 |
| Large Yellow Underwing |
 |
| 2 Small Yellow Underwing |
It didnt dissapoint. Nothing uncommon or amazingly special...
I think I have I'd them correctly but you never can tell especially with the carpets - there are so many of them!
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| Garden Carpet |
Sunday 9 September 2012
Moth trap antics
Just a very quick blog to update on my moth trappings!
Yesterday was a beautiful day so I thought I would give the moth trap a try in the evening.
It didnt dissapoint. Nothing uncommon or amazingly special...
I think I have I'd them correctly but you never can tell especially with the carpets - there are so many of them!
It didnt dissapoint. Nothing uncommon or amazingly special...
I think I have I'd them correctly but you never can tell especially with the carpets - there are so many of them!
First week at Dunham Massey - laughs and learning
Well this week I have been the new girl on the block or Doug's replacement (the previous trainee ranger who is now assistant head ranger at Lymm!
It was my first week and the sun shone the whole week! How lucky was I!??!!!
My first week was a great, looking forward to the next two and a half years. Oh yes and I have immediately learnt that...
a) I am short! (Reaching some of the tools in the tool shed and also the gear stick on the landy is hard with short legs!)
b) I have no strength in my muscles (yet!) which is extremely frustrating!
c) The 'Dunham Massey 7' the amount of weight (in pounds thankfully, not stone) you apparently put on when working at Dunham!
So yes my first week was great the best bits of the week were (and in no particular order)...
1) Getting a NT uniform - I was so chuffed! Loving the combat style trousers and flattering black polo shirts!
2) Using a petrol strimmer - they are sooooo cool, much better than the piddly battery one Tom and I have at home for the allotment
3) Driving the landrover avec small trailer
4) Meeting all the friendly faces at Dunham, my team are great and the staff in the house are so friendly and welcoming. But beware of the Dunham Massey 7 - refuse all offers of home baked biscuits and cakes which really are on offer ever day at the house!
5) Realising how good Dunham is for getting experience in the 'bigger jobs' of the ranger team. Driving the tractor is a daily task here at dunham and big tree jobs are often done by the team (2 of the team are trained climbers so can fell some of the big trees themselves). There's also a lot of strimming, pruning etc to be done with it being quite a manicured park.
I wont go into the ins and outs of each day but needless to say it does seem like every day brings with it a new task or different thing to do. Friday is clock winding day of the clock in the clock tower and I think that alone will build up my muscles, the weights need winding back up each Friday and they are literally huge pieces of stone. I could just about turn one of the handles but no chance with the other. Then one of the other rangers took over and made it look like he was just mixing a cake - I have a long way to go and think I need to be winding that clock up each week!!!
I have spent I think 6 years volunteering for the NTS and have realised this week how lucky I am to be able to visit so many properties and learn so much but what I have learnt seems to be so small compared to what I need to learn going forward. The work at Dunham seems very different to what I am used to but I think its essentially bigger jobs and less nature conservation. Their main focus / priority seems to be on health and safety in terms of the veteran trees and making sure they are safe. The nature conservation side of things happens on the way! Its so interesting though to see the work of a ranger from Dunham's angle and I am certainly going to learn lots!
One amazing piece of kit which I wish NTS have for their thistle camps are 'silkies' small hand held pruning saws which cut through so much with much less effort than bow saws and so much quicker and so much more ability to manoeuvre the blade than a bow saw. One to tell Jon next time I see him!
Tasks this week have included the necessary induction, pruning back tress overhanging fences by the tennis courts, increasing the height of the drainage access points and back filling the spaces around them with topsoil, strimming ride / field margins, walking the park for any snags or any questions I had (a very nice way to end a week with a walk around the park!). I have also been to meetings where I have met volunteer park rangers (85 in total I think, though I only met a few!) at their leaders meeting, meeting the head of departments at their meeting and the NW Director John Darlington!
What will next week have in store?
