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Steve at Eccup Whin

In spite of a late night (watching the Eurovision Song Contest), your correspondent was up at 6 am to meet Steve Joul at Eccup Whin to examine the contents of the newt traps set in the pond there last night.

Steve was just examining the last of the nine traps when your correspondent arrived.  But what had he found?  All will be revealed later in this blog!

As we left we heard once more the evocative sound of the curlew bubbling from the adjoining field – listen to the sound of the curlew at the RSPB website:      http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/curlew/index.aspx

Thence to Old Leo’s car park for 7 am where we met up with  a magnificent convocation of like minded empathy  – including two new Friends – determined to take part in our Newtfari.

We made our way down to Adel pond and systematically examined the contents of our twelve traps.  Amazingly, we had caught eighteen newts in all, one trap containing four.

The precise results were as follows (treating the pond as the face of a clock and the incoming stream as 12 noon):

Results of newt survey

Our catch at Adel Pond

Having completed our survey, and returned the newts to the pond, some of us set off home for breakfast, while others of us returned to Old Leo’s carpark to have a look at the newts temporarily transported from Eccup Whin.  Steve was able to reveal that we had captured five palmate newts there.

Thence home to breakfast – Steve to return the Eccup Whin newts to their pond.

Thank you to Steve and to everyone who made our second newtfari such a great success!

There was an excellent turn out for part one of our Newt Safari with Steve Joul this weekend.

We met in Old Leo’s carpark when Steve captivated the newt hunters young and old with an illustrated talk about the newts and frogs which we might find in the Leeds area.  There are three native species of newt – the smooth, the palmate, and the great crested.

One of our newt traps

Fired up with excitement we then set about making newt traps from old pop bottles and canes.  You get a litre or two litre pop bottle, cut off the funnel top, turn it round and then insert it into the bottom part of the bottle.  You then drill holes through the side of the bottle and funnel and push a cane through to hold the funnel in place.  This is then placed in the pond using the cane as a stake to fix the trap in the bottom of the pond.

Happy Hunters!

The trap is placed in the pond with the open end lower than the closed end, filling the trap with pond water, but leaving a large air bubble so that the newts can come up for air inside the trap.  The idea is that the newts follow the inside of the funnel to the neck of the bottle, go through the neck into the trap and cannot find their way back out.  We come back in the morning and Bob’s your uncle – we count the captured newts!

We then made our way down to Adel pond and set our traps.  The maker of each trap labelled it with his or her initials or name, and we then placed twelve traps around the circumference of the pond, like the numerals of a clock face.

Steve at Eccup Whin

After setting the traps in Adel pond, your correspondent and Brian accompanied Steve to Eccup Whin – a bijou little wood off Eccup Lane – to set some traps in the pond there.  This was only going to take 15 minutes, but unfortunately, once there, it took us 15 minutes to find the pond!  However, the pond was well worth the effort to find.  It is a little bigger in area than Adel pond and very picturesque.

Steve set nine traps in the pond, Brian picked up some litter, and your correspondent took a photo and handed out helpful advice and encouragement.

One of the highlights of the evening was to hear the beautiful bubbling sound of a curlew coming from an adjacent field.  Here is the RSPB page with a recording of a curlew call:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/curlew/index.aspx

What we heard was the beautiful bubbling sound towards the end of the recording.  It is amazing to think that there is a curlew living within a couple of miles of Old Leo’s.  Since hearing it, a Friend has told me that she has heard a curlew on Adel Moor!!!

Having set the traps, Steve, Brian and your correspondent adjourned to our respective abodes, your correspondent to watch THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST!  Because of Steve’s inability to find Eccup Whin pond, your correspondent missed the first few songs in the contest, but stayed up to see Denmark storm to a magnificent victory.  On reflection, hearing the curlew made up for missing France, Lithuania and Spain.

Birds are starting to sing at about 4.15 in the morning at this time of year, so we didn’t quite start with the lark, but fifteen enthusiastic Friends joined Steve at 7 am for our annual bird song walk.  The weather was fine but chilly.

We had a very good start in Old Leo’s carpark with a good view of a female sparrowhawk flying overhead – long enough for us to get a good look through binoculars.

We set off along Crag Lane towards King Lane, and turned left into the Plantation just before the cottage.  Having climbed the hill we turned to the left through the beech woodland to have a look at the hospice woodland, and then descended by Adel Crag to Crag Lane.  [report continues after photo!]

Listening to birdsong in Alwoodley Plantation

At this point (8.30am), some of our party repaired home and the rest of us went down the Stairfoot Lane steps to Adel Beck.  We then followed the path along the stream to the Slabbering Baby and then returned to the carpark via track alongside the cricket pitch.

