Tuesday 18 May
Great Steeping, Lincs
Facilitator: Roger Wardle, Roger Wardle Consultancy and Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marsh Project
This is a practical look at managing, restoring and re-creating, on a field or landscape scale, botanically rich lowland grassland and wet grassland for breeding waders. The day is suitable for those interested in lowland and wet grassland in a variety of situations including Environmental Stewardship. Most of the time will be spent visiting three very successful projects:
- A species-rich ridge-and-furrow hay meadow restored 18 years ago from species poor grassland.
- A wet hay meadow recreation with sluices, scrapes and colonising green winged orchids.
- A large wet grassland for breeding waders, created in 2003 from arable land, using new ideas to provide a diverse and wet habitat with the use of on site precipitation only. Cattle management, seeding and construction methodology will be discussed.
- Around 80 breeding pairs of waders occupying 40ha of former arable land .
Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details)
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Pond creation and conservation Ref SE3
Tuesday 6 July
Oxford
Facilitators: Rod d'Ayala and Rob Auqilina
This site offers the opportunity to compare a variety of wlidlife ponds ranging from a garden pond to small and large pond complexes.
This day will demonstrate why ponds are important and how making new ones can have an almost immediate effect on local biodiversity. Looking at basic pond ecology and construction techniques it will show how new ponds can be successfully made and managed. Practical advice will include basic dos and don’ts of site selection, construction and planting, guidance on planning and legal considerations and pond management. Visits to several ponds will show what can be achieved show the diversity of plants and animals dependant on ponds.
Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details)
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Pond creation and conservation Ref SW2
Thursday 8 July
Ivybridge, South Devon
Facilitators: Rod d'Ayala and Rob Auqilina
This mixed farm site offers the opportunity to compare a variety of wlidlife ponds.
This day will demonstrate why ponds are important and how making new ones can have an almost immediate effect on local biodiversity. Looking at basic pond ecology and construction techniques it will show how new ponds can be successfully made and managed. Practical advice will include basic dos and don’ts of site selection, construction and planting, guidance on planning and legal considerations and pond management. Visits to several ponds will show what can be achieved show the diversity of plants and animals dependant on ponds.
Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details)
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Pond creation and conservation Ref N1
Wednesday 14 July
Warrington, Cheshire
Facilitators: Rod d'Ayala and Rob Auqilina
This day will demonstrate why ponds are important and how making new ones can have an almost immediate effect on local biodiversity. Looking at basic pond ecology and construction techniques it will show how new ponds can be successfully made and managed. Practical advice will include basic dos and don’ts of site selection, construction and planting, guidance on planning and legal considerations and pond management. Visits to several ponds will show what can be achieved show the diversity of plants and animals dependant on ponds.
Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details)
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Constructed Wetland Systems : A biodiverse alternative to conventional reedbed systems Ref SW4
Thursday 22 July
South Somerset
Facilitator: Jay Abrahams, Biologic Designs
The workshop will involve a detailed look at the biologocal waster water treatment (WET) system which also encourages habitat creation and biodiversity enhancement. This system uses planted willow, native marginals and water plants, to create habitats rich in insects, birdlife and colour.
The differences and benefits of a WET system over a reedbed system will be explored.
Jay Abrahams created his first reedbed system nearly 20 years ago. His background as a biologist led him to believe that there could be a more sustainable solution to waste water management. He went on to develop the WET system as an alternative to traditional reedbeds. For more information see his website at www.biologicdesign.co.uk. Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details) BOOK NOW
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Restoring a lowland river Ref SE5
Tuesday 7 September
Hungerford, West Berkshire
Facilitator: Sue Everett
This day will provide a basic introduction to some of the issues and challenges facing one of Britain's most important chalk rivers. Two stretches of river on grazed common land 'before' and 'after' restorative work will be visited. We will consider issues such as riverbank grazing impacts, recreational disturbance, abstraction and over-widening, impacts of artificial water bodies and consider measures that can be taken to restore the in-river and bankside habitats. Event hosted by the Trustees of the Town and Manor of Hungerford.
Fee £100 / £75 concessions (see booking form for more details)
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Pond creation and management Ref SE6
Tuesday 14 September
Bishop's Waltham. Hampshire
Facilitator: Pete Potts
Based at the Claylands and Dundridge Nature Reserves that have over 20 ponds between them, this day will look at how to create ponds, site selection, using clay liners , costs and initial planting. There will be hands-on advice for the ongoing management including the control of invasive species. Practical information on bentonite clay liners and bespoke tools will be available.
See www.hants.gov.uk/countryside for further information.
Fee £100 /concessions £75 (see booking form for more details)
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Community farming and landscape restoration Ref SW6
Wednesday 10 November
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Facilitator: David Burton
This workshop will take a look at the recent history of community farming in southern England and review the key challenges and possible solutions for community farming in both rural and urban situations. The day will involve a field visit to view chalk stream, water meadow and chalk downland habitats in and around River Bourne Community Farm* that are being managed with the help of community supported agriculture. Delegates will have an opportunity to share their own experiences during a facilitated discussion session.
*www.riverbournecommunityfarm.org.uk
Fee £100 /concessions £75 (see booking form for more details)
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Restoring and establishing dwarf shrub heath and mire Ref N4
Thursday 16 November
Liverpool
Facilitator: Penny Anderson, Penny Anderson Associates
President Elect of IEEM
The focus of this day will be on dwarf shrub heathland and wet heath/mires in the uplands and lowlands, as the issues and requirements are similar, focusing on vegetation and hydrology. Find out how to get the soils right so that you can restore dwarf shrub heathland from grassland or forestry, create it from scratch from arable land, or restore blanket bog and wet heath. We will also explore wider ecosystem services offered from restoration, including carbon sequestration and storage, flood risk reduction and improvement in water quality.
Fee £110 /concessions £85 (see booking form for more details)
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