It was my first week and the sun shone the whole week! How lucky was I!??!!!
My first week was a great, looking forward to the next two and a half years. Oh yes and I have immediately learnt that...
a) I am short! (Reaching some of the tools in the tool shed and also the gear stick on the landy is hard with short legs!)b) I have no strength in my muscles (yet!) which is extremely frustrating!
c) The 'Dunham Massey 7' the amount of weight (in pounds thankfully, not stone) you apparently put on when working at Dunham!
So yes my first week was great the best bits of the week were (and in no particular order)...
1) Getting a NT uniform - I was so chuffed! Loving the combat style trousers and flattering black polo shirts!
2) Using a petrol strimmer - they are sooooo cool, much better than the piddly battery one Tom and I have at home for the allotment
3) Driving the landrover avec small trailer
4) Meeting all the friendly faces at Dunham, my team are great and the staff in the house are so friendly and welcoming. But beware of the Dunham Massey 7 - refuse all offers of home baked biscuits and cakes which really are on offer ever day at the house!
5) Realising how good Dunham is for getting experience in the 'bigger jobs' of the ranger team. Driving the tractor is a daily task here at dunham and big tree jobs are often done by the team (2 of the team are trained climbers so can fell some of the big trees themselves). There's also a lot of strimming, pruning etc to be done with it being quite a manicured park.
I wont go into the ins and outs of each day but needless to say it does seem like every day brings with it a new task or different thing to do. Friday is clock winding day of the clock in the clock tower and I think that alone will build up my muscles, the weights need winding back up each Friday and they are literally huge pieces of stone. I could just about turn one of the handles but no chance with the other. Then one of the other rangers took over and made it look like he was just mixing a cake - I have a long way to go and think I need to be winding that clock up each week!!!
I have spent I think 6 years volunteering for the NTS and have realised this week how lucky I am to be able to visit so many properties and learn so much but what I have learnt seems to be so small compared to what I need to learn going forward. The work at Dunham seems very different to what I am used to but I think its essentially bigger jobs and less nature conservation. Their main focus / priority seems to be on health and safety in terms of the veteran trees and making sure they are safe. The nature conservation side of things happens on the way! Its so interesting though to see the work of a ranger from Dunham's angle and I am certainly going to learn lots!
One amazing piece of kit which I wish NTS have for their thistle camps are 'silkies' small hand held pruning saws which cut through so much with much less effort than bow saws and so much quicker and so much more ability to manoeuvre the blade than a bow saw. One to tell Jon next time I see him!
Tasks this week have included the necessary induction, pruning back tress overhanging fences by the tennis courts, increasing the height of the drainage access points and back filling the spaces around them with topsoil, strimming ride / field margins, walking the park for any snags or any questions I had (a very nice way to end a week with a walk around the park!). I have also been to meetings where I have met volunteer park rangers (85 in total I think, though I only met a few!) at their leaders meeting, meeting the head of departments at their meeting and the NW Director John Darlington!
What will next week have in store?
Sunday 2 September 2012
News News News!
Wow what a fantastic couple of months its been! I actually drafted this post I think at the beginning of July and its now the beginning of September but I thought I would complete it and post as its all going to get even busier in terms of my love of nature in the future. But anyway more about that later!
I have been having two types of guilt over the past couple of months. They have been niggling at me for a while and I need to tackle both of them! They are:
a)Bloggers guilt - the guilt of not 'getting round' to updating my blog - I started off so well!
b) Allotment guilt - a slightly worse condition than bloggers guilt brought on by non attendance at the allotment for some time as a result of completely munched potato plants and rotten spuds.
Both are now being remedied slowly!
Well I have to say its been a cracking couple of months. As you may have guessed this statement doesn't relate to the weather but does relate to life in general!
The lack of sunshine generally and time at weekends has meant that there has not been much opportunity to get the moth trap out but we have been out and a bout a fair bit and have had some very good news! The news will come in a bit.