Steve points out interesting plants along Adel Beck

In all we saw or heard nineteen species of birds – not bad for a short walk over about two and a half hours.

The species we heard – in no particular order – were: robin;  nuthatch; wren;  blackcap;  chaffinch; chiffchaff; coaltit; great tit; blue tit;  blackbird;  woodpigeon; willow warbler; and great spotted woodpecker.  We saw most of these species too but did not see the blackcap, coaltit, willow warbler or great spotted woodpecker.

Early bluebells near Adel Beck

We saw, but did not (consciously) hear magpies; carrion crows;  jays; dunnocks; a tree creeper and the female sparrow hawk.  Hats off to Ade who was very good at spotting movements in the trees.

The main singers  (in your correspondent’s opinion) were robin, wren, great tit, blue tit, chiffchaff, chaffinch and blackcap.

It was your correspondent’s suggestion that we go down to Adel Beck – in the hope that we would hear a different range of birds because it is probably the most secluded part of the woods, and free from traffic noise.

A mass of marsh marigolds by Adel Beck

However, whilst it is absolutely beautiful with the sound of the babbling brook and there is an interesting range of plant life, your correspondent was slightly disappointed that the birdsong was fairly predictable – robin, wren, tits and chaffinch.  However, we did see a pair of dunnocks there.

Thanks are due to Steve Joul for once again leading a very enjoyable, interesting and educational walk.

If you can recognise birdsong, it undoubtedly adds greatly to awareness of what is going on around you and to the enjoyment of the woods.  The starting point is probably to learn the songs of the half dozen most common birds in Adel Woods – the robin, blackbird, wren, chiffchaff, and great and blue tits.  Once you have mastered these, it becomes a lot easier to pick out new songs.

If you want to learn more, Simon Barnes has created an excellent podcast called “Birdwatching with your Eyes Closed” which you can download free on iTunes.  In this podcast he plays the song of sixty six birds and gives long and clear examples of each which makes it easier to hear and recognise the songs.   Simon Barnes writes on nature for the Times and has written a book of which goes with the podcast and a number of readable and informative books like “How to be a Bad Birdwatcher: to the Greater Glory of Life”.

Thanks are due to Old Leo’s Rugby Club who opened up their clubhouse for our AGM free of charge.  They serve an excellent pint of beer!

We had a reasonable turn out of twelve with apologies from four Friends.

The minutes of last year’s AGM were approved; the Chair presented his annual report (see below); the treasurer presented the accounts and the accounts were approved.  The officers and committee were chosen.

The new officers and committee are:

Chair:  Roger Gilbert

Treasurer: Judith White

Secretary:  Stephanie Clarke

Auditor: David Hall

Committee (in addition to the above):

Rob Hall

Tom Swire

Win Barney

Brian Joyce

Phil McAteer

Jen Potts

The Chairman’s Report for 2012-2013

It has been another varied, interesting and enjoyable year.

Litterpicking 

Firstly, there has been our regular litterpicking whose importance cannot be overstated.  Litterpicking makes a huge difference to the woods and it was the quantity of discarded litter which led to the birth of the FOAW in the first place.  So thank you to everyone who has contributed by picking up litter!

Adel Moor

Over the last year we have had three mornings working on Adel Moor (19 May, 18 August, and 21 April) and – in conjunction with the other groups who work on the moor – we are now seeing a huge improvement.  I know that Steve Joul is very pleased indeed with the progress that is being made.

I was delighted this year when I saw the amount of new heather which is now growing.  It looks great.  So thanks to everyone who has helped on the moor.

Paths

Man Conquers Stream!

We have had four mornings clearing paths (15 July – to the Buckstones, 18 November, 17 February and 16 March).  This work is important and makes a difference.  For example, work done on Crag Lane about two years ago is still benefitting walkers and last Sunday I could see that path widening carried out in March of this year was of benefit.

One of the things which we have been doing on a fairly regular basis is clearing fallen birch trees from paths.  Apart from making some of the men feel like lumberjacks, it obviously improves things for walkers.

Adel Bog

Adel Bog: 29 July 2012

We have only had one day on Adel Bog in the last year – when we felled trees and dug up unwanted vegetation.  We inspected the bog last Sunday and it is looking pretty good to me.  Despite the dry weather over the last two or three weeks, there was a lot of standing water and a lot of mud.  We saw the hoof prints of roe deer in the mud – which I found very exciting.

Nest boxes

Refurbishing a nest box

Due to the poor weather and the number of boxes, this took three events this last year and we did not finish the task till 8 February.  However, the good news is that Cllr Buckley gave us a grant of £200 which enabled us to buy 8 woodcrete nestboxes which should be better  and drier than the wooden ones and will be a lot easier to get down and clean.

