Administrator – Sirhowy Hill Woodlands

Heritage Orchard Project

Administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:39:19 +0000

Started in 2016, with mostly welsh heritage trees provided by Tai Calon, the orchard has survived its first winter with only one or two losses, could we have deer in the woodland?. Some of the tree guards have had chunks bitten out of them!! Jayne Hunt came last Saturday 11th march and gave them their first light pruning, and later we hope to do some wild flower planting along the margins

Simon from BTIC ( business in the community ) visited the woodlands today 14th March to look at possible projects for their volunteering day in May, proposed brush thinning in copse opposite orchard, removal of obsolete wire fencing and mending of various stonework about the site, possible clean up of top pond and putting a bench there were subjects discussed.

Woodland and Path Work

Administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:11:20 +0000

Project Overview

Woodlands have been essential to people for thousands of years. They are used for timber, fuel and shelter, and more recently for public recreation as well. We know woodlands play an important functional role in securing carbon, purifying the air we breathe and also helping prevent flooding.

Historically much of the woodland in Wales has been lost. That which remains may have suffered through both lack of management or wholesale removal of trees. In addition, the planting of and or colonisation of non-native trees may have reduced the native wildlife that woodlands can support.

Our area is now among the least wooded in the UK, which as a country is one of the least wooded in Europe. This makes our remaining ancient and young urban woodlands precious and important within the landscape.

We’re committed to maintaining and enhancing the woodlands under our management, and where appropriate restoring those woodlands.

Maintaining Walking Paths & Trails

As part of our management plan, we aim to create safe walking paths and routes for everyone to enjoy; from avid dog walkers to cyclists. It is our aim to ensure that overgrowth of trees and foliage is maintained regularly to ensure safe and clear passage through Sirhowy Hill Woodlands.

By donating to this project, you ensure that we have the required tools and resources to regularly maintain existing walk paths and to create new walking paths to enable new view points for our visitors to enjoy.

New Gate Thomas Ellis Way & Fencing

Administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 12:57:48 +0000

Proposal

Sirhowy Hill Woodlands is in much need of a new gate and fence, to help prevent off-roading vehicles from entering our premises. The entrance to Thomas Ellis way has also been a prime spot for fly-tipping and waste dumping. By introducing a gate, it will prevent vans and other vehicles from entering the grounds to dump general waste unlawfully.

Project Update

With thanks to the local community, we were able to raise the necessary funds to install new fencing and a gate. Sirhowy Hill Woodlands would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the community, for all the donations received to fund this.

Charcoal Kiln Midi Burner

Administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 12:10:14 +0000

Charcoal Kiln MIDI for the production of charcoal on a small scale.

Sirhowy Hill Woodlands will find a kiln of this size very useful as a means of converting small quantities of low value hardwood into valuable BBQ charcoal.

The Charcoal Kiln Midi Burner was kindly donated by The Gwent Police Crime Commissioners officer. Sirhowy Hill and Friends are very happy to be in receipt of this invaluable asset.

Meadow Pipit

Administrator — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 13:11:06 +0000

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The meadow pipit is a very common nesting bird of moorland, heathland and rough grassland. In the autumn and winter it moves out of upland areas to lowlands where it gathers in small flocks and can also be found on farmland and saltmarshes. In the spring it performs a fluttering, ‘parachute’ display flight. There are nearly 1.7 million breeding territories in Britain.

Alert Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review.

A small, streaky, yellow-brown bird, the meadow pipit has pale, flesh-coloured legs whereas the rock pipit has blackish legs. The tree pipit is very similar with a slightly stronger bill but they are very difficult to tell apart.

Scientific Name

Anthus pratensis

Location

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size

Length: 15cm
Wingspan: 24cm
Weight: 19g

Population

Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review.

Woodpigeon

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:53:31 +0000

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Our largest and most common pigeon, the woodpigeon is a familiar bird of gardens, parks, woodlands and farmlands right across the country. Its husky ‘hoo-hroo’ call is a well-known sound of the country. Woodpigeons feed on seeds, leaves, grains, fruit, peas and root crops and can become a serious agricultural pest in certain areas.

Woodpigeons makes flimsy twig nests in trees, in which the female lays two eggs. Both sexes incubate and raise the young, feeding them on ‘pigeon milk’ – a regurgitated, milky substance from a food-storage organ called a ‘crop’.

Our largest pigeon. Easily distinguished from the similar stock dove and feral pigeon by its pink breast, white neck patch and the white patches visible on its wings during flight.

Woodpigeons can be a serious agricultural pest but mostly will live side-by-side with humans without cause for concern.

