The 3 year Edible Essex project, managed by the Rural Community Council, has been working to increase the availability of locally produced food by increasing allotment numbers and establishing orchards as well as providing training, publications and competitions.
Whilst it will continue on a smaller scale Edible Essex has helped to create 68 new allotment plots and 10 community orchards. It has also provided support to 3 educational providers and initiated a public planting scheme. It has offered training and events to 901 individuals, produced 3 information booklets and run 2 highly successful competitions, entered by over 2,000 primary school children!
Upcoming Edible Essex events include:
Family Foraging Fun
This is a free event near Colchester on 3rd May, but booking is essential. Priority will go to those who have already expressed an interest in foraging sessions. To put your name on the list please email: [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Wild Food Identification
This will be in the form of an exhibition at the Essex Schools & Farming Day at Writtle College on 5th June.
Publications
For those already converted to producing or harvesting local food, the following publications may be of interest (click on the images to download a copy in Adobe Acrobat).
The long awaited information boards have now been installed at all three entrances to Hillhouse Wood. The main board was erected at the entrance off the track that runs past the church whilst the two smaller boards were positioned by the Woodland Trust’s Site Manager, Tony Chadwick.
Thanks goes to the Woodland Trust for designing, making and installing the boards and to Colchester Borough Council and The Friends of Hillhouse Wood for providing funds for the project.
All those attending the Bluebell Open Day and Spring Nature Walk on Easter Saturday should have ample opportunity to see them together with everything else that will make this a great afternoon event.
The latest Village Bulletin is now on-line and available for download/reading on-line on the Village Bulletin page. News updates not previously reported here include:
Deanna Walker BEM
A West Bergholt woman has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours awards for her services to Higher Education. Deanna Walker has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for her work at the University of Essex where she is administrator in the Registry Department. She joined the university staff 25 years ago in the Admissions Department working in several administrative roles before reaching her present position as Senior Academic Officer. Her work has included mentoring junior colleagues which, she believes, also contributed to colleagues recommending her for the award.
Deanna is modest about her achievements. She says:
The award came out of the blue. When the letter came notifying me, I couldn’t understand why I was chosen as I just do an ordinary working job.
Weather permitting, Steve Hallam will lead a winter bird walk in and near Hillhouse Wood, offering a chance to see resident woodland and meadow species and some winter visitors. Stout footwear and warm clothing are advised, as well as a flask of hot drink.
If you want to join Steve then meet him at the Old Church at 09:30.
Foraging for Fruits of the wood is the title of the illustrated talk being given by Mitchell McLean immediately after the Friends’ AGM.
The 19th Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Hillhouse Wood will be held on Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 7.30pm in the Orpen Hall, Lexden Road. Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm.
The meeting is open to members and non-members alike.
For more details contact the Friends Hon. Secretary, M. R. Pluck on 514173.
One of the Friends of Hillhouse Wood‘s younger members has decided that, for her Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, she will spend the next 6 months or so going through Hillhouse Wood collecting litter and making observations. Her first two visits have now been recorded on her online diary, part of the Hillhouse Wood sub-site, and can be followed here.
Steve Hallam reports on this year’s Dawn Chorus walk in Hillhouse Wood.
Dawn seems very early
There are times when 3.45 am feels like a truly mad time to go for a walk. Such times are generally around 3.15 am, when the alarm sounds. And, as the guide for this year’s Dawn Chorus walk, I couldn’t help wondering if anyone else was going to be mad enough to turn up this year. As it turned out, my timing was such that I arrived at the old church right on time (close enough to prompt some concerns by Andrew Savage concerning the reliability of the Hallam alarm clock). As I drove down the lane to the church I saw one car (phew – someone’s turned up), then another, and more, and then lost count. I then saw what looked like a small army standing by the bench. Had a coach party turned up?
Andrew, being Andrew, was doing a head count – 32 people! Amazing, and a Personal Lifetime Best!