Well June was full of fun and frolics. It was Tom's 30th birthday with celebrations including meals out, generally lots of food, a good hike up Snowdon and a sea kayaking trip up to Glenuig and rounds about. A pretty outdoor packed couple of weeks.
The sea kayaking was fantastic and we highly recommend Rockhopper Sea Kayaking http://www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk/. Ben was a fantastic guide allowed us to explore the sea lochs for starfish, otters and seals and did all the cooking and general hosting. We kayaked the North and South channels of Loch Moidart and wild camped on a white sand beach just north of Eilean Shona it was a great couple of days and extremely relaxing.
Then it was back to work for a short week before heading off to a friends wedding down in Suffolk. A great weekend.
July bought with it a sea change in my career path too and one that I am sooooooo excited about. I somehow managed to convince the team at Dunham Massey, National Trust house, gardens and park to give me their 2 and a half year training academy post as a trainee ranger!!!!
I couldn't quite believe it, cried for about 2 hours after the head ranger telling me the good news and I still am in shock about it!! Here are some pics of Dunham above and below. It will be such a fantastic experience, once in a lifetime opportunity and one I will throw myself completely into. Here is the link to more information on the National Trust's website about Dunham: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammassey/
In addition to working with a ranger team and learning the ropes literally from the bottom up I also get training and certification in using chainsaws, tractors, pesticide use and brush cutting along with anything else the head ranger deems necessary.
Whats even more exciting is the park is home to a large herd of fallow deer so I will be involved in the yearly cull as well as experiencing the rut and all that goes on in the yearly cycle of the deer. Its a fantastic park with about 300 acres, planted about 300 years and more ago and is a SSSI for deadwood ecology because of the amount of veteran trees and their dead counterparts. Its got I think 4 lakes too so great for a huge range of invertebrates which in tern means its also probably great for bats and birds and the likes.
I start as a trainee ranger on the 3rd September (tomorrow!!) and I cannot wait!
I have been having two types of guilt over the past couple of months. They have been niggling at me for a while and I need to tackle both of them! They are:
a)Bloggers guilt - the guilt of not 'getting round' to updating my blog - I started off so well!
b) Allotment guilt - a slightly worse condition than bloggers guilt brought on by non attendance at the allotment for some time as a result of completely munched potato plants and rotten spuds.
Both are now being remedied slowly!
 |
| Foxglove growing in a tree at Glenuig, Ardnamurchan |
The lack of sunshine generally and time at weekends has meant that there has not been much opportunity to get the moth trap out but we have been out and a bout a fair bit and have had some very good news! The news will come in a bit.
 |
| Where Tom celebrated being 30 on his birthday |
 |
| Butterwort in flower on the path up to snowdon |
The sea kayaking was fantastic and we highly recommend Rockhopper Sea Kayaking http://www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk/. Ben was a fantastic guide allowed us to explore the sea lochs for starfish, otters and seals and did all the cooking and general hosting. We kayaked the North and South channels of Loch Moidart and wild camped on a white sand beach just north of Eilean Shona it was a great couple of days and extremely relaxing.
Then it was back to work for a short week before heading off to a friends wedding down in Suffolk. A great weekend.
 |
| Dunham has the 4 different colour of Fallow deer three shown here! |
 |
| One of the lakes at Dunham, my future office! |
July bought with it a sea change in my career path too and one that I am sooooooo excited about. I somehow managed to convince the team at Dunham Massey, National Trust house, gardens and park to give me their 2 and a half year training academy post as a trainee ranger!!!!
