Marston Meadows and the hay from the cutting is never used for feed/forage. For Google Photos slideshow, click here.
Sunday, 4 September 2016
A volunteering session was held to clear out Nuttall's Pondweed, Elodea nutallii, which would choke the ponds, if left unchecked. Several children arrived with their parents and helped to find and remove creatures that had been brought out with the weed and return them to the ponds.
As well as helping with the pond work, Peter Somogyi checked his Stock Dove nest boxes and cleaned out the empty ones. There were two large chicks in one, probably from a third brood. An Angle Shades moth, Phlogophora meticulosa, was found in a clump of water mint beside the ponds.
For photos of the pond-clearing session, click here.
Photo: Carl Whitehead, Coordinator of Oxford City Council's Parks and Countryside Volunteers, talking to Judy Webb and two of the volunteers, 25 August 2016.
25 August 2016
Another visit from Carl and his team. Further, much appreciated, clearance of excess growth of Michaelmas daisies. Photos this time are mostly of pond life and insects spotted
11 August 2016
Carl Whitehead, Coordinator of Oxford City Council's Parks and Countryside Volunteers, brought his team to the Park to help with scrub clearance. They did a great job opening up sight lines through to the Park's periphery and tackling the overgrowth of Michaelmas Daisies. For photos, click here.
Prior to that, on 8 and 9 August 2016, as requested by Judy Webb, Oxford City Council Parks Department had carried out a cut-and-collect of the grass in the areas dominated by rank grass - see sketch provided by Judy. This removed nutrients, thereby reducing grass vigour, which will help the wildflowers and prevent the rank grass from seeding and reducing flower diversity next year.
25 August 2016
Another visit from Carl and his team. Further, much appreciated, clearance of excess growth of Michaelmas daisies. Photos this time are mostly of pond life and insects spotted
11 August 2016
Carl Whitehead, Coordinator of Oxford City Council's Parks and Countryside Volunteers, brought his team to the Park to help with scrub clearance. They did a great job opening up sight lines through to the Park's periphery and tackling the overgrowth of Michaelmas Daisies. For photos, click here.
Prior to that, on 8 and 9 August 2016, as requested by Judy Webb, Oxford City Council Parks Department had carried out a cut-and-collect of the grass in the areas dominated by rank grass - see sketch provided by Judy. This removed nutrients, thereby reducing grass vigour, which will help the wildflowers and prevent the rank grass from seeding and reducing flower diversity next year.
Sunday, 31 July 2016 further seed collecting
Volunteers, including 3 residents from Harberton Heights, helped with the collection. Three flower-spikes of bee orchids were found with pods ready to shed seed. The pods (one is seen among photos taken by Judy Webb) were removed and crumbled over the ground around the parent plants to make sure all the dust-like seed reached the soil before the forecast rain. It can take 5 years before any new bee orchid plants that appear come into flower.
Lots of grasshoppers and a Long-winged Conehead cricket* were seen, as well as some Small Skipper butterflies and Cinnabar Moth caterpillars* (black and orange stripes). *Among photos taken by Joanna Heath.
16 July 2016 Wildflower walk and seed collection
Judy Webb led a walk around the Park identifying the flowers and explaining their use for pollinators. This was followed by seed collection, directed by Mary Jo Drew. For photos taken by Marilyn Cox*, click here.
*and two of a Yellow Loosestrife bee taken by Judy Webb. For photos taken by Joanna Heath, click here.
(To see info on photos, click on white circle with ‘i’ in it at top right when in slideshow. To hide info, click on X beside ‘Info’.)
19 June 2016 Clearing Giant Marestail and other overgrowth from around Common Spotted Orchids - for photos click here
10 April 2016 More bramble clearing along the Marston Rd side. 150 fritillary flowers counted. Thousands of frog tadpoles and some toad spawn in the ponds. PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
3 April 2016 Oxford Conservation Volunteers helped tackle clearing of streams, brambles and pond maintenance - for photos click here PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
20 March 2016
More cutting back of Himalayan Blackberry and trimming of shrubs. Judy brought along a water-testing kit supplied by The Freshwater Habitats Trust, who are organising a countrywide 'Clean Water for Wildlife Survey'. High levels of phosphate and nitrate encourage the growth of toxic algae in ponds and rivers, which is harmful to wildlife. The nitrate level in the Milham Ford Nature Park ponds and where the stream emerges was less than the lowest level detectable by the kit. The lowest level of phosphate detectable by the kit was found at the stream source but none was detected in the ponds. However, the Freshwater Habitats Trust points out that the kits are not as accurate as laboratory testing and consequently 'roughly 1 in 5 samples will suggest that the water is less polluted than it really is'. Photos - click here. Click on photo for full-size, then to see info click the 'i' in white circle. Click 'x' to hide info.
