13.11.18 - Sunny summer
Some plants have struggled with the heat and lack of rain this summer, but the butterflies have thrived. After the new species last year of a single Common Blue, this year has continued with another new species in the same family; the Brown Argus. not just one but good numbers along with a similar amount of Common Blue, the female of the species (as well as being more deadlier than the male!) is almost identical to the Brown Argus so you need a keen eye to distinguish both species. it has also been great to see a couple more regular faces this year, lets hope that continues so we can achieve much more.
1.1.18 - Looking Ahead
​
As well as all the normal tasks done to look after Linear Park, we will be hoping to get the interpretation boards up and in place in time for the summer months. unfortunately due to lack of interest in recent activity days we will probably just concentrate on conservation tasks going forward, If anyone is interested or has any ideas for anything else, then please get in touch.
​
31.12.17 - Cutting and more cutting
​
The main aim of the winter months is to stop nutrients entering the soil, invasive plants thrive on nutrient rich soil such as Bramble, Nettles, Rosebay Willowherb and Cleavers. Whilst these nutrient loving plants still have a place in our natural environment if left to thrive would takeover and out-compete many other vital plants, in a totally natural environment without human interference mammals such as Deer would keep certain areas clear of such plants allowing other plants to thrive. The aim is to cut back plant material in key areas of Linear Park along with raking it all off thus keeping the nutrients from entering the soil. the cut material is currently piled up to create 'habitat piles' which are good for invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
29.10.17 - Across to the branch line
​
Most of us moved across to the branch line this morning to tackle the slopes next to the path from Mitchell Street, We cut, dug and raked the material from the slopes. These slopes are now ready for the spring when hopefully we should see the plug plants planted earlier in the year flourishing.
12.10.17 - Highs & lows over the past year
​
We are back round again to the main conservation tasks of the year, within the past month we have cleared Blackthorn and Hawthorn scrub from the smallest grassland patch towards the east end of the park and cleared scrub from the stone wall at the rear of 'Lizard Meadow' for the Common Lizard to bask in the sunshine. Throughout the year litter has been removed on a regular basis, more recently thanks to a couple of new volunteers who fill bag after bag! unfortunately the years activity day was under attended with only a few families attending, this was very disappointing and probably means this event wont happen again anytime soon, saying this, all that did attend thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The highlights of the year would have to be firstly the planting of over one thousand plug plants in the spring, both on Linear Park and the branch line. This couldn't have been done without the help of the local community and seeing the community come together was just as satisfying as getting the plants in the ground. The second highlight would have to be the first ever sighting of a Common Blue butterfly in the park on one of the patches that are cut on a yearly basis.
​
28.8.16 - The start of Autumn/Winter Tasks
​
We cut and raked our first meadow area of the season today, this will help by removing nutrients from the area which would only encourage plants such as Nettles, other wildflowers thrive in areas with lack of nutrients, which would encourage insects which would then have a cascading effect to encourage further wildlife. This is a tough but worthwhile activity, and also great exercise.
Due to another day without any showing of further volunteers, we are now thinking of not continuing with our monthly work days, and just doing tasks as and when. Please do get in touch if you are willing to help.
2.7.16 - Looking forward to the Activity Day
​
We are now looking to put plans together for the activity day on July 24th, due to being unable to use 'the van' for future events and a loss of volunteer numbers we are looking to streamline activities. This may mean less craft type activities but not less enjoyment! we are hoping to have some third-party stalls to add to the day (safe-play archery, local bee-keeper, ice-cream van) as well as doing minature well dressing, sweep netting for bugs and nature trail. If money is through from Tesco, we are hoping to get some plants for children to plant near the garden holders.
​
26.6.16 - Cleanup & Conservation
​
after missing the May cleanup day due to holidays, we were looking forward to getting back into improving the park for People and Wildlife. Unfortunately it was a total no show of volunteers today (Just where are all the people that keep saying they want to improve Clowne?), regardless the 4 of us (Marc, Amelie, Greg and Jim) continued on in our task.
All the Himalayan Balsam was pulled from the banks of the stream. Himalayan Balsam is a non-native plant introduced by people to the UK, although loved by bee's if left to grow will out compete lots of native plant species (which the bee's also love!) and at the same time will de-stabilise the banks of the stream. another task undertaken was to remove the reachable branches of Sycamore (another non-native) from around the stream area at the bottom of the concrete steps, the aim is to let more light into this area which would improve the life in the stream.
​
Further work was done to the area near the garden holders in preperation for the adventure play equipment, as well as the removal of 3 binbags full of rubbish from the park. Amelie even managed to get some dipping done in the stream, species found included Freshwater Shrimps, Water Hog-louse and Mayfly larvae. the highlight of the morning being the flypast of a Kingfisher (only previously being seen as an autumn/winter visitor!)
​
24.4.16 - Activity Day
​
Our 4th Activity Day and first of 2016, we moved up to west end of Linear Park for this activity day to show everyone where the new adventure play equipment will be located thanks to the £12,000 from Tesco. The children enjoyed a nature trail along the old branch line and back long Linear Park, then in the afternoon made seed bombs to throw up the bank that was cleared alongside the old rectory.
​
13.3.16 - More tree's!!!!!!
​
The woodland Trust kindly donated 420 tree's to plant, a mix of natives (Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Oak, Hazel, Silver birch and Rowan). i was overwhelmed with the people that turned up to help plant them, thanks to everyone that gave a hand. we continued the hedgerow on the south side of the park that was started with the DCC tree's, we also managed to plant half along the track up towards Hollinhill and Markland Grips, i can't wait to see them all grow into a full hedgerow full of wildlife such as nesting birds and hedgehogs nestling at the base!
25.2.16 - Bags of Help
​
​
Clowne In Bloom has been nominated for Tesco's Bags of Help scheme, Tesco in partnership with Groundwork have shortlisted 3 charity projects in each region to be in with a chance of receiving £12,000. The other 2 projects will receive either £10,000 or £8,000, all the money has been raised from the 5p carrier bag charge. It will be down to members of the public to vote for the good cause of their choosing, voting will take place in the Clowne Tesco store between 27th February and 6th March. We are asking for your vote to help us improve Clowne village by inccreasing planting schemes through the village using UK native plants as well as installing an adventure playground on Linear Park using natural products where possible. The money will also allow us to continue the work we have been doing on Linear Park, the more money we get the more we can do including a bigger adventure playground.
​
​
13.2.16 - Tree's Planted
233 Native tree's planted in total this morning to form hedgerows, thanks to the guys that gave up their morning to help.
1.2.16 - Tree Planting
Derbyshire County Council have kindly donated around 200 native tree saplings, these will help us to create some native hedgerows around the park boundary. An important habitat which is currently lacking on Linear Park. Anyone interested in helping us plant them, please get in touch via the contact page.
31.1.16 - RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
On this gloomy and rainy afternoon we decided to take up this challenge of spotting as many species as possible in one hour, suprisingly we managed to break into double figures:
1. Wood Pigeon x5
2. Blackbird x 3
3. Bullfinch x3
4. Great tit x2
5. Long tailed tit x2
6. Dunnock x1
7. Great spotted woodpecker x1
8. Robin x1
9. Chaffinch x1
10. Blue tit x1
11. Wren x1
12. Song Thrush x1
13. Pheasant x1
(numbers shown are highest number of each species seen at any one time)
​