Which, of course, raised the stakes for being able to find everyone some good birds to see and hear. We had a guess regarding the first species we would hear (not withstanding the Tawny Owls that had been heard already). The suggestions were Cuckoo and Nightingale – both good ones, as these birds have previously achieved this status.
First call from Whitethroat
In previous years we have heard something almost as soon as we’d started off. This year, however, we were past the site of the hurdle maker’s cottage before we heard our first bird. To make up for the delay it came from the hedge right next to us. It was a single blast of Whitethroat, perhaps complaining about its sleep being disturbed. They don’t normally sing this early (not that I have a robust ‘data bank’ to base this opinion on).
An opportunity to catch some late bluebells as well
Things continued to be quiet as we approached the wood, such that I was starting to worry what to talk about. However as we reached the main entrance a solitary Robin struck up its fluid song, and (relief!) we could hear a Nightingale singing lower down the wood. As we stood and listened at least two Tawny Owls were calling at each other from either side of the wood, while the first Blackbird also started. The Blackbird is sometimes referred to as ‘the poor man’s Nightingale’, so we had a good opportunity to compare the two. The first Wrens also entered the fray at this point, while a Pheasant called somewhere in the dark.
Nightingale still singing
We moved on into the wood and took up position around the top pond (it was noticeable how many torches came into use as the group negotiated the narrow path to the pond!). The Nightingale was continuing to sing and could now be heard more clearly. Here we also heard our first Rooks and Wood Pigeons as they woke up. We moved on down the hill to where we had arguably the highlight of the walk: the Nightingale that we had first heard had continued to sing throughout the walk so far. By now we were only a few yards from its bush, but it continued to sing unabated. Everyone in the party was able to thoroughly familiarise themselves with a Nightingale in full cry. At the same time one of the wood’s Blackcaps finally woke up close by. To complete the noisy ‘soundscape’ some Blue Tits started their incessant calling on the other side of the path.
Surprising Goldcrest
Moving on down to the stream at the bottom we heard a singing Chaffinch, some Canada Geese noisily flying nearby, the first Chiffchaff of the walk and the major pleasant surprise of the walk – a singing Goldcrest. What he was doing there I have no idea, as they normally live in conifers. He was near the large Alder trees, so maybe these were acting as a substitute habitat. Reaching the lower pond we had our second surprise – a pair of Mallards. They are presumably looking for a quiet place to breed – they may not have chosen wisely. But it is an implicit comment on the relatively good state of the pond this year that they are even considering setting up home. Whilst here we also heard our first Jackdaws and Great Tits. At this point I (and hopefully at least a few of our guests) heard one call note from a Buzzard somewhere overhead. As we continued round the rest of the wood things started to wind down, but we heard a Nightingale singing in a thicket that I’d not heard occupied before, along with both resident species of woodpecker.
Missing Song Thrush
So what did we fail to hear this year? There are always some species that inexplicably keep quiet. Our ‘roll of shame’ is headed by Song Thrush and Dunnock, while I was also hoping to hear the Nuthatches. The solitary Cuckoo in the area failed to call, whilst it appears that the Yellowhammers who usually live by the track have disappeared. Overall, though, a tally of 21 species was very respectable.
Steve Hallam lead the annual Spring Nature Walk as the Friends of Hillhouse Wood held an Open Day last weekend. His report of the walk is as follows:
Greater Stitchwort & Folklore
According to ancient folklore it is bad luck to pick Greater Stitchwort because doing so can cause thunder storms. Ten minutes before I was due to lead a nature walk on 4 May it appeared that someone had been harvesting the plants growing in abundance along the track. Because the sky darkened, the wind blew, the rain hammered and the thunder rolled. Perfect! All present were grateful that the Friends have the most substantial gazebo in town.
Spring weather being what it is, by departure time the sun was out again. And we had a ‘full house’ of 23 walkers, which was very heartening. Although this spring nature walk is traditionally about the Bluebells, the late season this year meant that these were still not at their best. However this same situation meant that the flowering of many flowers has been squeezed together, increasing the variety of what could be seen. This walk was very much about flowering plants.