One of our new woodcrete boxes

We also took the opportunity to refurbish some of the wooden boxes and rejig them so that we can lift them down from the tree, so hopefully the nest box survey will take a lot less time this December/January.  Pretty well all of the titboxes were used and there were two nuthatch nests.

Japanese Knotweek

Last September half a dozen of us spent the morning cutting back holly round the knotweed so that Steve could get access to it and treat it properly with glyphosate.  Steve and Andrew went along a few days later and treated it.  We had a look at it on Sunday and it looks as if we have more or less got it defeated.  There are a few shoots coming up, but touch wood another dosing by Steve this year will finish it off.

The Stairfoot Lane Steps

You couldn’t make it up!

About two years ago BTCV put in some steps leading up from the stream to the Stairfoot Lane carpark.  These were great and well used but it was generally agreed that they stopped short of where they needed to go to at the top and consequently emerging from the steps at the top was a bit hazardous.  In October, with Steve’s help we put a further five steps at the top and greatly improved the steps.  We also got a picture of David sitting in a wheelbarrow which was probably the most amusing picture of the year.

The Buck Stone

In March last year we did two days work on this and made it accessible to the public again.  I have had good feedback on the work we have done.  We noticed in about July last year that the bracken was overwhelming it again and this March we had a session clearing and tidying it up.  I visited the Buckstone a few days later and I thought that it looked great.

The Christmas Garlands

Santa’s Elves hard at work!

In 2010 and 2011 Steve Joul put on sessions in making Xmas decorations.  This year we decided to have a  go on our own and try and raise some money by selling them.  We sold about 25 wreaths and made a profit of about £125.  I thought that this was a great success and I hope that we shall do the same this Xmas.

Educational/social events

Newt traps and birdsong walk

On 5 May 2012 Steve led a newt survey and birdsong walk.  This was a great success attracting a good turn out with several family groups – it also raised about £40 for our funds.

Woodland survey with Steve Joul

Happy woodland surveyors!

Steve has been carrying out surveys of the woods to ascertain their health.  Last May he carried out his first survey with FOAW and it was a great success.  He carried out another survey last Sunday which I took part in for the first time.  I found it a very enjoyable day and I learned a lot.

Diamond Jubilee Fun Day

“Roll up! Roll up!”

On 4 June we had a stand at the Diamond Jubilee Fun Day organised by the Parish Council.  As usual thanks go in particular to Judith and Stephanie for the amazing stand they created.  Watching Judith and Stephanie prepare their displays is like watching the finalists on Masterchef creating an eyewatering dessert.  Thank you to them and to everyone who took part in that day – whether by helping to put up our stand, buttonholing the punters, or clearing away at the end.  You helped contribute to a fantastic day – where, from recollection, we raised about £30.

Curry and Fun Quiz Night at Red Pepper 

Finally, we had the Curry and Fun Quiz night at Red Pepper on 15 April.  From my point of view this was a really fantastic night and every thing worked out perfectly.

Who knows what item no 17 was?

We really have to thank Red Pepper for their generosity in agreeing to put on a charity night for us.  The arrangement was that we shared the takings on the meal on a 50/50 basis and after taking into account the takings from the raffle we made about £314 for our funds.  They put on a really wonderful meal for us with great humour – it cannot be easy serving 59 people in one sitting!

We must also thank Steve Joul for putting on a really interesting quiz.  I am aware that one exhibit – the badger’s skull – was dropped onto someone’s plate – but fortunately after he had finished his curry!

I  would also like to thank Judith, Stephanie and Olga (of Walkabout) who each generously contributed wonderful raffle prizes.

Finally, I personally like to thank everyone who came to the curry night for contributing to the wonderful atmosphere and for not walking out when I picked up my ukelele!

 The future

The new committee will have to firm up the agenda for the next six months, but there is always lots to do.  In particular I look forward to further work on Adel Moor and Adel Bog.

Over the next ten days we have two educational events with Steve Joul.  This Saturday we have the birdsong walk meeting at 7 am in Old Leo’s carpark.  Unfortunately, we have to charge a nominal £2 per person to cover the cost of Steve attending because Leeds CC will only let us have one free talk a year now.

The following weekend we have the newt survey – making and setting traps on the Saturday evening and surveying the contents of the traps on the Sunday morning (at 7 am!).  These two events (and you can turn up at either, you do not need to do both) are free!

Please can you publicise each of these events to friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues.

 Thanks

So in summary, I would just like to end by recapping all the people we need to thank for supporting us over the last year.

