Blogs

It's feeling more like winter here at Coombes Valley with the arrival of fieldfare, redwing and brambling.

This year’s initial moth traps at Coombes valley are far from sparse – containing a selection of moths, crane flies, and beetles.

Thank you to all the people who came along over the last two days to pull Balsam in Diimmingsdale. We have tackled areas on the paths above Red Road and the Ramblers and around the chained oak.

Last week I was with the Churnet Valley volunteer gang at a new location near Grindon helping a local farmer control some scrub. The scrub has been threatening to take over some rare species rich limestone grassland, so the landowner has a proportion of the small blackthorn bushes down.

The last few weeks the volunteer group have been carrying out some woodland management at St Edwards Park near Cheddleton. The woodland hear hasn’t seen any management for some time.

What our area has is a quiet hidden community spirit, everyone knows each other and wants to help each other. It is also very welcoming to outsiders - I come from the south and believe me this is no mean thing. We have lovely neighbours and a lovely town.

Pictures taken in Dimmingsdale, in the Churnet Valley. Park at the Ramblers Retreat and do the circular walk from there along the stream and lakes. It is so peaceful, and full of interesting trees and plants, you can lose yourself for a while but not feel totally isolated.

Photos of the fungus walk at Tittesworth today. It was a good little walk for all I think.

Over the past three months the Churnet valley volunteers have been dedicating their time to tackling the invasive Himalayan balsam that has infested our otherwise beautiful valley.

Ok, so I know I haven't been great at keeping you up to date with the progress of the Skills Builder project!!