I couldn't quite believe it, cried for about 2 hours after the head ranger telling me the good news and I still am in shock about it!! Here are some pics of Dunham above and below. It will be such a fantastic experience, once in a lifetime opportunity and one I will throw myself completely into. Here is the link to more information on the National Trust's website about Dunham: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammassey/
In addition to working with a ranger team and learning the ropes literally from the bottom up I also get training and certification in using chainsaws, tractors, pesticide use and brush cutting along with anything else the head ranger deems necessary.
 |
| Dunham is a SSSI for deadwood ecology how cool is that!?? |
I start as a trainee ranger on the 3rd September (tomorrow!!) and I cannot wait!
Sunday 27 May 2012
What..? Nearly the end of May? Surely not already!
Hello!
Well I cant believe its nearly the end of the month of May and I also cant believe how the weather has changed! It scorchio today as I write and in my south facing yard I didn't manage to last more than 15 minutes in the sun before retreating inside!
Well again, its been a bust couple of weeks but mostly due to assignment writing. Habitat Management - Management Plan for Thurstaston Common Local Nature Reserve and an Academic and Professional Development Assignment. Well when I say an APD assignment what I should say is 4 tasks all rolled into one assignment = lots of work! I have also had an exam for Habitat Management which was absolutely fine. So all of that has taken up most of my free time and the rest of it has been spent either going up to the allotment to check on the plants or potting up courgettes, sweet potato and tomatoes in the back yard.
I have been continuing with the volunteering too at Tam O Shanter Urban Farm which has been brilliant. I'm loving it there and just wish I could work there more as there is so much, in terms of interpretation, tidying up that I could be pottering with but at the moment Mondays fly there and I dont really get chance to do much more than the day to day tasks of feeding, mucking out and getting the animals in and out. Its great fun though and lovely to meet such a nice bunch of volunteers.
So last night was I think the first night of 2012 that I put the moth trap out in the back yard! It was great and after only a couple of hours I managed to get some micro moths and the two below. I'm not a whiz at identifying them yet without looking at the book (cant imagine I ever will - there are soooooo many) but I think the two moths below might be a Scalloped Hazel (left) and a Buttoned Snout (right). Not bad for the first night of moth trapping in deepest darkest urban Rock Ferry.
I'm planning on putting the trap out again tonight and trying to work out how to put it out at the allotment without the possibility of it getting stolen, answers on a postcard please!
Well I cant believe its nearly the end of the month of May and I also cant believe how the weather has changed! It scorchio today as I write and in my south facing yard I didn't manage to last more than 15 minutes in the sun before retreating inside!
Well again, its been a bust couple of weeks but mostly due to assignment writing. Habitat Management - Management Plan for Thurstaston Common Local Nature Reserve and an Academic and Professional Development Assignment. Well when I say an APD assignment what I should say is 4 tasks all rolled into one assignment = lots of work! I have also had an exam for Habitat Management which was absolutely fine. So all of that has taken up most of my free time and the rest of it has been spent either going up to the allotment to check on the plants or potting up courgettes, sweet potato and tomatoes in the back yard.
I have been continuing with the volunteering too at Tam O Shanter Urban Farm which has been brilliant. I'm loving it there and just wish I could work there more as there is so much, in terms of interpretation, tidying up that I could be pottering with but at the moment Mondays fly there and I dont really get chance to do much more than the day to day tasks of feeding, mucking out and getting the animals in and out. Its great fun though and lovely to meet such a nice bunch of volunteers.
So last night was I think the first night of 2012 that I put the moth trap out in the back yard! It was great and after only a couple of hours I managed to get some micro moths and the two below. I'm not a whiz at identifying them yet without looking at the book (cant imagine I ever will - there are soooooo many) but I think the two moths below might be a Scalloped Hazel (left) and a Buttoned Snout (right). Not bad for the first night of moth trapping in deepest darkest urban Rock Ferry.
 |
| Scalloped Hazel |
 |
| Buttoned Snout? |
I'm planning on putting the trap out again tonight and trying to work out how to put it out at the allotment without the possibility of it getting stolen, answers on a postcard please!
Sunday 13 May 2012
Busy weeks!
