In the last couple of weeks a terrific transition has occurred; we had snow and freezing temperatures. There was a wonderful austere atmosphere and the lockdown was twofold. We had the legal obligation of staying inside because of Covid and we had the freezing wind and snow that found its way through every self protective… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles, part 16
Author: libby ranzetta
Stag beetle habitat: BWMG’s first construction job in the water meadows
2020 has been anything but normal. Despite that, Bury Water Meadow Group’s (BMWG) last work party of the season went off extremely well. The entrance to Ram Meadow at Barwell Road is now looking like a proper entrance to a Local Nature Reserve, complete with log-lined paths with chippings laid, they had become very muddy… Continue reading Stag beetle habitat: BWMG’s first construction job in the water meadows
The Water Meadows Chronicles, part 15
When walking Luna the other morning I bumped into Libby who is a fellow dog walker and, more importantly, a fellow trustee of the BWMG. She told me she had been walking around No Mans Meadow the previous day and seen several egrets and two herons. So far in our biodiversity surveying in the Water… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles, part 15
The Water Meadows Chronicles, part 14
As we slide into autumn I walked the dog on a wonderful sunny morning (01/09/20) and enjoyed the dew on the grass and the smell of decomposing leaves. It was one of those “good to be alive” mornings and almost all of the people I met along the way had a greeting. What a welcome… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles, part 14
BWMG awarded Town Council funding
Bury Water Meadows Group has received a significant boost with the Town Council approving funding of £9277 at its November meeting. The funding application was proposed by Cllr Tony Whittingham and councillors were unanimous in supporting the group’s efforts to raise the status of the rivers Lark and Linnet and their adjacent areas in the… Continue reading BWMG awarded Town Council funding
The Water Meadows Chronicles part 13 (August 2020)
Iain Carruthers-Jones is back on the case reporting his experiences as a Bury Water Meadows Group volunteer. See previous Chronicles here. This seems a good time to restart the Chronicle. It’s one of the very hottest days of the year (07/08/20) and the Water Meadows has lots of plants growing as high as head height,… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles part 13 (August 2020)
Chalk streams vs clay rivers
This lovely film from Hertfordshire explains the difference between chalk streams like the Lark and Linnet, and clay rivers, and gives an insight into why they are so special.
Himalayan Balsam
Working in co-ordination with our sister organisation the River Lark Catchment Partnership, BWMG volunteers are making a major contribution to controlling Himalayan Balsam. Building on its previous years efforts BWMG has this year surveyed 7km of the Lark & Linnet rivers in Bury St Edmunds and has so far clocked up some 75 volunteer hours… Continue reading Himalayan Balsam
The Water Meadows Chronicles part 12 (July 2020)
Iain Carruthers-Jones is in reflective mood. We were given a nestbox as a present last year. How nice… and we showed gratitude but we were thinking about where we might put it. Eventually it ended up sitting on the top of our back fence which backs onto the Crankles and overlooks the Linnet. Because it… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles part 12 (July 2020)
The Water Meadows Chronicles part 11 (mid May 2020)
Iain Carruthers-Jones looks on the bright side. Earlier parts of the Chronicles can be found here. There’s been a bit of a gap since the last edition of the Chronicles. The coronavirus put us all into lockdown and the volunteer work programme shuddered to a halt. Much to everyone’s chagrin both from a “doing enjoyable… Continue reading The Water Meadows Chronicles part 11 (mid May 2020)