A Tribute to Volunteers 2017

Examples of the invaluable work of volunteers ...in and around the Windermere area.

 

Working Holiday Group

Lake-shore revetment work Cockshott, Windermere.

Windermere School working at St. Catherine's.

Thinning out ash and disturbing the ground to encourage growth of Touch-Me-Not Balsam in Spring..

..and collecting leaves for adding to the walled garden compost bins.

Cumbria National Trust Volunteers.

Tidying up the area in and around High Lickbarrow Farm

and taking down an old redundant fence.

First year Forestry students, University of Cumbria

working on a double fence line to protect a soon to be planted hedge at High Lickbarrow...

...under somewhat challenging conditions!

Stuart, long term volunteer, at St. Catherine's

constructing a 'hedgehog house' from scrap wood.

Stuart...Recycling Superstar!

Stuart, long term gardening volunteer at The Footprint, has become an inspiring member of the Windermere team here at St. Catherine's.

Stuart always has an eye on recycling so we find all sorts of useful and interesting objects refashioned from old gates and pallets. Above, he is completing his latest creation...a beautiful eco-home for hedgehogs.

This old gate is tanalised and therefore unsuitable for firewood but rather than skip it Stuart has repaired the walled garden shed with some of the timber and made trellis fencing with the rest.

Stuart brought this Jasmine in from his own garden at home; here it is in the planter that he made from scrap wood with the trellis fencing behind.

These images show planters created by Stuart for herbs and flowers which are offered for sale outside the Footprint in the Summer; donations go towards "The Walled Garden Project". 

Wet! Wet! Wet!

The recent heavy rainfall made Stock Ghyll Force near Ambleside look particularly impressive.

However the volume of water has caused many problems. For instance, the little clapper bridge over Wynlass Beck at Millerground  became choked with debris.

The bridge was giving a good impression of being a weir.

Finally the debris was cleared away and the water could flow freely under the bridge once again.

Nothing to do with the above post, but I went to the Lakeland wildlife Oasis at the weekend and took this image of one of the magnificent snow leopards!

Giant Hogweed. (inspiration for the 1971 song by progressive rock band Genesis...Return of the Giant Hogweed)

Back in July 2017 it was widely reported that Giant Hogweed was spreading across the UK. Mike Duddy...Mersey Basin Rivers Trust... described it as "the most dangerous plant in Britain" and that it was a "massive issue" that needed tackling.

 Thankfully there have been no more reported sightings of this invasive plant since 2013 in the Central East Lakes region.

This post from three years ago has been updated to celebrate the continued absence of Giant Hogweed on or near National Trust land at Cockshott, Windermere, and Bridge House, Stock Ghyll, Ambleside after two years of eradication work!

Giant Hogweed is probably the most feared of all the invasive plants. Its sap is phototoxic; it contains furanocoumarins, a toxic glucoside that photosenisitises the skin causing phytophotodermatitis...a serious skin inflammation. Exposure to sunlight causes severe and painful blistering that sometimes requires hospitalisation.

Even many years after the initial contact, the victim's skin is likely to remain highly sensitised to sunlight. A small amount of sap in the eyes may possibly cause blindness.

Giant Hogweed is the only invasive plant I am aware of that has had a song written about it...and an apocalyptic one at that! Below are some exerpts.....

"Long ago in the Russian hills a Victorian explorer found the Regal Hogweed by a marsh; he captured it and brought it home..."

"Fashionable country gentlemen had some cultivated wild gardens in which they innocently planted the Giant Hogweed throughout the land..."

"Soon they escaped spreading their seed preparing for an onslaught threatening the Human Race..."

"Around every river and canal their power is growing..."

"Stamp them out, we must destroy them...!"

© GENESIS. Return of the Giant Hogweed. From the 1971 album 'Nursery Cryme.'

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum Mantegazzianum) is a spectacular and exotic plant that is native to the Caucasus region. It is in the umbelliferous family Apiaceae. Superficially it resembles Common Hogweed or Cow Parsley (Heracleum Sphondylium)....but on steroids!

