A fine turnout of 19 met for our annual bat walk in the wood, led once again by Chris from the Durham Bat Group.
On a balmy evening we observed 3 species with the aid of bat detectors – Common and Soprano Pipistrelle, and Myotis. The many Noctules and Daubenton’s of last year’s walk …
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August’s work session included the planting of Marsh Woundwort in a bare patch opposite Durham rowing club. Work was also carried out in the old hockey field.
In other news, Northumbrian Water are currently undertaking some more landscaping work following on from their project to improve the drainage of Pelaw Beck earlier in the year.
We are thrilled to see the reopening by Durham County Council of the two paths that were affected by the 2013 landslip in Pelaw Wood. Extensive work has been required to reinstate these popular paths, one of which also forms part of …
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Friends of Pelaw Wood were joined by Durham University Conservation Volunteers in our continuing battle with invasive Himalayan Balsam.
Update: extra sessions were added on June 18th and 25th. Fine progress was made in the hot sun with pulling balsam and thereby encouraging our native ferns and other plants.
This year’s dawn chorus was enjoyed by a hardy group of five, led as usual by Milja. Special thanks to Ruth and Campbell who travelled from Gateshead for the 4am start!
Our first bird was an unusually early blackbird at 0405, perhaps stimulated by the lighting at St Giles Close. Robin and Song thrush followed …
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Warm sunshine greeted us for our April work party and the pleasant task of planting cowslips in the old hockey field. Strimming, bramble-clearing and litter removal were also on the agenda – three heavy tyres were removed from the field. Drinks, chips and healthy discussions followed at the Queen’s Head.
Work on the culverting of Pelaw Beck is 98% complete.
From Northumbrian Water’s project page:
‘The headwall at the start of the watercourse is constructed now and we are in the process of reinstating the woods to [their] former glory. We …
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This month instead of a physical task, Friends of Pelaw Wood took a Sunday morning stroll around the woods to consider our action plan for the coming year and beyond. A draft of the plan can be found here.
Another fine morning greeted the Friends for a well-attended stint of step repairs, path clearing and litter picking.
To round off a productive morning, we retired to the Queen’s Head pub for our Annual General Meeting. Thanks are again due to our officers and hard-working members (and other helpers) …
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