Most of the "gang" armed themselves with saws and cutters to cut down the ashes trees growing near to the south end of the Broadcloth Lane East bridge. The ash shoots can grow 2 metres and be 30 mm thick in just a year. Others tacked the broken glass and litter under the bridge, the result of people congregating and drinking at this spot, something we have raised with the police. Sorry, no photos as the camera batteries were flat :(
Lindsay Moore, Biodiversity Indicator Officer, Wiltshire Council has conducted a Botanical Survey on Biss Meadows Country Park. A draft report (8MB pdf) includes suggest actions for the Biss Meadows Country Park management plan. Some of Linsay's photos are displayed here.
Using some bits from a hoover Sharl and helpers tackled the pipe running from the river into the pond. Others cut back some undergrowth and cleared litter from the newly cut meadow areas. Lots of pictures here here.
We are about to put in a grant application to the Big Lottery Fund, so we spent time finalising the list of improvements we are proposing. Read what we have in mind here.
Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park had a stand in at the Trowbridge Home Produce Fayre today. Read here about our very own Biss Meadows Jam .
A good turn-out of volunteers, including a welcome return of Sharl, meant a variety of tasks could be carried out including that special task for Sharl requiring the use of waders! Read more and see the pictures here.
Despite the lack of recent rain, the fine spell of warm weather has made the grasses and bushes burst into growth. Time for some cutting back! Read more and see the pictures here.
With Trowbridge in Bloom fast approaching it was time to spruce up the pond area. To read more and to see the pictures click on the photos page.
Click here to read a letter from Jacky Good, our new Chair, outlining her vision for the future of the Group and the new partnership with Trowbridge Watch Group.
The resident swans have had cygnets. Read more and see the photos here.
On National Biodiversity Day Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park joined forces with Trowbridge Watch Group to survey small mammals at Biss Meadows. 20 people attended the session on a beautiful sunny morning. Read more and see photos on this page.
For photos of this working party, see the photos page.
We meet on the second Sunday of each month from 10 am to 12 noon. All are welcome, young and old and in between!
Almost 30 people attended our Annual General Meeting at The Civic Hall in Trowbridge, on Wednesday 21st April 2010 at 7pm. For the minutes and other papers see the panel on the right. Jacky Good was elected as Chair, Steve Good as Treasurer and Caroline Lydall as Secretary. For a full list of committee members see the About Us page.
We had a very pleasant surprise at the end of the meeting. Bill Austin, Properties Manager of Trowbridge Town Council, told us about the forthcoming Trowbridge in Bloom and how the council wished to include Biss Meadows in the judges tour. He then introduced Jennifer Polledri (Friends of Trowbridge in Bloom) who generously donated a Lottery cheque of £400 towards our funds.
Mrs Polledri congratulated all the members for their worthwhile work and said Biss Meadows Country Park is the jewel in the crown. We are most grateful to the Friends of Trowbridge in Bloom for making this significant contribution to our funds. Click here for a photo of Jacky Good, our new Chair, receiving the cheque.
With this funding, and the recently undertaking of works by Wiltshire County Council, the Pond area in particular should be looking great this summer.
News Report from our resident reporter Sharl
The Swans are nesting in "our" pond. On close inspection today (peeking carefully off course from behind the vegetation) the nest has 7 eggs. Incubation period for Swans is about 35 days so I imagine they will hatch by Middle of May (unless scared away by dogs or scallywags).
Ed: according to this article: The Life Cycle of the Mute Swan [new window] swans lay an average of 6 eggs but it can vary from 1 to 12.
Kevin came along to take some photos for Trowbridge in Bloom while we set about clearing ash saplings. Read more and see the photos page.Whilst walking through the park we noticed that new safety railings were being installed on the path to the pond.
Trowbridge in Bloom is planned for the summer and we have been asked to participate. So we continued to work on the Pond Project to make this a focal point for the judges. Read more and see the photos page.
As part of the Pond Project, our first task was to decide on suitable locations for picnic tables and benches. We then did some litter picking around the Broadcloth Lane East bridge. See our fearless Sharl dive into the bushes on the photos page.
Wednesday 21 April 2010
7 pm, Civic Hall, Trowbridge
Click for documents:
Secretary's
Calling Notice
Agenda
Financial
Statements
Committee Nomination Form
Approved
Revised Constitution
Minutes AGM 21 Apr
10