Have a look at this latest link and see a native resident of Shrewsbury Park on one of its nocturnal rambles.
This October a small band of members assembled and set out hedgehog tunnels at three likely spots in the park, all next to wildlife water bowls. As a result of the tracks recorded we put the FSP nature camera trained on this hog house donated a few years ago by two members. This is just one of videos that resulted. Lots of other critters use the water bowls and forage nearby.
The FSP nature camera has been sited in various parts of the park undergrowth over the summer. First one to share was captured on film visiting one of the wildlife watering bowls…
Watch the website for more critters in the coming weeks!
If you are interested in helping with a HEDGEHOG SURVEY this autumn please get in touch via werfsp@gmail.com. I know a few people have already offered, please send your contact details. First job is to construct some hedgehog tunnels near the feeding station to record tiny footprints of the hogs – or whatever else is mooching about.
Free fun for all ages – Bring a kite, the kids, a friend, maybe a picnic if you like. A chance to celebrate late summer together in the space we all know and love. No tickets or registration needed. It’s all bring-your-own.
Important to remember – THIS EVENT IS WEATHER DEPENDENT
Gather next to the notice board by the Plum Lane car park. After a short intro Les Clark will lead us through the woods and glades where the bats hang out. Bat detectors supplied. Thanks to the Lottery Grant last year we have 3 more of our own. And these are available for a week’s loan (see BATS under FLORA and FAUNA in the menu bar)
*Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
*Children must be accompanied by an adult
*Walk lasts about 1 ½ hours and small torches are useful
*Dogs must be kept on a lead
*Please respect social distancing guidelines when walking with other individuals or groups, or wear a mask
If you have mobility issues or enquiries please contact us on werfsp@gmail.com and we will help you participate. The trail is a mix of paved path, gravel and grass.
New bins and benches are being installed during August and wildflower seed planting will take place during the Autumn.
The park has had so much more use over the past 20 months, and we are still seeing new faces all the time. As you might expect, there is more wear and tear on paths and grassed areas that needs attention, and we also want to introduce new facilities.
The management committee are keeping an eye out for funding opportunities and different ways of raising money to make our park even better.
If you have an idea for fundraising, please let us know – just email us! werfsp@gmail.com
This Sunday 27 June at 10am by the large oak in the top field. It’s not too late to sign up – or to drop by and make a donation if you wish on the day.
Participants contact Priscila Diniz on priscilasnbd@gmail.com
Registration on the day starts at 10am for 10.30 start.
Equipment: please bring your own yoga mat and belts. If possible bring two bricks. No sharing equipment.
Have you noticed any water bowls tucked into hedges or by trees when walking in the park since that midsummer heatwave?
Thanks to two loyal creature/critter supporters these provide some water in what can be a very dry environment. Hard to believe at the beginning of 2021 but now…
If you would like to help, take a bottle of water with you when you walk in case they are empty. Especially when the weather gets warmer. Please leave the stones are in to provide escape route for wildlife falling in the dish – frogs, insects etc)
Maybe you’ve noticed the two new plantings of hedgerow saplings on Rowton Road bondary. These are thanks to a few hardy volunteers who just completed the project started in early December. We still had to abide by social distancing but there will be future opportunities for larger group efforts.
There are now nearly 300 saplings p;anted including: silver birch, downy birch, crab apple, dogwood, dog rose, hawthorn, goat willow, cherry, blackthorn, hazel and rowan. We’ll have a Hedgerow ID Walk sometime in 2023!
Hedgerow vista – 3 patches
Look for the native daffodils growing alongside the patch in foreground.
The longterm plan is to keep them alive and thriving and then manage the size in a natural way. This is to provide habitat diversity and links to green spaces across Plum Lane where there is a new school orchard. Remaining saplings (free from Woodland Trust) will be donated to a greening project in progress on Herbert Road. The oak saplings are going to be used in a Plumcroft project hopefully this autumn.
Spring is truly blossoming now and birds are busy everywhere. Spend some time rediscovering the bird boxes along Dothill path and the various holes in trees.
National Dawn Chorus Day is Sunday 2 May and the RSPB has an excellent ID guide to birdsong (for 20 species) for you to learn before then; or any morning you’re up at dawn…
So open your windows wide or scamper over to the Park at 5.30am on or around May the 2nd for a real treat. You may even see bats returning to roost.
Formed in 2006, the Friends of Shrewsbury Park encourage the use of Shrewsbury Park and support the development of facilities for recreation, education and amenities for local people and to encourage a sense of community around the park.