Victorian explorers introduced the plants to the UK. Since then Giant Hogweed has become highly invasive in the UK and will shade out native plants because it grows so fast and so tall. 

Without adequate controls, Giant Hogweed will spread and become dominant very quickly especially along watercourses restricting access and in some cases blocking footpaths.

It often contributes to river bank erosion. When the plants die back in Winter only bare ground remains that in flood conditions may easily be washed away.

Giant Hogweed plants were found growing alongside the small watercourse by the National Trust/SLDC Cockshott and Ferrry Nab footpath, Windermere in June 2011. The one above measured about fifteen feet tall! (The large trenching spade is completely dwarfed!)

Even more appeared the following year and these also were dug up and burnt.

Giant Hogweed is classed as a biennial, or monocarpic perennial living up to seven years. In its final year it produces the massive, hugely impressive flower heads, seeding in late August.

Bridge House, National Trust, Ambleside.

More recently in June 2013, Giant Hogweed was discovered twenty yards downstream of Bridge House, Ambleside. These were dug up well before the flower heads could seed. So far there has been no recurrence of the plants here.

If you see Giant Hogweed please contact the landowner, if known, or the appropriate authority.

 Digging up Giant Hogweed alongside footpath linking Cockshott to Ferry Nab. Protective clothing, goggles, gloves and face mask essential!

One less Giant Hogweed at Ferry Nab. This specimen measured 10 feet but many grow much taller.

Image of Giant Hogweed only 3 yards from Trust land. This plant would have needed another growing season at least before it could develop the flower stem; one plant is capable of producing fifty thousand seeds. These may remain viable for up to fifteen years! 

"Turn and run...nothing can stop them!"...© Genesis 1971.
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This is the top half of the flower stem of a Giant Hogweed dug up from the side of Stock Ghyll just a few yards from Bridge House. June 2013)

A message from  South Cumbria Rivers Trust...

South Cumbria Rivers trust are aiming to locate and eradicate invasive non-native species throughout the catchments of South Cumbria stretching from the River Duddon to the River Lune. Any sightings of the following species below would help us to focus our efforts over the coming seasons with priority within the Windermere, Coniston, and River Kent catchments:

Giant hogweed

Japanese knotweed

Himlayan balsam

American skunk cabbage

American signal crayfish

Killer shrimp

You can record a sighting via the CFINNS website: 

http://www.scrt.co.uk/record-an-invasive-species/record-an-invasive-speciesor 

or email Jen on jen@scrt.co.uk

Until the (High Lickbarrow) cows come home....a mooving story.

The National Trust Scout Beck herd of the rare Albion breed were brought in today, Sunday 15th, from their grazing land to High Lickbarrow Farm. From here they were transported to their Winter quarters. Along with the cows there were 17 calves born earlier this year in May.

The remnants of Hurricane Ophelia are due to hit on Monday 16th so the timing was just about perfect!

Six helpers, including three National Trust staff, herded the cattle on a kilometre long route to the farm. It all went pretty smoothly with only the occasional break away attempt to have a sustaining snack. See above. John and James use their powers of persuasion to move 'em on! 

In this image the cattle are approaching the entrance to High Lickbarrow in an orderly procession.

These "first" heifers (about  18 months old) were brought in a week earlier from their grazing allotment at Moor How, near Newby Bridge.

Here are three of them back in June 2016 at just a few weeks old. This image

shows the Albions in all their different colourings. The breed has a dominant white gene which is the "true breeding". True bred Albions may be blue-roan, white, or black with some white as evidenced by the image above.

An image of one of the 18 month old heifers at Moor How with a glimpse of Windermere and Grizedale Forest in the background....

...and here she is at High Lickbarrow on her birthday, May 2016. Just a few hours old!

The herd will return to their High Lickbarrow 'home' in May ready for a new season. 

