Chailey Commons Society

Transcription

1 Chailey Commons Society Spring ferns on Romany Ridge E-Newsletter Spring Page 1

2 CHAIRMAN S NOTES Hello and welcome to this Newsletter. Just when we thought it couldn t get any drier, the heavens opened and huge amounts of rain fell much to everyone s relief. I recorded 50 mm after a day and night long deluge and 35 mm a couple of days later. Importantly, I have received news from Chailey PC of a dangerous disease affecting dogs called Alabama Rot which has reached the Chailey area. This has been featured on TV and the Parish Council has put a warning and a link on their website. Do be aware when walking your dogs on the common as it serious and probably fatal. Look out for lesions and sores on the dogs. Our activities have been continuing with themed walks and our trip to the Plumpton Open Day. You should have received your membership card after payment of your subscription and there is a list of our forthcoming activities listed inside. We are looking for someone to take our committee meeting minutes on a quarterly basis so not too onerous but a very valuable part of the meetings. Could that person be you I wonder? I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your support and see you soon William What s coming up soon (full details pages 7/8) June Tuesday 13th 9.15 pm Memorial Common car park Nightjars on Memorial Common with Ian Woolsey. Saturday 17th 9.30am-5pm Coach Outing to Norbury Park Surrey Hills Spring Bird Walk The annual spring Bird Walk New Arrivals was held on Lane End Common this year on Saturday the 8 th of April, led by Ian Woolsey. A hardy band of 16 visitors had braved the early morning mist and gathered in the car park for the 9.15am start. However the birds were already in full song, with the males of many species such as Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Wrens all trying to outdo each other and of the early migrants, Chiff Chaffs were there in good numbers. High in the sky there were several Buzzards circling around and we had an excellent view of a Kestrel and by now the sun was well up and it was getting quite warm. We also had an excellent view of a Common Lizard which decided to run up the outside of somebody s trouser leg and began to bask in the warmth. All in all it was an excellent morning and the birds did us proud with 24 different species being seen or heard. Page 2

3 The next Bird Walk listed in this year s Programme of Events is the Nightjar Walk and it will take place on Tuesday,13 th June, meeting at 9.15pm in the Sports Club Car Park on Memorial Common. Don t forget to bring torches. List of Birds seen and heard were Chiff Chaff, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Robin, Wren, Chiff Chaff, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rooks, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, a few Pied Wagtails flying overhead and the brief distant call of a Yellowhammer. Restoration Work Pound Common During the early part of 2017 further work has been done to increase the areas of heather on the commons. This takes the form of a scrape by heavy machinery to remove the top layer, in selected areas, of mulch containing the bracken rhizomes and small birch seedlings. This enables to the heather seed to germinate and re-establish, and if necessary, a batch of heather seeds can also be cut from other well established areas to increase the chances of success. This has been very successful on Memorial Common and on other parts of the common including Pound Common. For best effect these scrape areas are positioned immediately next to the existing heather patches where the seed can blow across by wind distribution. These pictures illustrate the area which has received attention. The Society out and about Early May sees the Plumpton College Open Day take [lace and once again we took our tent along to showcase the Society and let people know what we do and where we are. Here is a picture of us at the tent on what turned out to be a fine by breezy day. As always there was much to see and do and we were in the Forestry Section where we could watch the students taking part in logging and sawing activities together with climbing enormously high poles using a belt and spiked boots to ring a bell at the top. Our display of the Field Studies Council Identification charts proved popular as did our own Walks leaflets describing the five commons at North Chailey. Thanks to our helpers on the day Ian, Sarah, Carol and William for taking turns to man the tent and speak to our visitors. Page 3