Well its been a busy week, nearly two weeks since I last wrote. The weather has been a bit all over the show but its still been kind enough to let me out on the allotment and have a great first day on the urban farm.
However the other Sunday, 29th April it absolutely bucketed it down for the walk I lead over at Llyn Crafnant. Despite the pouring rain I still managed to persuade about 25/26 people to come out walking with me, Tom and the mad mutt Archie, even Bailey the cute little dog of Sharon braved the elements on the 8 mile walk. Needless to say with all the rain I didn't manage to take any pictures. It was still a great end to my season leading walks for the Ramblers and I can now prepare for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in July! Do I ever stop for a break? I wish I could say yes, but apart from the occasional slobbing on the sofa on a Thursday evening, I don't think I'm able to stop!!! Anyway if you are ever interested in going for a walk with some lovely people in lovely surroundings check out the Merseyside Young Walkers Group that I lead for http://www.fillyaboots.org.uk/walks.html#May
Monday 30th April was my first day volunteering with Tam O Shanter Urban Farm up at Bidston. It was a great first day! I wasn't too sure at first, I was inpatient and wanted to do, do, do (now there's a surprise) but I soon got into the rhythm and loved it. My first day there included letting all the chickens, ducks and geese out of their sheds and collecting their eggs (so many colours of eggs I couldn't believe it), letting the goats out (they have some power to them) and giving them a bit of a brush. I cleaned the little Shetland pony's feet and led him out into the field and then got about cleaning and feeding. After break and lunch I got stuck into removing some sycamore from one of the hedges and refilled the disinfectant bucket for our wellies. The very end of the day I spent doing something I wasn't expecting, and never done before, I plucked a goose!!! Who would have thought that on my first day I would be doing that but a great experience. Injuries from the day included a right old nip from the male goose (not the one that ended up dead) and a Shetland pony hoof on a hunter welly ouch.
The Ranger there, John has been there for years and is so lovely and you can tell he enjoys what he does and is happy where he is at. The other volunteers I worked with there have been there between 9 and 10 years. Some have additional needs and are so good with the animals, I think its going to be a really valuable experience for me.
Saturday 5th May - Reaseheath Field trip to Weaver Park Way with Dave the ranger for the site but also our lecturer for Habitat Management. We were really lucky with the weather and it was great to see an urban fringe site and the considerations that you have to make about an area where its hard to engage local people in the park and respect it for what it is, Some pictures from the day are dotted around here. There was a good variety of habitats and so many ponds! Great for invertebrates really interesting place!
`
Sunday 6th May - was a super productive day on our allotment. Its just 10 minutes walk or so from where we live and the sun was shining so we made the most of it! We planted some courgettes, runner beans and strawberries and Tom did a fantastic job of planting some potatoes. When I find the labels I will make a note here of the spud varieties.
Saturday 12th May - Field trip to Formby. Another lovely sunny day spent on a Reaseheath field trip. Today we went to Formby to see the sand dunes, understand how they are formed and what management techniques are put in place to manage the dunes and the people that access them. Some of the plants / trees we saw included grey poplar, solomons seal, cranesbil, alder, crack willow. We saw a pond that had completely dried up, probably due to lack of management and how the rangers have managed to strengthen and encourage for formation of yellow dunes near the beach using chestnut fencing and old Christmas trees. Beach combing showed the usual suspects otter shells, razor clams, but found some piddocks and think I may have even found one of those Caribbean beans but it could also be a very old horse chestnut. I think its too small to be one of those beans that floats all the way from the Caribbean with the gulf stream, maybe I'll take a photo and post it here.
Sunday 13th - Another glorious day, which was a little but upsetting as I have an assignment to do, well quite a few actually but despite this I spent the morning up at the allotment sowing some seeds - today I sowed some runners, peas, beetroot and some pak choi as well as some wild strawberries. I pot ashed the fruit bushes and watered in some Swiss chard I planted yesterday evening after thinning them out of some pots in my back yard.
