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Tag Archives: Friday Group
Clearing Ivy
The Friday Group volunteers meet every Friday morning to carry out maintenance tasks on Bidston Hill. Lately, they’ve been clearing ivy from oak trees and the like, to keep the trees healthy.
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Tagged Bidston Hill, conservation, Friday Group, ivy, trees
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Friday Group Report: March 2020
17th January to 6th March 2020 It has been very wet this year but the Friday Group lost only two days owing to rain. Most of the time the Group has been working on North Heath, near the Sun Goddess. Many Birch trees have been cut down to prevent seeding this year, similarly many Birch saplings have been cut down to ground level. Material cut down is trimmed to a suitable length and then piled up; log piles like these make good wildlife habitats. One morning was spent on South Heath, near to Rock Path. There is a lot of Heather growing here so time was spent trimming back Gorse … Continue reading
Volunteer Warden’s Report: January 2020
4th October 2019 to 10th January 2020 Season’s greetings from all members of the Friday Group and best wishes for a prosperous New Year. Last October, Bidston Hill received a visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral. The occasion was the raising of the Green Flag by His Worship: the flag is awarded to public places which are well maintained for visitors and, once again, the Hill has been a recipient. The following week many bulbs were planted in the wooded triangle of land opposite the entrance to Tam O’Shanter farm — look out for a colourful display this Spring. On parts of South Heath, Heather is now re-generating after … Continue reading
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Tagged Bidston Hill, conservation, Friday Group, Friends of Bidston Hill, volunteer
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Volunteer Warden’s Report: September 2019
August 2nd to 27th September 2019 New to most members of the Friday Group was the overgrown driveway to a private house off Boundary Road (by Brow Road) known as “The Clubhouse.” Fire Service vehicles moving up the drive had been damaged by overhanging branches and it was at their request that the Group trimmed back all the bushes and trees. Bidston Windmill was open on two occasions and over 100 visitors attended each time. The building is closed now until April 2020 and it is hoped that bats will return there for hibernation. A bat detector has been purchased by the friends and in mid-August several Committee members met … Continue reading
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Tagged Bidston Hill, conservation, Friday Group, Friends of Bidston Hill, volunteer, Windmill
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Volunteer Warden’s Report: July 2019
May 3rd to July 19th 2019 The Windmill has been open to the public three times during this period. This is any ever-popular event with good attendances each time. Tumbledown Hill was cleared in preparation for a visit by John Kuzmjak’s relatives. They were pleased to see the site and hear of the fall that John had had there some years ago. A fire risk was identified behind the fence of Hillside Farm so the trees and bushes there have been cut back. At lot of litter was also found here and much of that was removed but some heavy items could not be carried in the litter bags. Many … Continue reading
Volunteer Warden’s Report: Early Spring 2019
February 15 to April 19, 2019 Sadly, I have to report that “American” John passed away in Arrowe Park Hospital on 13th April. He had been a stalwart member of the Friday Group for many years but retired nearly two years ago. The “Ribbon” area of clearing has been completed, creating good sight lines from Windmill Ridge towards Liverpool. The bushes and trees cut down have been piled up to establish wildlife habitats for insects and birds and so play a part in Nature’s food chain. Near to this area, an ancient quarry has been cleared to form a wetland habitat and a frog was recently seen there. The path … Continue reading
Volunteer Warden’s Report: Winter 2018-19
Friday Group December 2018 saw the continuation of clearing Birch and Gorse from around the two-bench Viewpoint on Windmill Ridge (North Heath). Looking toward Liverpool, it was decided to create a cleared strip of called “The Ribbon.” Clearing a strip some 15 to 20-foot-wide from the Ridge and reaching as far as Taylors Wood, would improve the sightline and also act as a fire-break. Within this cleared area, the wetland parts are being improved for wildlife and habitats for creatures made by piling up cut-down material. Further progress in cutting “The Ribbon” was made in January this year. Looking a little bit further ahead to Spring and Summer, the Friends … Continue reading
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Tagged bats, Bidston Hill, Friday Group, volunteer, Windmill
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Volunteer Warden’s Report – October 2018
During April and May, the Group were active in cutting down Birch and Gorse on South Heath to open up Heather growing areas. Wirral Council purchased some “Tree Poppers,” a device to lever out trees from their roots. These levers were very effective in removing Birch saplings but didn’t work on Gorse bushes; the roots of these are too extensive underground. The first Bidston Hill Open Day was held in May, in very good weather and was a great success, many people coming to the Windmill, Observatory, Punch and Judy (at the Farm) and a Viking display (also at the Farm). Sadly, in June, one of our stalwart supporters, Ron … Continue reading
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Volunteer Warden’s Report: April-June 2018
In order to reduce fires, Birch and Gorse were cut down in April on a part of South Heath. The Heather was revealed and looked very attractive for a short while until, at the beginning of the current heat wave, this area was blackened by fire. An Open Day was held in May and, blessed with sunny weather, it was successful in publicising Bidston Hill; The Windmill, Observatory, Lighthouse and Farm receiving many visitors. Using the new “Tree Poppers”, in May a large number of young Birch saplings were dug up from the edge of Taylor’s Wood, not far from the car park. These lever-type implements were found to be … Continue reading
Ron Williams
Our dear friend Ron Williams passed away last week after a short illness. For many years, Ron played a big part in helping keep Bidston Hill and Flaybrick Cemetery suitably maintained for the local community, along with all other volunteers. In addition, every Saturday morning he would head a guided walk through Flaybrick and across Bidston Hill and was very popular with participants, some of which would regularly return time and again. From my knowledge, I think Ron was involved with other local volunteer groups offering his services because he enjoyed this so much. Ron was also the piano/keyboard player with the Northern Rhythm Swing Band, playing at local venues … Continue reading