Merrow Conservation Volunteers
Countryside Management Working Parties in Merrow
Join our friendly group run by Guildford Borough Council
Spring / Summer 2013 – Saturdays
All on Merrow Downs
20 Apr - Coppicing protection (baskets)
18 May - Footpath clearance.
15 June - Dormouse monitoring.
20 July - Ragwort pulling.
Meeting place - 10.00am meet at the car park on Merrow Downs parallel to the Golf Club car park, this can be reached via High Path Road. The approximate postcode is GU1 2QL.
All tools and training are provided; all you need are work clothes, boots, gloves, a packed lunch and enthusiasm. You are not required to stay the whole day, any help is appreciated.
For further information please contact:
Tony Cordery on 07909 881847
or Trees & Countryside Guildford Borough Council
01483 444715
countryside@guildford.gov.uk
All tools and training are provided; all you need are work clothes, boots, gloves, a packed lunch and enthusiasm. You are not required to stay the whole day, any help is appreciated.
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Hazel coppicing February 2012 – to improve habitat for dormice |
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Tubes ready for removal – edge of Merrow golf course |
For further information please contact:
Tony Cordery on 07909 881847 |
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or Trees & Countryside
Guildford Borough Council
01483 444715
countryside@guildford.gov.uk |
Merrow Conservation Volunteers have had several new joiners this year but more are always needed and welcome. The younger members are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award or getting experience in relation to Environmental Studies coursework.
Our activities this year have included:
monitoring the dormice population that are using the boxes in the woods
coppicing areas to improve the habitat for dormice - this included a new area near the Manor Hotel
ragwort pulling
scraping to bare soil near kidney vetch plants to encourage more plants of the sole food plant for the caterpillars of the small blue butterfly.
We also cleared out the inside of the air raid shelter near the top of High Path Road. Work stopped when we found bones but these were subsequently examined and found to be from a cow. The shelter was opened on Heritage Open Day when Guildford Borough Council had a display (for the third year running) on Merrow Downs to show the highlights of the area both naturally and historically. The Volunteer helped man the stand. A member of staff from the Imperial War Museum, who is writing a book on how to trace your WW2 Prisoner of War ancestors, came especially to see the remains of the Merrow POW camp and we helped on the day and afterwards with information. A couple of young Highland cattle, who usually graze elsewhere on GBC land, were on display.
Pamela Chubb
