December 2012

Every Monday morning the volunteers meet in the car park of Warley Place and each week recently we have hoped in vain for some dry weather.  Despite this we continue working where we can without causing damage to the soil.  There has been an autumn tidy up in the walled garden and more of the brambles have been cut back in the east meadow to allow the daffodils to show at their best.  It is necessary to get this done in good time before the many spring bulbs start to burst through the soil surface.

 

A major task has been started along the fence of North Meadow.  Although it was originally part of Ellen Willmott's estate this field is not part of the reserve and is usually home to some horses and ponies.  A hedge is being planted.  Said quickly this sounds simple and quick, but of course it is more complicated when you get down to it.  Volunteers are clearing undergrowth within the reserve, so that the ancient post and wire fence is visible, and so that the newly planted hedge will be able to grow without too much competition and with as much light as possible.  The hedging is mixed, largely hawthorn, interspersed with hazel, dogwood, spindle, rose and field maple all of which should provide food and nesting cover for many little birds in future years and will be so much more pleasing to look at for visitors. 

 

The autumn colours were limited this year and we looked each week at the Persian Ironwood, hoping for the dark red leaves, but it could only manage yellow.  Most of these have since been blown away by the strong winds in early November.  However, the spindle bushes were exceptional and both varieties were covered in fruits, one pink and the other red.  It was good to see that the newly planted (2011) spindles were also fruiting well. 

 

The warden and volunteers are delighted that work on the replacement of the South Hide can be started within the next few weeks.  This is possible owing to a generous donation to the reserve from the family of a local lady who loved Warley Place.  It is hoped that this will provide shelter for many bird watchers over the coming years as they look out onto the South Pond. 

 

Overlooking the pond from the other side is a new picture provided by Iris Maurer, the daughter of Jacob Maurer who Miss Willmott employed to create and maintain her alpine garden.  It reminds us that much of the tree cover which is now so good for the wildlife was not visible in the early part of the twentieth century.  This is a clear demonstration of changes of use over a hundred years.

 

John Cannell is back from a short break in France where he attended a book launch at Ellen Willmott's old chateau in Tresserve.  The book was about the history of the chateau, which is now the Mairie (town hall) and is complete with much of the wood panelling, furniture and many of the other features that Ellen Willmott had installed there.  John was well looked after by the author of the book and her friends, all of whom were very enthusiastic about Ellen Willmott and have asked to come to Warley Place next year.

 

We will be open as usual over the Christmas period and visitors will be very welcome to come for a quiet stroll away from the usual seasonal festivities.  May we wish you a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.