FRIENDS OF ALYN VALLEY WOODS

2011 ANNUAL REVIEW

1. Events

The group hascontinued to be active during our fourthofficial year, despite both Gill and Sara still having limited time.

2010

  • Nov 2010-AGMin The Crown (12 members, 8 apologies)

2011

  • Jan – Path Maintenance /Scrub Bashing on Pantymwyn Pastures (8 people).
  • Feb –Local History Talk ‘From Liverpool to Loggerheads’by Lorna Jenner(34 people)

– Path Maintenance /Scrub Bashing on Pantymwyn Pastures (5 people).

  • March – Walk to Loggerheads & Caffi Florence (5 people)

– Path Maintenance /Scrub Bashing on Pantymwyn Pastures (5 people).

  • May -International Dawn Chorus Walkover Pantymwyn Pastures, led by Glenn (10 people).
  • Spring – BTO nest record scheme surveyof FoAVW nest boxescontinued by Tessa
  • July – Oct -Himalayan Balsam Campaign, see below. (5people)
  • Sept – Bumble Bee & Invert ID Training in Pantymwyn Pastures(cancelled due to lack of support)
  • Nov - Path Maintenance /Scrub Bashingon Pantymwyn Pastures (4 people)

Himalayan Balsam Campaign

This year FoAVW continued to cover the stretch of the River from Pont Newydd, Trial Hill down to Rhydymwyn Valley Works. Denbighshire Countryside Service and their volunteers tackle from Pont Newydd to Loggerheads. Lorraine Hughes continues pulling at The Kennels.

Good news! Again there was very little HB to be found except in hot spots where the seed bank still persists or plants had been missed in the previous year. This is no doubt due to all our hard work in 2009 & 2010, and helped by the cold winter and dry spring.There was also no spread to new areas with the exception of NantAlynCaravanPark (see below). The second flush of germination from July onwards continued until the hard frosts in Nov, showing that you can’t relax and be off your guard.... Every plant can produce 800 seeds on average!

Encouragingly at a recent meeting all partners also reported significantly reduced numbers. We should be proud that the project started from David’s idea! The source of River Alyn catchment outbreak probably traced to a hill farm field with tiny stream tributary, where 2 plants were first observed 7 years ago! Shows how devastatingly quick the beast can spread!

Activity focused on remaining Hot Spots (much less than previous years):- (see map)

  • Ty Bont Caravan Park & Hesp Alyn field boundary by Pont Newydd
  • Hesp Alyn sewage pipe (in dense bramble/scrub.....)

and no-man’s land between horse field and river.

  • NantAlynCaravanPark – major problem left to seed again this year!

NantAlynCaravanPark, owned by Ian Morris, has proved an ongoing issue in the whole project again this year. This is now our major hot spot, but we couldn’t do anything about it as Ian Morris didn’t want us to help. So no pulling happened again this year..... One bad area was adjacent to Pandy Quarry where we have seen lots of interesting butterflies, including a Dark Green Fritillary in 2009. Thismeans that pulling further downstream towards Rhydymwyn and beyond is much less effective.

Project Outputs:-

  • This year 5 people were involved, contributing approx 60 hrs (compared to 100 hrs in 2010 and 450hrs in 2009)
  • 4 FoAVW Weds pm weeding walksin July. These were very poorly attended.

Monthly checks continued after July weekly walks until October frost.

Numerous individual pulling sessions, primarily by David and Gill, and including David out of our area – thank you to all involved!

  • Again there was not enough HB to warrant counting this year! Maybe 50% of last year’s? However out of interest Gill counted 1521 No in hot spots between Pont Newydd and above NantAlynCaravanPark. David estimated pulling 4000 No below NantAlynCaravanPark to Rhydymwyn and other areas outside the valley.
  • No public events with Brownies and Scouts/Cubs as not enough HB.
  • Steering Group meetings with partner orgs attended by David (and Gill).
  • Consultation continues with 5 landowners:– Lorraine Hughes at Alyn Kennels, Ian Morris of NantAlynCaravanPark (left to NWWT), the Lusty’s at Trefor Farm, Peter Unwin at Tan y Rhiwand Daryl Williams at Hesp Alyn.