First of all, I would like to thank Steve Joul for all the support – and tuition – he has given us over the year – in particular with the newt survey and birdsong walk,  the nest box survey, the work on Adel Bog and the curry night.

When I saw Steve on Sunday he specifically asked me to thank you on behalf of Leeds CC for all the work we have done as volunteers.

I would like to thank Alwoodley Parish Council for its financial support and encouragement.

I would like to thank Cllr Neil Buckley of Leeds CC for giving us a grant of £200 mice money – not to purchase or even exterminate mice – but to purchase woodcrete nestboxes and tools.

Red Pepper, The Avenue

I would like to thank Red Pepper once more for their generosity in hosting the curry night, and Judith, Stephanie and Olga for contributing the raffle prizes.

I really must thank Tony and Old Leo’s for opening up the bar for us tonight and letting us have our AGM here.  Please after the meeting, can you please drink as much as you can so that they’ll have us again!

I would like to thank our committee and officers for all their support and hard work over the year.

And finally, I would like to thank all our wonderful Friends – whether here or absent – for the hard work you have all put in over the year.  I hope that tonight’s summary has reminded you of some happy mornings or evenings and shown you that you have all made a fantastic improvement to the state of Adel Woods and to our local community.

Thank you!

Friends relaxing after a job well done!

Steve Joul has been collecting data on the diversity of plants in the various areas of Adel Woods:  see his explanation in a separate and earlier entry for 5 May.

Today, five of us – Sylvia and Geoff, Chris, Phil, Stephanie (a college student on a work placement with the council) and your correspondent) helped carry out a survey of seven  further areas of the woodland.

Quadrat no 1

The process is to mark out a quadrat – a square area 10m x 10m – with pink flags, and then to tick off what plants and trees can be found within the quadrat at three different levels – the canopy (over 5 metres above ground), the under storey (between 2 and 5 meters above the  ground) and in the field layer (up to two metres above the ground.

Quadrat no 2

We surveyed 7 quadrats during the day – the first three in Adel Plantation, the fourth below the cricket ground, the fifth near the picnic area, and the sixth and seventh a few hundred yards below the Slabbering Baby (ie towards the Seven Arches).

Quadrat 3

It was interesting to find seven very different habitats – perhaps governed by the dominant species of trees at canopy level.  For example, in quadrat 1 we had mainly oak but some Scots Pine and birch.  In quadrat 2 it was beech (90%) and oak;  quadrat 3 mainly birch and oak;  quadrat 4, birch (50%), oak,

Quadrat 4

rowan and holly;  quadrat 5, holly and oak (100%); quadrat 6, birch, holly, oak (90%) and rowan; and in quadrat 7, birch (90%) and oak.

En route, we had a look at Adel Bog and were pleased to see that despite the recent spell of dry weather it is still very wet.  Interestingly, there were the recent tracks of roe deer in the mud.

Quadrat 5

Other sightings during the day included a clear view of a sparrowhawk, a tree creeper, a pair of jays, and a Western Skunk Cabbage (a kind of plant!).  We were surrounded by bird song all day – and your correspondent can now distinguish the sound of the chiff chaff with ease!

Quadrat 6

Thank you to Steve for a wonderfully enjoyable, informative, educational and fun day!

Quadrat 7

Please click on any of the photographs to see a bigger version.

Steve examines the flower of a Western Skunk Cabbage

The site of the Knotweed on 15 September 2012

Last September the Friends spent a morning clearing back holly around the  Japanese Knotweed growing near the picnic area so that it (the Knotweed) could be treated with glyphosate. The Knotweed is the light green plant to the left of the picture.

The same site on 5 May 2013

Today we had a look at the Knotweed to see how our work has fared and it was very pleasing to see that the Knotweed, though not yet eradicated, is now almost gone.  A further treatment this summer should finish it off once and for all.

Steve Joul’s introduction to the woodland survey.

“I am aiming to collect ecological

information on a regular basis which can be used to accurately describe the habitats and wildlife of Adel Woods and the wider Leeds area. This is to determine exactly what habitats we have, to assess the ecological condition of those habitats, to assess the populations of important species, to monitor changes over time and to identify what important management we need to achieve to secure their future. I also think it is important that this information is put in an interesting form that people can understand and enjoy, with pictures to inform and interest people and to promote Adel Woods and the community action undertaken by the Friends of Adel Woods. For example, the top ten plants that characterise the whole area or perhaps each distinct habitat could be illustrated.