Volunteers, including 3 residents from Harberton Heights, helped with the collection. Three flower-spikes of bee orchids were found with pods ready to shed seed. The pods (one is seen among photos taken by Judy Webb) were removed and crumbled over the ground around the parent plants to make sure all the dust-like seed reached the soil before the forecast rain. It can take 5 years before any new bee orchid plants that appear come into flower.
Lots of grasshoppers and a Long-winged Conehead cricket* were seen, as well as some Small Skipper butterflies and Cinnabar Moth caterpillars* (black and orange stripes). *Among photos taken by Joanna Heath.
16 July 2016 Wildflower walk and seed collection
Judy Webb led a walk around the Park identifying the flowers and explaining their use for pollinators. This was followed by seed collection, directed by Mary Jo Drew. For photos taken by Marilyn Cox*, click here.
*and two of a Yellow Loosestrife bee taken by Judy Webb. For photos taken by Joanna Heath, click here.
(To see info on photos, click on white circle with ‘i’ in it at top right when in slideshow. To hide info, click on X beside ‘Info’.)
19 June 2016 Clearing Giant Marestail and other overgrowth from around Common Spotted Orchids - for photos click here
10 April 2016 More bramble clearing along the Marston Rd side. 150 fritillary flowers counted. Thousands of frog tadpoles and some toad spawn in the ponds. PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
3 April 2016 Oxford Conservation Volunteers helped tackle clearing of streams, brambles and pond maintenance - for photos click here PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
20 March 2016
More cutting back of Himalayan Blackberry and trimming of shrubs. Judy brought along a water-testing kit supplied by The Freshwater Habitats Trust, who are organising a countrywide 'Clean Water for Wildlife Survey'. High levels of phosphate and nitrate encourage the growth of toxic algae in ponds and rivers, which is harmful to wildlife. The nitrate level in the Milham Ford Nature Park ponds and where the stream emerges was less than the lowest level detectable by the kit. The lowest level of phosphate detectable by the kit was found at the stream source but none was detected in the ponds. However, the Freshwater Habitats Trust points out that the kits are not as accurate as laboratory testing and consequently 'roughly 1 in 5 samples will suggest that the water is less polluted than it really is'. Photos - click here. Click on photo for full-size, then to see info click the 'i' in white circle. Click 'x' to hide info.
17 January 2016 First volunteering work of the year Cutting back of scrub and tree trimming. Despite the cold weather 7 people turned up to work, including Daniel, who set about his first session of volunteering with enthusiasm. |
24 January 2016 Clearing of scrub 7 February 2016 Judy, Ellen and Steve planting bee orchids, 8 moved from an area in the park regularly mowed by large City Council machinery and 8 re-homed from a threatened verge near Kidlington. |
20 December 2015 - last volunteering session of the year For photos, click here
Clearing excessive growth of reed at pond margins to allow sowing of seed of Greater Water Parsnip, Sium latifolium. More cowslip seed was sown in the meadow areas. Judy dug up a barrow-load of clumps of Purple Loosestrife roots to plant at Rivermead Nature Park. Seed of Purple Loosestrife was also gathered for other wildlife sites. Cutting of brambles and more tree trimming were also carried out.
17 October 2015
During this working session Judy Webb carried out a fungal survey and a Nitrous waxcap, Hygrocybe nitrata. 'Quite an uncommon species', Judy said, 'with a strong nitrous smell – medicinal, like chlorine or TCP. Never been seen before at Milham Ford in 16 years of fungal recording! Shows how unpredictable fungal fruiting can be and how you can never expect to get a full species list without many years of recording'. The same day Peter Somogyi found one of his nest boxes had been taken over by a colony of tree bumble bees Bombus hypnorum. For photos, taken by Judy, click here. For a photo of Stock Dove chicks raised earlier this year, taken by Peter, click here.