Scientific Name

Columba palumbus

Location

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size

Length: 40-42cm
Weight: 450g

Population

Widespread across the UK

Coal Tit

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:40:32 +0000

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Coal Tits are small tits of coniferous woodland mainly, although they will also appear in parks and gardens where there are conifer trees. they nest in holes in trees, but are just as happy to use nestboxes as substitutes. Tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders amongst the smaller branches of trees in woodlands. But they are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will visit birdtables and feeders. In winter, they will form flocks with other tits, roaming woodlands and gardens. Coal Tits have a song of repeated phrases: ‘situi’ and ‘tsevi’.

Coal Tits are grey above, buff below, with white cheeks, a black cap and a white neck patch. Coal Tits can be distinguished from the similar Marsh and Willow Tits by their white wingbars and white patch at the back of the head. Marsh and Willow Tits have plain wings and entirely black caps.

You can help to look after Coal Tits and other garden birds by providing food and water for them – it doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or live in a high-rise flat, there are plenty of feeders, baths and food choices out there to suit all kinds of situations.

Scientific Name:

Parus ater

Location:

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size:

Length: 12cm
Wingspan: 19cm
Weight: 9g

Population:

Common

Blue Tit

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:35:17 +0000

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Smaller than Great Tits, Blue Tits are also birds of woodland, parks and gardens where they nest in holes in trees, but are just as happy to use nestboxes as substitutes. Tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders amongst the smaller branches of trees in woodlands. But they are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will visit birdtables and peanut feeders, and are even famed for breaking the tops of milk bottles and taking the creamy top off the milk. In winter, they will form flocks with other tits, roaming the countryside and visiting gardens in groups. Blue Tits have a trilling song: ‘tsee-tsee-tsee’.

Blue Tits are colourful little birds with blue caps, white cheeks, black eyestripes, greeny-blue backs, yellow bellies, and blue wings and tails.

You can help to look after Blue Tits and other garden birds by providing food and water for them – it doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or live in a high-rise flat, there are plenty of feeders, baths and food choices out there to suit all kinds of situations.

Scientific Name:

Parus caeruleus

Location:

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size:

Length: 12cm
Wingspan: 18cm
Weight: 11g

Population:

Common

Snipe

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:25:12 +0000

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A medium-sized wader, Snipe live in marshes, wet grassland and moorlands, where they nest in simple scrapes. They use their long, probing bill to find insects, earthworms and crustaceans in the mud, typically swallowing prey whole. During the breeding season, the males can be heard making a unique ‘drumming’ sound as their tail feathers vibrate in the wind during rapid descents in flight displays.

Amber List species! Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review.

Fairly unmistakeable. The larger woodcock is a bird of woodlands while the Snipe is found on grasslands and moorlands and is smaller with a shorter bill. Snipe are brown with an intricate pattern of black and gold stripes and bars and a stripy-brown and gold head. They have short, greyish-green legs and a very long, straight bill.

From 1982 to 2002 there was a 62% reduction in the number of breeding snipe in England and Wales – a significant decline mirrored in many of our wading birds.

Scientific Name:

Gallinago gallinago

Location:

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size:

Length: 25-27cm
Weight: 110g

Population:

Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review.

Great Tit

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:14:48 +0000

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The largest of the UK’s tits, Great Tits are birds of woodland, parks and gardens where they nest in holes in trees but are just as happy to use nestboxes as substitutes. Tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders amongst the smaller branches and leaves of trees in woodlands. But they are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will visit birdtables, fighting off other, smaller tits to get to the food. Great Tits have a distinctive song: listen out for a high-pitched bicycle pump or ‘teacher teacher’ sound.

Great Tits have a black head, white cheeks, green back, yellow belly and black stripe down the breast.

You can help to look after Great Tits and other garden birds by providing food and water for them – it doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or live in a high-rise flat, there are plenty of feeders, baths and food choices out there to suit all kinds of situations.

Scientific Name:

Parus major

Location:

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

Size:

Length: 14cm
Wingspan: 24cm
Weight: 18g

Population:

Common

Administrator – Sirhowy Hill Woodlands

Heritage Orchard Project

Woodland and Path Work

Project Overview

Maintaining Walking Paths & Trails

New Gate Thomas Ellis Way & Fencing

Proposal

Project Update

Charcoal Kiln Midi Burner

Meadow Pipit

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Anthus pratensis

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Woodpigeon

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Columba palumbus

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Coal Tit

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Parus ater

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Blue Tit

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Blue Tit

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Snipe

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Gallinago gallinago

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Great Tit

Author: Administrator

Scientific name: Parus major

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