Burton Conservation Volunteers
	LATEST NEWS

Please note that the Burton Conservation Volunteers web pages have moved. The main site address is still www.bcv.org.uk. Please click here to be redirected to the Latest News section on the new site. You are currently looking at the old site, which is no longer being updated.
	Tufted vetch, on the Kingfisher Trail in Burton. Thanks to Lawrence for the picture. We have another task day at this Green Flag award-winning site on Sunday 9th August – details to follow. On the previous day, Saturday 8th August, we have a work-day planned at Saxon Hill School in Lichfield, to continue the maintenance of the woodland area, and also a chance to look at the new water feature (which has been installed since our last visit) and discuss future developments at the site.
	THEN AND NOW: BRANSTON GOLF CLUB 1995: The picture on the left shows BCV members planting the new woodland at Branston Golf Club 14 years ago. Approx. 800 trees planted, with a survival rate of over 95%. 2009: The picture on the right shows the same woodland 14 years on!
	GEOPARK WAY TREK Our major walk this year was Britain's newest long-distance path, The Geopark Way – a 109-mile trail which runs from Bridgnorth in Shropshire to Gloucester Cathedral, taking us through the Severn Valley Country Park and over the Malverns and the Worcestershire Beacon. A rich variety of terrain and landscapes, excellent weather, and good cider along the way! Click here for pictures.
	BCV ANNUAL REVIEW 2008/09 Around twenty BCV members attended our Annual Review and Social/Buffet held at the Old Cottage Tavern. The evening started with the formal AGM business: Lawrence presented the BCV Annual Report which highlighted another successful year for the group (there's a link to the report below); Steve then presented the accounts which in spite of major expenditure during the last year still showed a surplus over the 12-month period. The committee was re-elected, with the exception of Steve who has stepped down as Treasurer, and we welcome Emily who has taken over this role. Lynn presented an informative talk on the ancient woodlands around the Forest of Needwood which was very well illustrated with slides, once we eventually managed to get the projector to work. And we were entertained with an audio-visual presentation of our year's activities, compiled by Shane. ► BCV Annual Report 2008 (PDF file, 386KB) ► BCV Publicity Leaflet (PDF file, 321KB)
National Forest walk (May 2009) Another training walk for the Geopark Way trek, an 11-mile walk from the new National Forest youth hostel. It was the launch walk for the 2009 National Forest Walks Festival.	Pictures from the Lichfield Wassail and tree-grafting event (Mar 2009)	Forest of Dean (May 2009): A bank holiday training weekend for the Geopark Way trek. We did two longish walks in the forest which served as a good trial for Shaun's new buggy. We then had a leisurely day on the Monday, stopping at a cider farm and the legendary Gentle Jane's tearoom on the return journey.
Middleton Lakes (Mar 2009) Left: Planting reeds at Middleton Lakes, a new RSPB reserve near Tamworth. Right: Here's one they prepared earlier (planted the previous year).		Allotment (Mar 2009) BCV members are busy preparing the allotment for the new growing season. Our newest member Conservation Colin casts an eye over the allotment.
	Planting a new hedge at Hadley End (Feb 2009) along the line of an ancient hedge near Yoxall. The planting included a variety of species: hawthorn, hazel, field maple, crab apple, holly, and silver birch, plus a few rare wild service trees in an attempt to recreate the biodiversity of the old hedge-line. We also put in some willow and alder in the wetter areas. The new hedge is 170 metres in length – not bad for a single day's work!
	Building a living willow screen at the equine clinic near Fradley (Feb 2009). The screen consists of different shades of willow, forming a wave pattern. Once it becomes fully established, the screen should act as a sound barrier and a windbreak for the ménage (horse exercise area), whilst adding to the biodiversity of the site and also providing an interesting visual feature visible from the A38. Update, May 2009: The screen is already looking well-established and covered in foliage after just three months, as the picture (below, right) shows.

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Page last updated 26/07/09