Some animals have been sold to farms in Cornwall and Derbyshire which will contribute to improving the bloodline, and increase the numbers of this rare breed.

To find out more about the Albion breed...The Albion Cattle Society have a website that is very informative. 

The Albion Cattle Society are "dedicated to raising public awareness of this dying breed and help save it from extinction" and to show the Rare Breeds Survival Trust

"Albion Cattle are a breed worth fighting for".

VIDEO OF CATTLE ARRIVING  AT HIGH LICKBARROW.

HUMMING THE THEME TUNE TO RAWHIDE IS PURELY OPTIONAL!

Red Squirrel walk at Aira Force

On Wednesday 27th of September a trial Red Squirrel walk and talk was held at Aira Force.

The event was held in partnership between the National Trust, Ullswater Steamers and Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group (PDRSG)

43 eager and excited years 1 & 2 children from Stainton Primary school arrived at Aira Force, where they were treated to an interesting and informative talk by Andrew and Julie from the PDRSG.

Once the children’s brains had been filled with all sorts of exciting squirrel facts they were taken on a tour of Aira Force by the National Trust Rangers, in hope of seeing one of our little furry friends.

We looked high; we looked low but sadly we did not see one. We believe we have about 6 pairs in Aira Force; unfortunately they didn’t want to come and play that sunny Wednesday morning. The best time to catch a sighting of a red is often at dusk or dawn when it is quieter and there are less people around.

All the children had fun though filling in their Red Squirrel trails as they walked around the path ways of Aira Force.

Once we had completed the tour, the children were then treated to a ride on the Ullswater Steamer from Aira Force to Glenridding, where they were each given a goody bag packed full of Red Squirrel memorabilia.

These talks will hopefully become a more regular event next year.

  

Bridge Over Troubled Waters....

The low stone wall on the bridge to St. Catherine's...over Wynlass Beck...was regularly clipped by vehicles and required frequent repairs. 

We had some 'sleepers' left over after constructing wooden raised beds at St. Catherine's.

The sleepers were cut to shape and used to replace the vulnerable stone work and after several months are still in place and undamaged.

Mission accomplished!

St. Catherine's 'Moth Night'/Caterpillar Survey.

A 'Moth Night' was held at St. Catherine's in late July. Among other species the rare netted carpet Moth was seen.

An excellent image of the moth seen on its food plant... Touch-Me-Not Balsam....courtesy of Guy Broome.

The moth lays its eggs on the plant, during its life span, in July and August.   

Image of the moth's caterpillar/larvae photographed during the annual survey that takes place in late August or early September. This caterpillar is probably fully grown and ready to pupate soon.

In this instance the caterpillar is forming a triangle between the plant stem and leaf. The caterpillars invariably face 'down hill'... particularly when at rest.

An image of a smaller caterpillar. The caterpillars out-grow and shed their skin 5 times...called instars...before they reach full size.

The above image shows a caterpillar feeding on a Touch-Me-Not seed pod...the most nutritious part of its food plant.

Note how well camouflaged the caterpillars are, making it difficult for predators and surveyors alike to spot them!

Up to 50 caterpillars per 100 plants were recorded in some areas whereas in less densely populated areas only 1 or 2 were found per 100 plants.

For more information on the moth and its food plant, including the conservation work involved,  please click on the link below.

Netted Carpet Moth

It's an ill wind....

The path at the back of Bridge House regularly needs resurfacing with so many visitors using it. 

Some drainage work was also needed as can be seen in this image taken after heavy rainfall.

After several successive storms, tons of lake-shore gravel was dumped on Jenkyn's Field, on the eastern shore of Windermere, well above the normal shoreline. 

This lake gravel looked ideal to re-surface the path at Bridge House, less than a mile away, as well as clearing the field to some extent.

In this image the power barrow, probably our most useful "bit of kit" was loaded up.

It was a tight fit between the wall and the hedge.

 Before...

..and...

after a couple of power barrow loads...

... some after shots.