Author Archives: adelwoods

BTCV are to start the process of restoring Adel Bog to its full glory with the aid of funding from Alwoodley Parish Council and a grant from Access to Nature.  The bog has been slowly been turning to dry land in the process of succession – the taking over by “non-bog” species, in this case primarily purple moor grass and birch trees.

The Bog is the only site in Leeds to have the heath spotted orchid and this morning we counted just short of forty in flower, so the habitat is definitely worth saving.

BTCV will do seven days of work on the bog during August, clearing back the tree line and removing encroaching species.

Sara and Win see the funny side after some heavy duty litter picking.

While Win and Sara were litter picking, about a dozen of us were clearing saplings from Adel Moor.

We had two sightings of the common lizard – which needs the open heathland to survive.  So keep pulling Tina – only another five hundred trees to go!

Despite heavy rain at 9 am, a stalwart crew met up in the car park on King Lane at 10 am to carry out this morning’s tasks.  In fact by 10 am the rain had stopped and it turned into a very pleasant morning.

Three tasks today:  some of us litter picked; some cleared branches and foliage from the bridges over Nanny Beck to open it up and make it more of a feature;  and some of us cleared foliage and leaf mould from the path between the Buckstones and King Lane and from the footpath on King Lane.

We finished at 12, astonished at what can be achieved with a little concentrated effort!

Judith, Stephanie and Tom prepared a great display for our stand at the Community Association Gala and by 12 noon we had a wonderful looking stand – thanks are due to Alan and Diane, Adrian and Catherine for help in putting it up (apologies if I have not mentioned anyone).

Unfortunately a few minutes later the rain started and other stalls and stands started to disappear.  We, the Parish Council, Walkabout and the Alwoodley Sinfonietta all moved our stands in concert up to the lawn outside the ACA bar, but, sadly, the rain settled in for the afternoon and by 3.30pm, cold and bedraggled – but spirits unbowed – we packed up.

Well, actually, it was a blue tit!.

At 7.30 am, the hardier souls among us (Phil, Dave, Val, and your trusty reporter) met up with Steve Joul to survey the bird boxes put up by FOAW.  We surveyed the ones we put up in January 2010 – ie along Crag Lane  – and we saw birds using about half of them – including one trashed by a squirrel or squirrels).

As a postscript, on Sunday 15 May your trusty reporter walked down the Meanwood Valley Trail and can report that three out of four boxes observed were in use.  The fourth had been pulled apart by forces unknown

It’s amazing what you can find in Adel Woods if only you look.  Alan found this common lizard – for more information see this link:  http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/common_lizard.htm  Alan found the link too!

A morning clearing saplings

“You can get up now, it’s lunchtime!”

from Adel Moor, the last patch of original heathland in Leeds, and well worth preserving as a unique habitat for that reason alone.  Birch and oak saplings are encroaching on the moor, and killing off the heather and other moorland plants.  The birch saplings are particularly invasive – there are hundreds of small seedlings from an inch in size upwards.

You never know what you might find on the moor! Have a look at this!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZiDQ6Iw5s

Despite heavy rain earlier in the morning, a turn out of 16 at 7 am for the bird song walk with Steve Joul. It actually turned into a very pleasant morning.

Twenty one definite sightings or hearings:

Great tit;  robin;  blackbird;  collared dove;  wood pigeon;  wren;  coal tit;  chaffinch;  chiff chaff;  starling; pheasant;  carrion crow;  whitethroat;  blackcap;  dunnock;  long tailed tit;  jay;  magpie; song thrush;  willow warbler;  swift;

and one sighting – in the distance – of a red kite or buzzard.

There was an excellent turnout for the AGM at the ACA.  The existing committee continues with the addition of Rob.  The officers remain:  Roger Gilbert, Chair;  Judith White, Treasurer;  Stephanie Clarke, Secretary.

We reviewed events over the last year, and the finances, and then settled down to conversation in the bar.

Eight of us met with Steve Joul to litter pick and have a go at some dry stone walling.