All Moldrams Ground Local Nature Reserve Pages - Pen Selwood2024-03-29T13:34:28Zhttp://penselwood.ning.com/page/page/list?groupUrl=moldrams-ground-nature-reserve-supporters&sort=mostRecent&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMOLDRAMS GROUND ACTION PLAN FOR 2011 - 2015tag:penselwood.ning.com,2014-01-16:6557379:Page:40182014-01-16T15:41:16.770ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p>Click on the link below to read the action plan.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154340?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154340?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-center"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154747?profile=original" target="_self">Moldram%27s%20Ground%20Management%20Plan%202011-2015.pdf</a></p>
<p>Click on the link below to read the action plan.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154340?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154340?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-center"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154747?profile=original" target="_self">Moldram%27s%20Ground%20Management%20Plan%202011-2015.pdf</a></p> POND CLEARING VOLUNTEER DAY - 25th November 2013tag:penselwood.ning.com,2013-11-28:6557379:Page:36672013-11-28T18:02:06.729ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p>A great time was had by all as SSDC rangers including two apprentice rangers and two local volunteers (Bernard and Katie) spent the day removing excess vegetation from the 4 ponds. This was done to improve the habitat for all wildlife, but will particularly favour Britain's most threatened newt species which has done extremely well on the reserve this year. Damaged weirs were repaired and we can expect the water levels to rise significantly in the lower two ponds as well as the marshy ground…</p>
<p>A great time was had by all as SSDC rangers including two apprentice rangers and two local volunteers (Bernard and Katie) spent the day removing excess vegetation from the 4 ponds. This was done to improve the habitat for all wildlife, but will particularly favour Britain's most threatened newt species which has done extremely well on the reserve this year. Damaged weirs were repaired and we can expect the water levels to rise significantly in the lower two ponds as well as the marshy ground that feeds them. As a reward for everyone's efforts, the rangers did a great BBQ for everyone who enjoyed tucking in to bacon and egg doorstep sandwiches. Scrummy!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154399?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154399?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="240" class="align-right"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154424?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154424?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="240" class="align-left"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154602?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154602?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="240" class="align-right"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154670?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154670?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="240" class="align-left"></a><br></p> NEWS FROM THE AREA AROUND THE RESERVEtag:penselwood.ning.com,2013-08-15:6557379:Page:33492013-08-15T13:00:13.002ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>Some good news - Two Red Kites, among Britain's most spectacular and largest birds of prey, have been seen very close by recently. One perched on the back fence of a garden backing onto the field facing the Barn Owl box. As it took off, its wingspan was seen to be almost 6 feet wide, the distance between the fence posts. It flew across and landed near the owl box.</p>
<p>To give the Barn Owls every opportunity to build on their recent breeding success at the Charlton…</p>
<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>Some good news - Two Red Kites, among Britain's most spectacular and largest birds of prey, have been seen very close by recently. One perched on the back fence of a garden backing onto the field facing the Barn Owl box. As it took off, its wingspan was seen to be almost 6 feet wide, the distance between the fence posts. It flew across and landed near the owl box.</p>
<p>To give the Barn Owls every opportunity to build on their recent breeding success at the Charlton Musgrove owl box, the field owner will be talking to the farmer who rents the field to request a 10 m boundary of uncut grass be left, and an electric fence erected to protect the area when animals are grazing. He will also talk to his new neighbour about future conservation of the Hazel hedgerow adjoining the reserve.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154728?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154728?profile=original" width="331" class="align-center"></a></p> GREAT CRESTED NEWT PAGE - Best year ever for Moldrams Ground Nature Reservetag:penselwood.ning.com,2013-08-09:6557379:Page:34062013-08-09T07:48:50.420ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p><span>Earlier in the year, children from Bourton school attended the most successful newt count ever held at the reserve. Licensed Ranger Rachael Whaites conducted the count and all three of our native species were present, including well over 20 newts of the Great Crested newt species. Great crested newts are by easily Britain’s largest newt species reaching up to 17 cms and is one of Britain's most highly protected species. Unfortunately, populations have declined over recent years…</span></p>
