Water End Wild life Area
Several years ago the Parish Council drew up a Local Plan for Brompton which examined a diverse range of improvements including increasing the diversity of flora and fauna of the village and the environment, particularly focusing on the communal greens. The previous flood group undertook extensive tree and hedge planting as part of their flood defence work.
The ‘top green’ of Water End near Fullicar was designated a space where re-wilding began in 2020 with the reduction in routine grass cutting. Walkers and dog walkers soon made their own now well -trodden routes which loop through the trees and beds. Two areas were initially cordoned off, scarified and sown with wildflower seeds. Now in 2022 the cordon has been removed as the wildflowers- annuals and perennials- are now well established and we hope 2022 will really see a difference in the increased diversity of plants. Mid Spring 2021 saw a wonderful display of dandelions, followed by the restful, tall purple swaying meadow grasses in the summer, the wildflowers attracting insects and moths. Toads were spotted and tawny owls were heard in the evenings.
2021 saw the area provide a peaceful place for residents to wander, observe, sit and take time out during what has been a very stressful two year period in unprecedented times. The Working Group volunteers received many positive comments about the area. However we do recognise that the Parish Council received a few repeated complaints and in order to address these a New Management Plan for the area has been put together. Whilst we appreciate many people like a well manicured garden and lawn, our greens are not municipal parks and having a wild area is more in keeping with a country village ethos.
Wildlife Area Report - November 2024
Busy Work
A " behind the scenes" approach to rewilding Brompton this month- spring bulb planting happened in earnest with the pupils of Brompton School planting up a patch in the Wildlife Area Water End. The area was stripped of turf and native spring bulbs have been planted so we hope to see a continual bloom of spring flowers for a few months ranging from snowdrops, crocus, bluebells, native tulip to the delicate snakehead fritillary.
In spring, this area will then be over sown with annual wildflower seeds to hopefully give us a high impact colour area.
The beginnings of an insect log pile habitat have been established (possibly mistaken for a bonfire!) and several more piles will begin to appear as we gather the resources for them throughout the year
This year, the Wildlife area had an annual cut with traditional methods, a very labour-intensive affair! so next year we may experiment in just leaving the grass and focusing on strips on wildflower planting again.
The wild flower areas will eventually be strimmed- time has run away with us, injury has stopped play, but we will get there!
Liaison - with Men's Sheds in Northallerton has begun again, and we hope to build upon the existing variety of habitat boxes with a few new ones making there way into the wildlife area as we supply the workers with the timber to make simple kits that are intended for the pupils of Brompton School to put together. This year we had fun listening to a great spotted woodpecker drilling away on the tawny owl box!
Spotted
What a MONTH!!
We are thrilled to report that our nature hungry villagers have reported sightings - regularly- of heron-plural -returning to the vicinity.
Indeed, the author herself has finally, after a near 3 year absence- this week caught sight of a good sized heron gliding over Water End. It felt complete again.
Villagers also happily reported to us that a kingfisher is also back at the north end of the village.
Rewilding is certainly working, the wildlife corridor effect we have created through Water End through deliberate low strimming of the becksides has enabled a number of water bird species this year to flourish. Second broods of moorhen and mallard were spotted and as for the little egrets- well- in early November, no fewer than 8- yes 8 little egret took flight at once from the trees adjoining Brompton School- what a magical sight indeed.
Thank you to those of you that have made contact expressing an interest in joining our Wildlife Volunteers- we will be in touch shortly when we have our next tasks to do.
Please keep sending us your nature sightings and or suggestions to brompton@aol.com
We welcome help from anyone in any form- hands on or creative or organising.
Until then, enjoy Brompton and keep spotting!
Wild Life Area Update - Work Day 13th March 2023
Wild Life Area Update - Work Day Saturday October 8th 2022
A perfect autumn morning greeted the volunteers who turned up at the Wildlife Area on Saturday ready for a hard work session.
Volunteers old and new - in both age and person, dug up docks, raked off grass, stripped turf, shifted turf and prepared more areas ready for seed sowing. Team working was in full tilt as many hands made light work
The unexpected discovery of a family of voles and a frog delighted the youngsters – real proof our Wildlife Area is indeed attracting Wildlife!
Thanks to Andy at SHC Tool hire for loaning the turf stripper free of charge and John Brigginshaw for wrestling the beast of a machine in boggy earth.
Join us again next Saturday for an hour of seed sowing and planting.
Here is a selection of photos from Sat 8th Oct 2022 THANK YOU EVERYONE J
