Monthly Archives: March 2015

Time-lapsed task at Southwood Woodland

Posted on March 30, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Our work clearing meadow scrub in Southwood Woodland is shown in a new time-lapse video of the task. You can see willow scrub disappear to the right of the fire, lopping of high branches to the left and a rather serene quiet … Continue reading →

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Blackwater Valley-on-Sea

Posted on March 24, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Have you seen what’s blooming along the road side verges of the Blackwater Valley? A tiny member of the cabbage family, scurvygrass really belongs in coastal habitats, but has found the perfect niche along our salted roads. Casual Assistant Ranger … Continue reading →

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A Southwood task – behind the scenes

Posted on March 22, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

As a change to my usual blog post, I thought I’d answer the frequently asked question, “so what does a ranger actually do?” Well today I arrived at 8:45am at Ash Lock Cottage to load up the tools and kit … Continue reading →

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Blooming Marvellous Boating

Posted on March 12, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Blooming Marvellous Volunteers have been spotted bobbing along the rivers that flow through Hawley Meadows. They were tempted over by the promise of retrieving litter from along the River Blackwater and Covebrook, tackling the rapids with our mighty 8ft boat. Student Kieran and … Continue reading →

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Tackling triffids escaping into Southwood

Posted on March 11, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Callum and Keiran joined Laura and I last week to tackle several unwanted plants in Southwood Woodland. We found numerous escaped garden plants along the northern edge of the wood, when we cleared the ranger path earlier in the year to monitor the boundary. If … Continue reading →

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Puss Moth Cocoon

Posted on March 9, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Ranger Tony found this beautifully constructed cocoon attached to the stake of a tree protector. According to the helpful identifiers contributing to iSpot, it’s probably the vacated cocoon of the widespread Puss Moth, Cerura vinula. A master of disguise, the … Continue reading →

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Royal Grammar School Ranger Day

Posted on March 9, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Yesterday it was my pleasure to meet teachers, pupils and parents from Guildford’s Royal Grammar School and work with them at Southwood Woodland. We worked hard to open up Southwood’s main meadow, cutting invasive birch and willow, and felling trees to create … Continue reading →

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The Cloud

Posted on March 6, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

A few weeks back we included a post in the blog about ‘The Cloud’; an art installation commemorating the lives lost and affected during and since the First World War. The installation utilised 1.5 tonnes of barbed wire salvaged from … Continue reading →

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Footbridge Foundations

Posted on March 5, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

Blackwater Valley rangers George and Ben have been installing a new footbridge. Essential infrastructure for a new waymarked footpath that will run through the woodland of Rushmoor Bottom, one of the areas we’re developing to provide natural greenspace for the … Continue reading →

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A tidy up at Blackwater Common

Posted on March 5, 2015 by blackwatervalleycountryside

This week’s Tuesday volunteer task was my first visit to Blackwater Common. Not an extensive Common, more a remnant, a strip of land managed on behalf of Blackwater and Hawley Town Council. It lies on what was once the boundary … Continue reading →

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