<p><span>Earlier in the year, children from Bourton school attended the most successful newt count ever held at the reserve. Licensed Ranger Rachael Whaites conducted the count and all three of our native species were present, including well over 20 newts of the Great Crested newt species. Great crested newts are by easily Britain’s largest newt species reaching up to 17 cms and is one of Britain's most highly protected species. Unfortunately, populations have declined over recent years as a result of the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. They need clear water with sufficient space to perform their elaborate courtship displays, plus aquatic vegetation in which they lay their eggs singly, wrapped in a leaf.</span></p>
<p><span>Because they travel considerable distances when hunting in moist grassland, we can improve their survival chances by providing our own pond, but it must be surrounded by an area of rough grass. <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154534?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154534?profile=original" width="248" class="align-center"></a></span><span><br></span></p> DORMOUSE PAGE - Dormouse hanging on by its paw tips at Moldrams Groundtag:penselwood.ning.com,2013-08-08:6557379:Page:33302013-08-08T17:47:08.648ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p>During a recent "Bracken Bash" at the reserve, a Dormouse nest was discovered among one of the areas of bramble. Check out the photo of the nest. These delightful creatures are currently very much at risk on the site as there are no suitable wildlife corridors linking the reserve to other suitable habitats. The highly endangered Hazel Dormouse is very much an arboreal species and the presence of hedgerows, especially those with mixed fruits and nuts, is essential for them to spread and come…</p>
<p>During a recent "Bracken Bash" at the reserve, a Dormouse nest was discovered among one of the areas of bramble. Check out the photo of the nest. These delightful creatures are currently very much at risk on the site as there are no suitable wildlife corridors linking the reserve to other suitable habitats. The highly endangered Hazel Dormouse is very much an arboreal species and the presence of hedgerows, especially those with mixed fruits and nuts, is essential for them to spread and come into contact with other Dormouse communities. Can we manage the hedgerows better for the benefit of the Dormouse?</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://animals.about.com/b/2004/02/28/saving-britains-dormouse.htm" target="_blank">http://animals.about.com/b/2004/02/28/saving-britains-dormouse.htm</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154062?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154081?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058154081?profile=original" width="600" class="align-left"></a></p> BARN OWL PAGE - Neighbouring Parish Celebrates Breeding Success for the Barn Owl!tag:penselwood.ning.com,2013-08-08:6557379:Page:32332013-08-08T17:35:57.783ZBernard Sullivanhttp://penselwood.ning.com/profile/BernardSullivan
<p><span>The neighbouring village of Charlton Musgrove is celebrating a great success this week with the discovery and ringing of three Barn Owl chicks at its nesting box, placed just this winter. Chris Sperring, broadcaster and naturalist, visited the site this week and congratulated the landowner for providing the ideal foraging area for the birds, a 10 m wide field border with uncut grass, producing an ideal hunting territory. Chris said the endangered Barn Owls had suffered a triple whammy…</span></p>
<p><span>The neighbouring village of Charlton Musgrove is celebrating a great success this week with the discovery and ringing of three Barn Owl chicks at its nesting box, placed just this winter. Chris Sperring, broadcaster and naturalist, visited the site this week and congratulated the landowner for providing the ideal foraging area for the birds, a 10 m wide field border with uncut grass, producing an ideal hunting territory. Chris said the endangered Barn Owls had suffered a triple whammy this year - a harsh winter followed by a late spring resulted in many losses of adults - late growth of grass resulted in few Field Voles, the birds main food source - Finally, when the grass did grow and the surviving birds stated to breed, it was grass-cutting and grazing time. He feels that protected field margins are vital for the Barn Owl's survival. Can we improve the prospects for our own Barn Owl?</span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058153836?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058153836?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-right"></a></p>