hawthorn blossom

Beautiful But Beastly


PRESS RELEASE

4 December 2009 For Immediate Release

BEAUTIFUL BUT BEASTLY

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December Warwickshire Wildlife Trust invites you to come to Clowes Wood

SSSI Nature Reserve for a Holly Bashing Session, or to join in with one of their regular weekend work parties.

On Sunday 20 December at 10.00 am

HOLLY BASHING AT CLOWES WOOD SSSI NATURE RESERVE

* Join volunteer warden Ron Hill at Clowes Wood and New Fallings Coppice Site of Special Scientific Interest. for an introductory session helping to rid the reserve of highly invasive holly.  Please meet in the car park off Wood Lane, Earlswood at grid reference SP101744.

COST: FREE EVENT BUT BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

On Saturday 19 December at 10.00 am

* Join volunteer warden Steve Godfrey for a practical work party helping to manage the River Arrow Local Nature Reserve in Alcester.
Please meet in the car park on Ragley Mill Lane at grid reference SP 088580.

* Join the volunteer team at Snitterfield Bushes Site of Special Scientific Interest, Snitterfield, for a practical woodland work party.  Please meet at the nature reserve car park off the Bearley Road at grid reference SP200603.

On Sunday 20 December at 9.00 am

* Join volunteer warden Dave Solliss at Hampton Wood, Barford to work in this beautiful ancient woodland and its associated water meadows alongside the River Avon. Meet at the entrance [grid reference SP254600] on the Sherbourne to Hampton Lucy road.

On Sunday 20 December at 9.30 am

* Join the volunteer team at Brandon Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest, near Coventry and assist in the management of this wetland nature reserve. Please meet at the car park at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, off Brandon Lane at grid reference SP386761.


On Sunday 20 December at 10.00 am

* Join volunteer warden Phil Parr at Ashlawn Cutting, Rugby, for this work party on a disused railway line cut through the Lias clay, which supports grassland, scrub and pools. Meet in the adjacent car park on the Ashlawn Road at grid reference SP516732

* Join volunteer warden Jon Holmes for a woodland workparty at Crackley Wood Local Nature Reserve, Kenilworth. Please meet at the entrance to the wood off Crackley Lane at grid reference SP289738.

* Join volunteer warden Val Kendrick at Rough Hill Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest, Studley to assist in the management of this wonderful old woodland. Please meet at the car park off The Slough (the A448) at grid reference SP 052637.

* Join volunteer warden Mike Slater at Ryton Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ryton-on-Dunsmore for a work party in the largest wood in Warwickshire. Please meet at the car park, which can be accessed via an access track off the A423 near the Bull and Butcher pub at grid reference SP 384726.

* Join volunteer warden John Clarke to assist in the management of Temple Balsall, Balsall Common, a reserve which is mainly swamp, willow carr and damp woodland which hosts a wide variety of species of flora and fauna. Meet near the entrance to Springfield House, off the Kenilworth to Knowle Road [B4101]. GR SP203760.

COST: These events are free and full training will be given.

For ALL the events listed, please bring appropriate weatherproof clothing and strong footwear.

Eddie Asbery, Woodland Project Officer says, "There's no doubt that holly is one of nature's highlights at this time of year - those British Racing Green polished leaves and those glossy berries which blaze in the light of the low winter sun are a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, however, it is a woodland bully. Decorative it might be, but it dominates the tall shrub layer in woodland, creating a deep shade, so it competes with native plants for light, nutrients and water, and has to go - which is where you come in. Our Holly-Bashing session at Clowes wood SSSI is an ideal opportunity to escape the Christmas shopping - no more battling against the crowds and being jabbed by bags and elbows whilst finding different ways of emptying your wallet. A morning spent in combat with a well-armed holly bush will be a breath of fresh air - and the wallet can stay at home."

For further information, please contact Eddie Asbery on 024 7630 8984

 

ENDS

Press contact: Eddie Asbery on 024 7630 8984

Notes to Editor
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is the leading local charity for wildlife and the environment.  The Trust currently cares for over 55 nature reserves throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, and has a wide range of conservation activities taking place throughout the year.  For further details or to get a copy of our leaflet "Wild Events and Activities" please contact the Trust on 024 7630 8999, drop into the Trust's Visitor Centres at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre and Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park, Solihull, pick up a leaflet in your local library or visit our website on www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

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