|
|
Since starting in August, the Wilder Romsey team have achieved a great deal, and I wanted to celebrate some highlights with you! Over the summer we removed a highly invasive aquatic plant species – Crassula helmsii – from the 4 Great Crested Newt breeding ponds at Abbotswood nature reserve. The WR team turned up in force every time to help Daisy and I remove this suffocating plant from the ponds, taking advantage of a very dry summer which allowed us to enter the ponds. Once this species was removed, we planted native aquatic plants such as Water Mint, Water Forget-me-not, and Brooklime into each pond, increasing the abundance of native plant species which will benefit the pond’s habitat for all species. On the same day we also spread some wildflower seeds on the dry patches of meadow, with the hope of increasing our chances of some wildflowers next year.  At Mill Lane Meadows (Sherfield English) we had an outstanding turnout of 13 volunteers to help us plant 3 Crab Apple and 3 Cherry trees (which were funded by the Environment Agency). A huge amount of tree guards were also removed from the hedgerow around the carpark. This was a huge feat of volunteer power, finishing the task within 3 hours! I’m very much looking forward to when these trees are mature enough to start blossoming in the spring, the site will look stunning (even more so than usual).  Finally, we gave Woodlay orchard a good tidy up, fixing the tree pens, weeding and mulching (including the other newly planted trees around the parks and green space). Another fantastic turnout, including Cllr Burnage and Cllr Gwynne – the orchard is set for another year!  Huge thanks to everyone who as attended the volunteer tasks to date – you have been wonderfully welcoming to me and I look forward to many more in the future.
Gemma
0 Comments
Hello Wilder Romsey! I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself to the WR team. My name is Gemma and I am your new Reserves Officer for the south of the borough. I started in August, having come from Hampshire County Council’s Rights of Way team where I spent 6 years working on Public Rights of Way leading volunteer parties to help maintain and improve public access for communities.
Please do feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding volunteering and/or your local nature reserve, and I look forward to meeting you on a volunteer task soon.
Gemma Clinch [email protected] 7 volunteers came out for our last task of the winter, carrying out scrub clearance and dead hedging at Abbotswood Local Nature Reserve. Abbotswood is fortunate to host a good stock of oak scrub, an unusual species to establish so successfully at a site, though now it has begun to outcompete some other species and invade the grassland. By controlling this scrub, we create a mosaic of habitats with pockets of scrub and grassland. This creates the prefect variety of habitats for the widest range of species possible.  Pippa and Indrek next to their deadhedge Also, a quick note to say thank you for all your hard work this winter! This winter Wilder Romsey have contributed 184.5 hours in volunteer time carrying out tasks such as tree planting at Mill Lane Meadows, vegetation control on Romsey Barge Canal and Scrub clearance and dead hedge creation at Abbotswood Local Nature Reserve.
Our next task is booked in for the 12th July, but keep an eye on your emails, we will send out any other events that may pop up throughout the next couple of months!
The full TVBC events guide for the south of the borough can be downloaded here for interest. 5 Wilder Romsey volunteers and Test Valley Borough Council were out on Romsey Barge Canal Wednesday 15th January. We cleared pockets of scrub on the far banks to increase light levels reaching the river with the aim of encouraging emergent and submerged vegetation in the channel. One of our WR volunteers, Goober Fox, has since seen an elusive Water Rail taking a stroll down the river. These are a common but very rarely seen bird, though you may recognise their call, a soundbite of which can be found on the RSPB website Water Rail Bird Facts | Rallus Aquaticus.
Our next task is a Tree planting Day at Mill Lane Meadows, Sherfield English. This will be to plant 10 trees (Oak, Crab Apple and Field Maple) across the site. These will be allowed to establish into large parkland type trees to create resting points for birds crossing the large expanses of grassland as well as adding interest for visitors. If you would like to join this task, please email Daisy Kennard, Reserves Officer, on [email protected] For the final task in 2024, 6 Wilder Romsey volunteers were joined by students from Andover College on Wednesday to tackle an area of thick scrub at Abbotswood Local Nature Reserve.
So that is 2024 completed, we have enjoyed working with you throughout this year and thank you all for your hard work! If it is of interest, please see below the attached TVBC events guide for the south of the borough. Wilder Romsey specific tasks are indicated on the guide but you’re welcome to join any task you feel like. I hope you all have a good Christmas and hopefully I’ll see some of you in the new year! 
On Saturday 9th November, 10 volunteers from Wilder Romsey carried out scrub removal and dead hedge creation.
The veteran oaks on site are estimated anywhere between 300-500 years old and have the ability to support an incredible 2000+ species per tree!
Thanks to all that came along!
|
BlogKeeping you up to date on our progress, plans and activities. CategoriesArchives
November 2025
(Header photo, Dragonfly by Terrence Jamieson)
|
||||||||||||||
RSS Feed
Romsey Town Council, Town Hall, 1 Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8YZ
Tel: 01794 512837 | [email protected]
Tel: 01794 512837 | [email protected]