As we walked down the track we found both species of Deadnettle, the ubiquitous Greater stitchwort (which everyone was forbidden to pick!), Ground ivy, the first half open Cow parsley flowers, Dandelions and daisies, Lesser celandine, the first few Red campion, Groundsel, dock, plantain and a ‘taster’ of Bluebells. In contrast bird activity was restricted to just one or two Blue Tits. Having made great play of how we are now seeing Buzzards quite frequently it was inevitable that the number of Buzzard sightings on the walk was …. none.
Wood anemones & Lady’s Smocks
As we entered the wood we were welcomed by a beautiful spread of Wood anemones, which were just about to finish. Turning right we passed the first few delicate Lady’s smocks before getting to arguably the highlight of the walk – this year’s display of Early Purple orchid. I am sure that there are more flower spikes each year, and this year they were the most dense yet. A spectacular show, that everyone rightly took some time to file past. While the group were interested to know that orchids were once used as a source of aphrodisiacs, some members gave the impression that they would rather not have been told why this was.
No longer elusive newts
Further on round the pond we found some lovely groups of Primroses and a few Marsh marigolds. I loudly informed the group that ‘you can see lots of Pond skaters and Whirly-gig beetles in the pond. There are newts too, but you never see those’. To which a lady replied ‘Look, there are a load of newts!’ And so there were – floating motionless in clear view just below the surface. What do I know? I suspect that they were sunbathing.
As we descended the hill towards the stream I stopped to show the group a good place for hearing Nightingales and warblers (there were just one or two snatches of Nightingale song, but not enough for the group to latch on to). As it happened there was another item of interest just by the path here, namely a Badger latrine. However before I could explain what this area of disturbed earth was, some of the group moved to stand in the middle of it. Whoops!
Garlic & Crab Apple
We moved on to see the wood’s Ramsons, near the stream at the bottom. Only a few flowers were out, but the garlic scent was as strong as ever. Further round we found a Crab apple coming into blossom. When we arrived at the bottom pond it was the turn of the birds to provide some interest. Several members of the group were able to see one of our resident Nuthatches as it fed on one of the large Ash trees. This species is scarce in this part of Essex, so we are lucky to have some in Hillhouse Wood.
Library shot of Bluebells in Hillhouse Wood
Impressive expanse of blue
Next up was the main Bluebell glade. even though they were still a few days from being fully open, the expanse of blue was still impressive. On the way back we found one of the few remaining patches of the easily overlooked Saxifrage, a few clumps of Wood sorrel, and a decent sized area of the bizarre Moschatel. This tiny green flower is unique. It has a symmetrical flowerhead that is comprised of four angular faces with a fifth one at a right angle on the top. As a result it’s vernacular name used to be ‘Town Hall Clock’.
Steve expressed many thanks to Linda Firmin for taking the time to show him several of the less obvious features of the wood.
Steve Hallam will be leading the ever popular ‘Dawn Chorus’ walk offering a chance to see nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. The walk will be through Hillhouse Wood and will start from the Old Church.
If you haven’t tried this you’ll find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s
varied birdlife.
Please bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch. The walk will go ahead only if weather permits.
The Friends of Hillhouse Wood’s popular Bluebell Oen day and Spring Walk is taking place on Saturday 4th May, a week later than originally intended, due to the wet winter and early spring.
The guided walk will be lead by Steve Hallam, starting outside St. Mary’s Old Church, Hall Road, at 2pm. The Friends’ Information Point, there from 2pm, will also have a supply of maps, nature trails and family quizzes.
Within the church, refreshments will be provided by the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church during the afternoon. In addition, there will also be an art exhibition there.
Bluebell walks at Hillhouse Wood were recently recognized by The Times as one of the top walks through woods in their Weekend Spring Special on 13th April.
Don’t forget to dress appropriately to the weather!
The 3 year Edible Essex project, managed by the Rural Community Council, has been working to increase the availability of locally produced food by increasing allotment numbers and establishing orchards as well as providing training, publications and competitions.