4 Oct 2015 with Oxford Conservation Volunteers For photos click here
5 Sept 2015 Pond-weed clearing and discovering pond animals For photos click here
20 August 2015 Work with Oxford City Council Volunteers following grass-cutting by Oxford City Council - click here
12 July 2015 Maintenance with help from Oxford Conservation Volunteers
Without regular maintenance, vigorous plants such as Great Willowherb and Giant Horsetail would overgrow other vegetation and fill the ponds. Photos of volunteers in action Google photos Photos of insects & flowers in the Park that day
Judy Webb took photos of what she thought might be an Essex Skipper butterfly, which differs from a Small Skipper in that it has black-tipped antennae. See Butterfly Conservation website for identification notes.
7 June 2015: Volunteers again tackled the excessive growth of Michaelmas daisies Slideshow
Clearing excessive growth of reed at pond margins to allow sowing of seed of Greater Water Parsnip, Sium latifolium. More cowslip seed was sown in the meadow areas. Judy dug up a barrow-load of clumps of Purple Loosestrife roots to plant at Rivermead Nature Park. Seed of Purple Loosestrife was also gathered for other wildlife sites. Cutting of brambles and more tree trimming were also carried out.
17 October 2015
During this working session Judy Webb carried out a fungal survey and a Nitrous waxcap, Hygrocybe nitrata. 'Quite an uncommon species', Judy said, 'with a strong nitrous smell – medicinal, like chlorine or TCP. Never been seen before at Milham Ford in 16 years of fungal recording! Shows how unpredictable fungal fruiting can be and how you can never expect to get a full species list without many years of recording'. The same day Peter Somogyi found one of his nest boxes had been taken over by a colony of tree bumble bees Bombus hypnorum. For photos, taken by Judy, click here. For a photo of Stock Dove chicks raised earlier this year, taken by Peter, click here.
4 Oct 2015 with Oxford Conservation Volunteers For photos click here
5 Sept 2015 Pond-weed clearing and discovering pond animals For photos click here
20 August 2015 Work with Oxford City Council Volunteers following grass-cutting by Oxford City Council - click here
12 July 2015 Maintenance with help from Oxford Conservation Volunteers
Without regular maintenance, vigorous plants such as Great Willowherb and Giant Horsetail would overgrow other vegetation and fill the ponds. Photos of volunteers in action Google photos Photos of insects & flowers in the Park that day
Judy Webb took photos of what she thought might be an Essex Skipper butterfly, which differs from a Small Skipper in that it has black-tipped antennae. See Butterfly Conservation website for identification notes.
7 June 2015: Volunteers again tackled the excessive growth of Michaelmas daisies Slideshow
24 May 2015
A bee wall to provide homes for mining bees (solitary bees that do not swarm) was constructed at the side of the stream under the guidance of Curt Lamberth and with the enthusiastic help of Oxfordshire Conservation Volunteers. Heather Armitage and Terry Wood (Friends of Lye Valley) also helped. Mining bees have finished building homes for this year but hopefully they will use the wall next spring.
To see a mining bee in action, click here.
To see the working group in action, click here
Photos taken by Tim Bletsoe of OCV (9 photos - click on the one visible to move on to the next)
Photos taken by Marilyn Cox Google photos
The same day more clearing of unwanted vegetation was carried out thanks to help kindly given by other volunteers PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
A bee wall to provide homes for mining bees (solitary bees that do not swarm) was constructed at the side of the stream under the guidance of Curt Lamberth and with the enthusiastic help of Oxfordshire Conservation Volunteers. Heather Armitage and Terry Wood (Friends of Lye Valley) also helped. Mining bees have finished building homes for this year but hopefully they will use the wall next spring.
To see a mining bee in action, click here.
To see the working group in action, click here
Photos taken by Tim Bletsoe of OCV (9 photos - click on the one visible to move on to the next)
Photos taken by Marilyn Cox Google photos
The same day more clearing of unwanted vegetation was carried out thanks to help kindly given by other volunteers PHOTO LINK NOT YET UPDATED
3 May 2015 More scrub removal by Friends of Milham Ford Nature Park. Lots of cowslips in flower and also the beautiful Bog bean, Menyanthes trifoliata, at the side of one of the ponds. Plenty of tadpoles too. Photos here
Sunday, 19 April 2015 Pond-clearing and scrub removal
A great improvement was achieved with the enthusiastic help of Oxford Conservation Volunteers - many thanks to them all!
Photos taken by OCV Photos taken by Marilyn Cox Google photos
Sunday, 19 April 2015 Pond-clearing and scrub removal
A great improvement was achieved with the enthusiastic help of Oxford Conservation Volunteers - many thanks to them all!
Photos taken by OCV Photos taken by Marilyn Cox Google photos