4 Grazing update May 2017 Now that the winter is over the cattle have returned to the lower combined commons to graze the wide area in which they can roam. The English Longhorn cattle come from Townings Farm. The Hebridean sheep and Exmoor ponies will not be on these lower commons during the summer and this will give the natural ground herbage a time to grow without being nibbled too short. Unfortunately there have been times when the Exmoor ponies have been fed during the winter by the visitors to the commons and this makes them a little too friendly and to become a bit forward in their reactions to people. Early Summer Walk Despite the threat of showers. The stroll around Lane End Common was enjoyed by all, including a young 10 year old Alexander, and we found twenty species of trees and the Tway Blade Orchid, seen here, as well as lots of ferns, Figwort and Tormentil. The Meridian Stone marker made a good finishing point to a very pleasant afternoon in the sunshine. Membership Matters Thank you to all of you who have renewed your subscription and you should have received the new Membership Card from me. If you haven t paid yet now is the time to catch up and get in touch with me. Either write to me at 18, Newlands Park Way Newick BN8 4PG or use this address below if you wish to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you, Sue Berry members@chaileycommons.org.uk Forthcoming Activities June Tuesday 13th 9.15 pm Memorial Common car park Nightjars on Memorial Common with Ian Woolsey. Come and hear the sound of male birds churring on Chailey Commons on a summer evening. Meet at the Sports Clubs car park by the A272 North Chailey. Finish in the dark bring torches Saturday 17th 9.30am-5pm Coach Outing to Norbury Park Surrey Hills A day out to the North Downs visiting Norbury Park Countryside Park near Leatherhead for a country walk and a stop at Headley Heath National Trust Reserve which is a wonderful mix of open heathland, woodland and chalk downland. Depart Chailey Sports Club car park by A272 (TQ389210) at 9.30.a.m. Bring picnic lunch. Return approx p.m. Booking essential Telephone William Coleman Approx. cost 15. Bookings essential. July Saturday 22nd 2-4pm Red House Common car park Summer Butterfly Walk. Come and join Karen Pritty to find these beautiful creatures on Red House Common. Page 4

5 August Wednesday 16th 10am-12pm Lane End Common car park Annual Bug Hunting Expedition Our ever popular walk for all the family to discover the weird and wonderful world of the mini beasts and their hiding places Come and see what you can find. Children, parents and visitors are all welcome for a fun morning. Bring pots, sweep nets and magnifying glass, if you have them. Wednesday 23rd 7-9 am Lane End Common car park Early Bird Walk with Ian Woolsey. Ian will lead a walk on Lane End Common followed by a hearty breakfast at Forget Me Not Tea Room. September Saturday 2 nd 2.30.p.m. A late summer walk on the common Join us for a leisurely stroll through the heather to experience the heathland and learn about species native to the habitat Thursday 14 th Chailey Village Hall 7.30.p.m. The delight of a garden pond Lynne Flower Tan illustrated talk by Lynne Flower of the Kent Tree and Pond Partnership. Lots of information about its wildlife and amazing array of interesting creatures and suggestions for making a wildlife garden pond. Visitors welcome October Thursday 12 th Chailey Village Hall 7.30.p.m. The lost industries of Lewes John Davey Lewes was once a hive of industry and its river banks were lined with cargo docks and warehouses. Discover the industrial past through the collection of photos amassed by John s late father, Leslie. Visitors welcome Wednesday 25th 2-4pm The Kingdom of Fungi and Mycology A late autumn stroll through the woods looking for those mysterious and often colourful fruiting bodies of the Fungi Join our guest expert in the search for food or folly! - 5 charge. November Thursday 9 th Chailey Village Hall 7.30.p.m. Dendrology The History of Trees Pete Varlow How many trees in a timber-framed house? Chailey has many timber-framed houses dating to medieval and Tudor times. Peter presents his research into houses in Sussex, Suffolk and Oxfordshire, built between 1335 and 1607, and examines how carpenters converted trees into timber, assessing the quantities used and the way woodland was managed for building timber, firewood and woodland products. Visitors welcome May we remind our members that they attend all the Society s meetings and events entirely at their own risk. The Society cannot take responsibility for loss of property or injury to persons during our events. Page 5