Monday 30th April was my first day volunteering with Tam O Shanter Urban Farm up at Bidston. It was a great first day! I wasn't too sure at first, I was inpatient and wanted to do, do, do (now there's a surprise) but I soon got into the rhythm and loved it. My first day there included letting all the chickens, ducks and geese out of their sheds and collecting their eggs (so many colours of eggs I couldn't believe it), letting the goats out (they have some power to them) and giving them a bit of a brush. I cleaned the little Shetland pony's feet and led him out into the field and then got about cleaning and feeding. After break and lunch I got stuck into removing some sycamore from one of the hedges and refilled the disinfectant bucket for our wellies. The very end of the day I spent doing something I wasn't expecting, and never done before, I plucked a goose!!! Who would have thought that on my first day I would be doing that but a great experience. Injuries from the day included a right old nip from the male goose (not the one that ended up dead) and a Shetland pony hoof on a hunter welly ouch. 
The Ranger there, John has been there for years and is so lovely and you can tell he enjoys what he does and is happy where he is at. The other volunteers I worked with there have been there between 9 and 10 years. Some have additional needs and are so good with the animals, I think its going to be a really valuable experience for me. 
Saturday 5th May - Reaseheath Field trip to Weaver Park Way with Dave the ranger for the site but also our lecturer for Habitat Management. We were really lucky with the weather and it was great to see an urban fringe site and the considerations that you have to make about an area where its hard to engage local people in the park and respect it for what it is, Some pictures from the day are dotted around here. There was a good variety of habitats and so many ponds! Great for invertebrates really interesting place!`
Sunday 6th May - was a super productive day on our allotment. Its just 10 minutes walk or so from where we live and the sun was shining so we made the most of it! We planted some courgettes, runner beans and strawberries and Tom did a fantastic job of planting some potatoes. When I find the labels I will make a note here of the spud varieties.Saturday 12th May - Field trip to Formby. Another lovely sunny day spent on a Reaseheath field trip. Today we went to Formby to see the sand dunes, understand how they are formed and what management techniques are put in place to manage the dunes and the people that access them. Some of the plants / trees we saw included grey poplar, solomons seal, cranesbil, alder, crack willow. We saw a pond that had completely dried up, probably due to lack of management and how the rangers have managed to strengthen and encourage for formation of yellow dunes near the beach using chestnut fencing and old Christmas trees. Beach combing showed the usual suspects otter shells, razor clams, but found some piddocks and think I may have even found one of those Caribbean beans but it could also be a very old horse chestnut. I think its too small to be one of those beans that floats all the way from the Caribbean with the gulf stream, maybe I'll take a photo and post it here.
Sunday 13th - Another glorious day, which was a little but upsetting as I have an assignment to do, well quite a few actually but despite this I spent the morning up at the allotment sowing some seeds - today I sowed some runners, peas, beetroot and some pak choi as well as some wild strawberries. I pot ashed the fruit bushes and watered in some Swiss chard I planted yesterday evening after thinning them out of some pots in my back yard.
Saturday 28 April 2012
Wonderful Water Voles
Well happy Saturday to you all! The weather improved slightly today after all the rain of the past week and I was so glad of the brief reprieve as I was off out to Mickell Trafford today on some Water Vole Training and Surveying with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The training was great, delivered by their Water Vole Project Officer who is hoping to do some indepth surveying on the River Gowy and Weaver between now and October. Apparently the best time to survey is around June when the vegetation isnt too high so you cant see any signs of Water Vole.
So some interesting facts I learnt today...
There has been a gradual decline in Water Vole numbers since the Iron Age in Britain but particularly so follwing the Romans (introduction of towns, roads etc) and WW1.
Main reasons for decline: agricultural intensification, reduction of habitat (agriculture and river diverting for flood protection etc) and introduction of American Mink.