HB eradication programme will continue over spring,summer and autumn for next 2 years at least, but with reduced intensity…… and will always need to be checked in future!

2. Committee Meetings

2007 - 4 No & AGM

2008 - 5 No & AGM

2009 - 3 No (2 formal meetings, several informal meetings at events) & AGM

2010 –3 No (2 formal meetings, several informal meetings at events) & AGM

2011 – 2 No (1 formal meeting, several informal meetings at events) & AGM

Discuss amending constitution to minimum of 2 No meetings per year.

3. Membership

We now have over 100 members on the database, with approx 15 active members, plus 7 partner organisations.Need to check if all still want to be on the database.

4. Land Owners

  • Ongoing communication with landowners but nothing significant to report.

Eg, Peter Unwin, Lusty’s, Daryl Williams, Huw Smith, Lorraine Hughes.

  • Members attended NWWT Churchyard Talk in Jan and discussed possible joint project with Pen Y Fron Chapel. Not heard anything more from NWWT.

5. Publicity & Pantymwyn Newsletter

  • FoAVW newsletters circulated quarterly
  • Pantymwyn Newsletter didn’t come out this year, so no FoAVW updates.
  • Flyers around village for all events.
  • Events advertised in local paper.
  • FoAVW Website and Facebook page, regularly updated by Glenn. Over 400 hits since April 2010. Discuss ideas for development? Links to new village website?
  • Leaflet and Display to be developed when group more active, will need funding bid.

6.Forthcoming Events

  • Fri 9 Dec: NWWTBadger Watch at Big Wood, Hendre Meet at the Royal Oak pub at 6pm. Contact Jonny Hulson for more details on 07599 102138.

Autumn & Winter MonthlyPractical Task Programme

On 2nd Sunday in every month until spring.

  • Sun 11 Dec: Path Clearance on Pantymwyn Pastures

10.30–12.30am. Meet at Bryn Siriol, Pen y Fron Rd or the central meadow.

  • Sun 8 Jan: Path Clearance on Pantymwyn Pastures

10.30 – 12.30am. Meet at Bryn Siriol, Pen y Fron Rd or the central meadow.

  • Sun 12 Feb: Path Clearance on Pantymwyn Pastures

10.30 – 12.30am. Meet at Bryn Siriol, Pen y Fron Rd or the central meadow.

  • Sun 11 Mar: Path Clearance on Pantymwyn Pastures

10.30 – 12.30am. Meet at Bryn Siriol, Pen y Fron Rd or the central meadow.

  • Dormouse Nest Box Survey in the Valley – date to be agreed.
  • Thurs 9 Feb: Talk on Local Farmingby Lorna Jenner

7.30pm at Pantymwyn Village Hall

7. Future Event Programme for 2012

To be developed by committee along lines of last year. Requests in 2010 for more bat walks, fungal foray with expert and June walk to Loggerheads with Joe Phillips, local botanist and Mick looking at reptiles.

Also suggestion of an annual outing eg, Black Grouse trip,.

Feedback on provisional ideas/requests:-

Jan – Mar:Autumn & Winter Monthly Practical Task Programme

March: Owl Nest boxes

April: Bluebell Walk in Nant Alyn with Pen y Fron Chapel by Gill

May -Dawn Chorus Walkover Pantymwyn Pastures by Glenn

June:Pantymwyn Pastures Orchids /Loggerheads Wildflower & Reptile Walk by Mick

Aug: Pantymwyn Show - raise FoAVW’s profile in village, didn’t attend in 2011. Need volunteers for stall!

- ideas for quiz/activity, eg, litter picking pledge, dog poo tags?

Insect ID Training, Pantymwyn Pastures?

Sept: Bat Walk

Oct:Fungal Foray – see NWWT Mold branch & NEWWildlife below.

Nov –Dec:Autumn & Winter Monthly Practical Task Programme

Dormouse Box & Nest Box Survey/Cleaning

Annual Outing eg, Mersey Bay RSPB boat trip, Parkgate spring tide birdwatch or Burton Mere RSPB reserve.

Piggy back onto events of North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT)Flintshire branch and NEWWildlife at Rhydymwyn.

Eg, badger watching, fungal forays, waxwings, walks.

Any special requests?