Update on Gleaning Project - collection point for Ledbury Volunteers St Katherine Car Park or meet at The Nest

 

Please contact Ruth Pullan on 07951 399176 or ruthpullan@hotmail.co.uk to register as a volunteer in advance.

This is to make arrangements for refreshments and equipment on the day

Town Trail - clearing in the ditch

 

Despite the weather yesterday morning, four of us managed to get out for an hour on the stretch of the Town Trail between Bridge Street and Woodleigh Road. We've finished the project funded by Severn Trent Community Fund #STCommunityFund but the work goes on! 

We were clearing around the wetland plants that we bought with the grant funding. They are still getting established and need a bit of help.

The photos show 'before' 

and 'after'.

There's still lots to do and we hope we have better weather for our next session in a fortnight.

If you'd like to join us, contact us via email on sustainableledbury@gmail.com for details

Town Trail project completion report, and a celebration.

A couple of years ago we got a 'Licence to Cultivate' from Herefordshire Council giving us permission to do conservation work on the Town Trail. In 2022 we were very pleased to be given a grant by the Severn Trent Community Fund to work on the ditch running alongside the Trail between Bridge Street and Woodleigh Road. 

We started work in October 2022. Now, over 200 volunteer hours later, we have completed the project.

The ditch was in a sorry state, overgrown, filled with debris, and liberally sprinkled with litter. The grant covered the cost of hand tools, plants and an information board. 

Over the winter, volunteers worked to dig out the ditch, remove litter, and clear a strip of land along the bank, ready for planting. 

In April, we planted 250 native wetland plants along this stretch.

The information board was designed and made during the early summer and we took delivery at the end of July. Balfour Beatty installed this for us - a professional job as there are gas pipes in the area.

On 4th September 2023 we had a small celebration to mark the end of the project and say thank you to our volunteers and supporters.

We've had very positive feedback from residents, both when we're working and via Facebook. The wildlife seems to like it too. We saw frogs 'inspecting' the ditch in the spring, and have noticed more birds and butterflies, now the area is getting more light.

The plan is to continue to maintain this area and hopefully cover a longer stretch of the Trail. We try to get out on the Trail once a fortnight on a Monday morning and new volunteers are always welcome.

(See the dates for the next sessions in the sidebar on the right.)

New notice board!

As people have spotted, we now have our information board installed on the Town Trail - thanks to Balfour Beatty. This almost completes the project funded by Severn Trent Community Fund. As with all grant funding, there's always the paperwork!

We'll be keeping an eye on the progress of the planting we've done to make sure it doesn't get swamped by other wild flowers. With the increase in light in the area, everything is growing more strongly - and we've noticed an increase in birds and butterflies.

Residents have asked if we can do some work on the next stretch of the Trail, south of Woodleigh Road, and we'll be looking at that during the winter.

Thank you for all the positive comments we've received since we started work on the Trail. There's always plenty to do and new volunteers are always welcome.

LIFE ON AN ORGANIC DAIRY FARM

 LIFE ON AN ORGANIC DAIRY FARM

Join us on Monday 21st August at 6.30 p.m. in the Burgage Hall, Ledbury, when Claire Howlett will be talking to us about organic dairy farming. Claire and her brother power their farm by renewable energy, the cows are grass fed and there are areas for wildlife.

Claire will be bringing their Halloumi style cheese, Apple Juice and Apple Jam for sale.

Admission is free with donations welcome towards the cost of the hire of the hall.