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APRIL 2007 TO APRIL 2009
COLNE VALLEY TREE
NURSERY
We have received
funding from the Breathing Places scheme of the Big Lottery Fund
to establish a local tree nursery, to also work with local schools
to run training sessions in tree identification, seed collection,
propagation and tree planting. The nursery will be located
right next to the river and will be a valuable aid in conservation
education to local schools.
COLNE VALLEY BAT
PROJECT
The first ever
bat survey of the Colne Valley HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
We have worked
closely with the West Yorkshire Bat Group and a team of dedicated
volunteers to survey six 2km transects. We are proving
that a detailed survey can be carried out with a little training,
some equipment and above all, enthusiasm.
We have also
carried out some habitat improvements so that the bat populations
present can grow and link with other populations up and down the
valley. We have planted 175 trees in a linking belt around
an unimproved field. Linking together the canal and river with
mature trees along Manchester Road (A62)
Slaithwaite
Spa
Funding has been secured from the Local Heritage Initiative by the
'Friends of Slaithwaite Spa' group to carry out a wide range of
projects to improve this popular and significant local green
space. This used to be a beautiful park, where people came to
'take the water', but little of this remains. Many practical
improvements will be carried out including; installing a new
entrance that will enable disabled access but eliminate
motorbikes, repairing some of the damaged stone walls as well as
woodland management and invasive weed control. We are also going
to work with West Yorkshire Archaeological Society to produce a
historical report of the remaining features on the site and with a
local artist a community project to create an interpretation board
highlighting the history and significance of the site. Preparing a
touring exhibition and organising a Spa Celebration Day
Old
Lane Ponds, Woodland and Meadows
A
small but diverse site with a lot of interest and potential!
Further pond clearance work will be carried out in the winter,
encroaching bull rush is choking the ponds and needs to be removed.
Trees over hanging the ponds are to be trimmed to reduce the amount
of leaf litter, causing increased nutrient levels.
A
number of management days will take place to improve the existing
woodlands. Thinning out of Willow species to encourage oak, creating
habitat piles are some of the activities taking place this year.
Rotcher
Meadows and Woodland
A
beautiful mature beech woodland with areas of open grassland in
between the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and railway line.
Ongoing
meadow management will continue involving the removal of scrub
and bramble essential to retain these rare areas of open grassland.
Colne
Valley Ponds
Ponds
provide a valuable habitat within the Colne Valley. With the threatened
great crested newt, water voles and floating water plantain present
in Kirklees there is a need to conserve these declining habitats.
We are going to create one new pond this year and carry out maintenance
work on a number of others to encourage the future spread of these
endangered species.
River
Clean Ups
We all see it, we all think its disgusting, lazy and dangerous but
few of us do anything about it. Now is your chance to put your
thoughts into action. In 2006/07 we will be running a series of
river clean ups throughout the Colne Valley. Marsden, Cellars
Clough reservoir, Slaithwaite centre, Linthwaite and Milnsbridge
will all be tackled. Working with Scout groups and the Sea Cadets
and other volunteers we will make a huge impact on the state of
the river.
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