“I am currently collecting quadrat data which shows the percentage cover of the various species in randomly sampled plots. I also record all the species I see present in the habitat, particularly the plants but also anything else I can identify (which is a lot). I also collect indicators of the health of the habitat for example the presence of various age classes in woodland i.e. seedlings, saplings, mature trees and standing dying or dead wood and collect photographs and grid references etc.

“For the area that Friends of Adel Woods care for I have collected the following quadrat data so far. Most of this data has a condition assessment and species list attached:

Buckstone Fields, Copper’s Field: 5 Quadrats

Buckstone Fields, David’s Field: 8 Quadrats

Adel Woods: 4 Quadrats

Alder Woodland bordering Adel Beck: 2 Quadrats

Adel Moor: 10 Quadrats

Adel Bog: 10 Quadrats

“I have also collected the following information in the valley which could be utilised by comparing it with our own area

Scotland Wood: 12 Quadrats

Meanwood Wood: 12 Quadrats

Breary Marsh: 20 Quadrats

“I did much (but not all) of this data collection in work time but new priorities have moved me away from this work to work with volunteers in our parks rather than working on my own. However, as all volunteer work is encouraged I hope to collect more data by running training courses and volunteer activities such as those I run with Friends of Adel Woods. So, I can do it as long as I do it with you!

“I therefore propose this year to complete my survey of the woodland in the area and to survey the changes on Adel Bog since the recent management was carried out.

“I would value collaboration from anyone who is able to help me advance this project and help turn it into something interesting and meaningful for everyone.”

Another morning clearing saplings from Adel Moor.  About a dozen of us turned up including two students. Phil and Dean, from the university who are carrying out  a piece of research for the Conservation Volunteers, formerly BTCV, on the volunteering experience and the effectiveness of previous TCV projects at Adel Wood and Adel Moor.

Once again, the universe was kind to us and rewarded us with beautiful weather.

In two hours we were able to pull up many saplings and dig up many coppiced birches.

The work carried out over the last few years by FOAW and other groups of volunteers is now really beginning to show.  The moor is much clearer of trees and one of the most satisfying aspects was to see that where the heather was set on fire – probably by vandals – a couple of years ago the heather is regenerating beautifully. If you click on Pippa (to the right) you will see a larger picture on which you can see the young heather.

Red Pepper, The Avenue

This evening the Friends enjoyed delicious food, a brilliant quiz, Alwoodley’s Got Talent entertainment and wonderful company at Red Pepper on The Avenue.

We had an amazing turn out of 59 supporters so that, with two more diners who had dropped in for their tea, we were one short of full capacity.

A happy diner

A huge thank you is owed to Red Pepper who put the curry night on for us and enabled us to raise £314 for FOAW.  Serving 59 people at the same time cannot be an easy thing to do, but the staff were excellent and we all enjoyed an excellent meal.

“What do you think it is?”

Steve Joul put on a really interesting quiz with 21 intriguing exhibits of things which you might find in Adel Woods. They varied in size from a deer’s antler (and yes, a number of species of deer can be seen in the woods)  down to  the wing of a yellow tip butterfly.  As we waited for and ate our meals, there was much argument and scratching of heads as we puzzled over various pieces of wood and specimen jars containing among other things the contents of an owl’s nest (a gruesome collection of blackbird’s skulls), fungi and other flora and fauna.

The table with the team from Walkabout, the walking group  won with a barnstorming score of 14 out of 21, going home with a selection of biscuits from Tesco’s.

“…with my little litterpicker in me hand”

Good old fashioned entertainment on the ukelele was provided by your chairman who, regrettably, is not one to pass up the opportunity to grab the attention of a captive audience! George Formby was no doubt spinning in his grave as his classic song became “With my little litterpicker in me hand”.  The Beatles song book was desecrated with:  “Hey Jude, here’s a black bin bag, get your gloves on, and pick up litter!”  Yet all was redeemed by a hearty rendition by the entire complement of “I’m leaning on a lamp post”.

Finally, the prizes for the raffle were drawn and a range of superb prizes were won, the first prize of a £20 voucher towards a meal for two at Red Pepper going to Wendy and David.

“Hey Jude, here’s a black bin bag….”

Thanks are due to Judith, Stephanie and Olga (of Walkabout) who each generously donated prizes for the raffle.

Of course, in the tradition of The Good Old Days, thanks are due chiefly to everyone who attended and made the evening a wonderfully happy event.

Thank you!!!

Three teams of Friends today.

A team of six litter pickers around Crag Lane and the woods.

A team who tidied up around the Buck  Stone – removing rubbish and clearing brambles.

Finally, a team who cleared encroaching holly and two fallen trees from the footpath along the stream.

Sorry that your correspondent only has photos of the path team, but a big thank you to everyone who turned out – about seventeen of us.