Norman the Newt's News

Click HERE to read the minutes or our November indoor meeting (PDF 21Kb)


NEW - January 27th - Old Chestnut Gets New Shine
Its true.. our cutting tools have seen better days. Year after year they cut their way through rhododendron, willow and sycamore, clearing away invasives, coppicing, crown lifting, hedge laying, making stakes, and generally giving their all for conservation. But its not easy being the sharpest tool in the box, despite the TLC our saws and loppers receive from the tools officer  they eventually begin to show their age. It is with this in mind that we give thanks to the Chestnut Fund and BTCV for their generous award of new bowsaws, blades and loppers following Rick's application for help. This is heavy duty kit for hardworking volunteers and is much appreciated. So, a big thank you to the Chestnut Fund Trustees and BTCV (hooray!)

NEW - January 18th - Crispy Duck and Other Rare Birds
One of the year's big events on our social calendar is our Xmas meal, which we traditionally hold in January. This year the merrymaking was at the Chinese Buffet, Bolton and guest of honour was Blackleach Country Park Warden, Richard Marshall. During the evening Richard revealed some interesting new developments at Blackleach, along with the other 97 species of bird now using the site there has been sightings of gadwall. Gadwall is an RSPB Amber listed species of duck, which also has European Conservation Status. There is an estimated 790 pairs resident in the UK,  this number can rise to 17,000 when migrants arrive to over-winter. One of their favoured habitats is reedbed, something Blackleach now has plenty of thanks to the work of BCV and the Blackleach wardens. Congratulations to Richard for having yet another feather in his cap.

January 14th 2012 - #I Wanna Be Elected
Wednesday's AGM was one of the best attended in years with volunteers old and new turning out for our annual official shuffle. Officers gave their reports on the events on 2011 and elections for posts were held, the results can be found on the Code of Conduct page. Minutes of the meeting will appear on the above link next month.

January 1st 2012 - New Article
To celebrate the New Year there is a new article on the Volunteer Voices page, this one concerns one of the year's main events the Dr Leather Memorial Hedge Laying Competition. If you would like to write an article for future editions of the page let me know.

December 21st 2011 - Birds of Prey e-petition
This year began with a petition to save woodlands, its only fitting that it it should end with a another petition. This one was passed across by Dave Orchard, please read.
"The RSPB has recently been calling for Vicarious Liability to be introduced into England, whereby landowners/employers who pressure or allow their staff to undertake bird of prey persecution can themselves be prosecuted - so not just the gamekeeper as is the present situation, but his landowning boss is also prosecuted.  This measure is available to prosecutors in Scotland, but not yet in England. An independent e-petition has recently been posted on the UK government website, calling for Vicarious Liability in England - the RSPB is now formally supporting this e-petition as part of their campaigning on this issue."