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Barge Canal Clearance

20/1/2025

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.

Canal

Water Rail

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]

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Abbotswood and 2025 tasks!

19/12/2024

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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.

The group spent 3 hours felling and stacking Oak scrub with the aim of improving the ground flora in the grassland. They also carefully selected young trees to leave in the hope that with more space, they will eventually grow into beautiful large oaks, much like the ones already dotted across the site.

Dead wood piles, like the ones created with cut material by the group on Wednesday, provide a perfect refuge for a variety of species from nesting birds in the spring, to Great Crested Newts and Hedgehogs settling in for the winter.

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!

countryside_events_guide_south_2025.pdf
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File Type:	pdf

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Abbotswood scrub clearance

18/11/2024

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On Saturday 9th November, 10 volunteers from Wilder Romsey carried out scrub removal and dead hedge creation.

They made a good dent into the scrub, opening up grassland spaces and creating a varied age structure across site to benefit the widest range of wildlife possible. During their scrub clearance they also selected individual oaks to be left to eventually mature and replace our veteran oak on site as they naturally decline.

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!

Dead hedges were created in areas to act as hibernacula for wildlife as well as being used to redirect footfall away from the veteran oaks. The deadwood piles are brilliant hibernation points for hedgehogs and newts and also great for birds and insects too for food and shelter.

Thanks to all that came along!

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Welcome...

8/10/2024

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...to the wonderful Wilder Romsey blog!

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Barge Canal Clearance

Abbotswood and 2025 tasks!

Abbotswood scrub clearance

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