St Nicholas Fields

Cutting a dead branch

Balsam bashers (with their prey)

Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant which we try to keep in check with annual bashing, which is fun even in the rain.

Osbaldwick Beck clearance 1

Osbaldwick Beck clearance 2

De-brambling

As much as we love blackberries, they would soon take over the whole nature reserve if given the chance so we need to cut them back regularly.

Bat box making

Bat boxes need grooves in the wood to allow bats crawling in.

Bat box makers

Bird box making

Bird watchers

Bird ringing

Volunteers from the British Trust for Ornithology take great care when ringing birds caught in the Centre garden.

Sprucing up the Centre entrance

Dead hedging 1

Dead hedging 2

Path maintenance 1

Path maintenance 2

Gardening

Grass surveying

Grasses are difficult to identify; hence the frowns.

Planting wild flower bulbs

A student group (temporarily) winning over Knotweed

Knotweed is an invasive plant which is extremely difficult to eradicate but we need to keep on trying.

Sprucing up the Melrosegate entrance

Unfortunately, this happy picture is no longer true as we had to pull down the wooden entrance due to rot.

Path clearance near Melrosegate

Volunteers on Melrosegate path on a sunny Eco-Active Day

Path digging

This path took a long time and a lot of effort to finish but it now provides a wheelchair accessible way up onto the bund and into the John Lally Community Woodland.

Strimming grass in the play area

Tony keeps our tools in good nick

Tree planting 1

Tree planting 2

Tree rescue

Young trees need our help in the first few years of their life to make sure that other plants don't hinder their growth.

Wodchipping a path