Nightjar Walks on Yateley Common and Castle Bottom in June/July – not to be missed!

 

What’s out and about in March – Roe Deer

 

Easter Trail at Yateley Common

Yateley Common’s Easter Trail has grown in popularity over the last 3 years, and this year’s Easter Trail is set to be bigger and better than ever, this time with sponsorship from the Co operative!  

The trail is aimed at 5-12 year olds, but will provide a fun outdoor activity for all the family.  The aim is to follow the Easter Trail through woodland and heathland, solving clues and learning about local wildlife along the way to be rewarded with your Easter Surprise!  A simple set of directions and clues will be available for youngsters whilst a separate set of orienteering maps and clues may be used by older children.  Join us anytime between 11am and 1pm at Wyndham’s Car park (off Cricket Hill Lane).

• Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Price includes real Chocolate Easter Egg.
• Eggs Limited – Booking Essential!
• Email northern.sites@hants.gov.uk to book.

 

Come and join the Big Spring Clean 2013 on Yateley Common!!

 

The New Year so far at Yateley Common Country Park

It’s been a cold start to the year, with snow beautifying the countryside and causing havoc to our roads.  The birds haven’t seemed to notice much though, and can often be heard singing now throughout the day.  The Rangers haven’t seemed to notice either, and we have been busying ourselves out and about on all of our sites, scrub-clearing on Yateley Common and Zebon Copse with Community Payback Teams and The Conservation Volunteers, helping out the Blackwater Valley Partnership (http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/index.htm) with felling works at Gerry’s Copse and even taking school groups out to experience the winter countryside and learn about local wildlife.  This week we will be out at Zebon Copse (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/zebon-copse.htm), cutting willow to preserve ecologically important and nationally rare mire habitats.  Next week, we will be out with Frogmore Junior School for some outdoor education, and preparing for our upcoming “Willow Craft Event” (re-scheduled for 2^nd Feb due to the snow – we are still taking bookings!) and our ever-popular “Big Spring Clean Event” (coming up on 23^rd Feb!) on Yateley Common.  We are also preparing for the sale of firewood, a by-product of our heathland conservation works.  If you are interested in buying firewood, or would like to get involved with one of our volunteer days or come along to one of our events, why not get in touch at northern.sites@hants.gov.uk or call us on 01252 870425.

Photo:  The sun shining down on Stroud Pond on Yateley Common, New Years Day

Photo:  A family playing in the snow by the stream at Castle Bottom NNR at the weekend

Photo:  Firewood waiting in the snow to be processed by the Rangers and barn-seasoned ready for sale

 

Willow Craft Workshop at Zebon Copse Local Nature Reserve – book now!

 

Merry Christmas to you all!

Christmas Trees and Wreaths at Yateley Common Country Park

This year, our Christmas tree and wreath events were again a huge success, thank you to all of you who came along to enjoy the day!

 In total 97 trees were removed from Yateley Common, helping to restore important heathland habitats. As well as picking their own Christmas tree, participants were able to make their own Christmas wreath, using all natural materials. In total 56 Christmas wreaths were made using material from local countryside sites including willow coppiced from Zebon Copse Nature Reserve in Church Crookham.

These events were enjoyed by all ages with families exploring the common and getting to choose and cut their own trees. This was followed by hot chocolates and wreath making, as well as craft activities for the children who coloured and glittered pine cones and other Christmas decorations for their tree.

Over £1100 was raised to help support the continuing works to maintain this important habitat. A big Thank you to our volunteers Fiona and Phil who kindly gave up their time to help and served hot chocolates to keep everyone warm! The drinks raised over £47 in donations for Parkinsons UK.

You may also have seen some of our decorated trees outside (and in) the White Lion pub!

If you came along to one of our events, please fill in a feedback form on http://www.hants.gov.uk/rh/yateley/feedback.html

If you missed out on the event this year, why not email northern.sites@hants.gov.uk and we’ll add you to our events mailing list.