David Hutton, Project Manager d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk
Our new Heritage Lottery and Kingspan funded project in partnership with the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust has started its Development Stage. During this stage preliminary surveys, consultations with public and private landowners together with further prioritisation and selection of ponds will take place. Successful completion of this by August 2019 is necessary in order to secure funding for a further two-year Delivery Stage.

Project Manager David Hutton has been appointed (from end November 2018) and Beth Andrew, the Project Officer for the geology aspects, has been appointed by EHT. David will have overall responsibility for the project, based at the HWT in Queenswood, reporting to Andrew Nixon. Ecology Consultants have been appointed too: HART’s Will Watson and Giles King-Salter.

If you are interested in joining the project, either with an ecology or a geology interest, or both, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities, and training courses will be provided from March onwards (see below). We will be surveying ponds along the areas either side of the River Wye West of Hereford where many ponds were created at the end of the last Ice Age (20,000 –15,000mya). Another area is in North West Herefordshire (Pembridge, Kington) where there is a lot of hummocky moraine left at the end of the Ice Age where ponds could have formed.

Not all ponds there today would be of this age – the aims of the surveying will be to identify both the wildlife species found in the ponds, and the form and origin of the ponds using geological techniques to analyse the soil and sediments around the ponds.

A chance to learn about the fascinating world of Ice Age Ponds, how they were formed, their wildlife and geological origins, and how we can help to conserve them for future generations. Learn why they are so special and how to identify the wildlife that can be found.

Morning Indoor Session

• Introduction to the Ice Age in Herefordshire and the landforms it left behind
• Introduction to Pond Ecology
• Introduction to field survey techniques for Ecology and for Geology

Afternoon Session

• Practical demonstration and chance to have a go at doing Geological recording, soil core samples using augers, GPS recording of water levels and water quality testing.
• Practical demonstration of Ecological recording techniques, habitat mapping, dipping for invertebrates.
• Training in the use of GPS, Water quality meters etc will be given.

Training lasts from 10.00am – 4.00pm and all equipment, plus hot drinks and biscuits will be provided. You will need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and a packed lunch.
These training sessions are all free but places are limited and booking is essential.
To book your place or find out more details please contact David on 01432 356872 or e-mail d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk

A chance to learn about the fascinating world of Ice Age Ponds, how they were formed, their wildlife and geological origins, and how we can help to conserve them for future generations. Learn why they are so special and how to identify the wildlife that can be found.

Morning Indoor Session

• Introduction to the Ice Age in Herefordshire and the landforms it left behind
• Introduction to Pond Ecology
• Introduction to field survey techniques for Ecology and for Geology

Afternoon Session

• Practical demonstration and chance to have a go at doing Geological recording, soil core samples using augers, GPS recording of water levels and water quality testing.
• Practical demonstration of Ecological recording techniques, habitat mapping, dipping for invertebrates.
• Training in the use of GPS, Water quality meters etc will be given.

Training lasts from 10.00am – 4.00pm and all equipment, plus hot drinks and biscuits will be provided. You will need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and a packed lunch.
These training sessions are all free but places are limited and booking is essential.
To book your place or find out more details please contact David on 01432 356872 or e-mail d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk

A chance to learn about the fascinating world of Ice Age Ponds, how they were formed, their wildlife and geological origins, and how we can help to conserve them for future generations. Learn why they are so special and how to identify the wildlife that can be found.

Morning Indoor Session

• Introduction to the Ice Age in Herefordshire and the landforms it left behind
• Introduction to Pond Ecology
• Introduction to field survey techniques for Ecology and for Geology

Afternoon Session

• Practical demonstration and chance to have a go at doing Geological recording, soil core samples using augers, GPS recording of water levels and water quality testing.
• Practical demonstration of Ecological recording techniques, habitat mapping, dipping for invertebrates.
• Training in the use of GPS, Water quality meters etc will be given.

Training lasts from 10.00am – 4.00pm and all equipment, plus hot drinks and biscuits will be provided. You will need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and a packed lunch.
These training sessions are all free but places are limited and booking is essential.
To book your place or find out more details please contact David on 01432 356872 or e-mail d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk

A chance to learn about the fascinating world of Ice Age Ponds, how they were formed, their wildlife and geological origins, and how we can help to conserve them for future generations. Learn why they are so special and how to identify the wildlife that can be found.

Morning Indoor Session

• Introduction to the Ice Age in Herefordshire and the landforms it left behind
• Introduction to Pond Ecology
• Introduction to field survey techniques for Ecology and for Geology

Afternoon Session

• Practical demonstration and chance to have a go at doing Geological recording, soil core samples using augers, GPS recording of water levels and water quality testing.
• Practical demonstration of Ecological recording techniques, habitat mapping, dipping for invertebrates.
• Training in the use of GPS, Water quality meters etc will be given.

Training lasts from 10.00am – 4.00pm and all equipment, plus hot drinks and biscuits will be provided. You will need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and a packed lunch.
These training sessions are all free but places are limited and booking is essential.
To book your place or find out more details please contact David on 01432 356872 or e-mail d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk

HART will be joining in with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Family Bioblitz at Birches Farm Nature Reserve, in celebration of The Wildlife Trusts national  30 Days Wild Campaign.  Join us in recording as many different species as we can find alongside a team of experts & enthusiasts.  Catering & toilets will be available on site.  Bring suitable outdoor clothing & a picnic if you wish but no dogs please!

Birches Farm is situated  on the A4111 on the way to Kington, Herefordshire – Post Code HR5 3EY.

https://www.herefordshirewt.org/bughunt

Ice-Age Ponds visit at Sturts South Nature Reserve                  

Sun 7^th July,  11am-3pm

Will Watson and Giles King Salter will lead a walk round some of the Ice Age Project’s Ponds that can be found at Sturts South and Waterloo nature reserves.  There will be a chance to do some dipping and explore these hidden reserves.

Wear appropriate clothing and bring a packed lunch.

Parking:
The Rev. Charles Overton at Waterloo has given permission to park 8 to 10 cars beside the lake at The Vallets, Waterloo. Located at SO329476 on the west hand side of the road from Letton to Kinnersley at Waterloo where there are only two large properties fronting the road; one of which is the Vallets, look out for a modern brick wall and a cattle grid, it is sign posted.

Walk looking for reptiles at Bircher Common     

Sunday 1^st September, 10am-1pm

This walk is for HART members only. The event involves walking suitable areas over the common looking for basking, active reptiles and any other wildlife sightings. The walk will be taken at a leisurely pace  There are no refuges such as tins or mats which have been laid down on this site so it will be necessary to walk a fairly wide area.

Please contact Nigel to let him know if you intend coming in advance by email nigel@centralecology.co.uk or phone 01531 636033  /  07974 121806.

If the weather is forecast for rain all morning and conditions considered poor then the event will be cancelled.

Directions

Follow the B4362, turn down the lane with war memorial at entrance, signposted Welshman’s Lane, Bircher Common. If  travelling from Mortimer’s Cross, Lucton direction the lane turning is a left turn, otherwise a right turn, continue down lane until it opens on to the common, be careful as it is a narrow lane to the common so beware of resident traffic and possible pedestrians.

Arrive at common opening, gated entrance with cattle grid, red telephone box, turn right after going over a cattle grid, carefully travelling along the rough stone track onto the common, you will then see other HART members parked in front of gorse at grid ref SO 4660 6630.

 Bring snacks and something to drink.  Wear suitable clothing and sturdy boots and trousers.  Close focusing binoculars would also be useful.

It is advisable not to bring dogs and only older children accompanied by adults ideally aged 10 years onwards.