The British Water Vole apparently is the only vole that swims / lives around the water, their european relatives have not adapted to water like British Water Voles, and its believed to be a behavioural response to predation, they dont have any special adaptations to be in water (no webbed feet for example) and actually would drown in water if unable to get out after a relatively short time.
They need to eat between 80% and 90% of their total body weight each day!
There was a lot more I learnt but it would fill pages! The second bit of learning was how to survey and then after lunch we headed out to Hockenhall Platts to look for Water Vole. We didnt see any as the river was very high after all the rain, but we did see feeding stations and we did hear one eating (I cant believe how loud it was). We saw a latrine site on the other side of the bank with the help of binoculars. We also saw lots of Field Vole latrines and feeding stations along with rat burrows.
It was a great day and I'm keen to get out and do some surveys and spot a few more Ratties!
 |
| Looking for feeding sites and latrines |
So some interesting facts I learnt today...
There has been a gradual decline in Water Vole numbers since the Iron Age in Britain but particularly so follwing the Romans (introduction of towns, roads etc) and WW1.
Main reasons for decline: agricultural intensification, reduction of habitat (agriculture and river diverting for flood protection etc) and introduction of American Mink.The British Water Vole apparently is the only vole that swims / lives around the water, their european relatives have not adapted to water like British Water Voles, and its believed to be a behavioural response to predation, they dont have any special adaptations to be in water (no webbed feet for example) and actually would drown in water if unable to get out after a relatively short time.
They need to eat between 80% and 90% of their total body weight each day!
There was a lot more I learnt but it would fill pages! The second bit of learning was how to survey and then after lunch we headed out to Hockenhall Platts to look for Water Vole. We didnt see any as the river was very high after all the rain, but we did see feeding stations and we did hear one eating (I cant believe how loud it was). We saw a latrine site on the other side of the bank with the help of binoculars. We also saw lots of Field Vole latrines and feeding stations along with rat burrows.
It was a great day and I'm keen to get out and do some surveys and spot a few more Ratties!
 |
| Water Vole Feeding Site |
Sunday 22 April 2012
Post holiday blues...
Hey all, well the sun has been shining but there is a grey cloud about my head a bit today...I think I have post holiday blues. After such a fantastic week in Iona its been back home with a bump! Fabulous to be back with Tom and Archie and be walking again over Thurstaston but Island life is lingering in my mind! Anyway despite this and a flat battery on my car this morning I have had an interesting morning at Bidston Hill and Tam O Shanter Urban Farm.
I met the Ranger for the area this morning and I will be volunteering with them for probably the next three months or so every Monday. I'm really excited about going there and I think the ranger was happy for some extra help on a Monday when he is short staffed!
After seeing the hebridean sheep at the hostel I am looking forward to learning a bit more about grazing stock and farm animals in general at the farm along with seeing how much experience I get working alongside the ranger too. The farm has a range of livestock including pigs (who enjoyed a good scratch off me this morning!), sheep, cows, donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and bees! I don't think they have an up to date management plan so it might also be an opportunity to look at drafting one for my assignment for Reaseheath. So all in all I'm pretty excited.
More information on Tam O Shanter http://www.tamoshanterfarm.org.uk/index.htm
I met the Ranger for the area this morning and I will be volunteering with them for probably the next three months or so every Monday. I'm really excited about going there and I think the ranger was happy for some extra help on a Monday when he is short staffed!
After seeing the hebridean sheep at the hostel I am looking forward to learning a bit more about grazing stock and farm animals in general at the farm along with seeing how much experience I get working alongside the ranger too. The farm has a range of livestock including pigs (who enjoyed a good scratch off me this morning!), sheep, cows, donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and bees! I don't think they have an up to date management plan so it might also be an opportunity to look at drafting one for my assignment for Reaseheath. So all in all I'm pretty excited.
More information on Tam O Shanter http://www.tamoshanterfarm.org.uk/index.htm
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