Buckle's Wood in June

The trees are growing well and look good, although we have lost a few over the winter. Most of the wild flower plants that were planted and protected by wire netting are also doing well, although I expect they are looking a bit battered after last night's storm.

These photos were taken a few hours before the hail started! Red Campion and Ox-eyed Daisy.

We shall have a stall at the PTA Fete again this year.

BARGAIN, BAGS AND PRIZES!

Watering the Wild Flowers

All the wild flower plugs have been planted in the woodland and the school's tree nursery.

The rainy days, following a dry period, came just in time!

Pam Oldroyd has been sorting out her plants and has given us some large clumps of wild primroses, which originated from a wood in Essex, many, many years ago. I'm sure they will thrive in Buckle's Wood. Thank you Pamela.

Bees and Wild Flowers

The Wild Flower plugs, especially selected to attract bees and other nectar loving insects, were planted last weekend by members of the Management Group.
One hundred plants were given to school, for the pupils and staff to plant in their empty tree nursery. The children will be able to watch them grow and learn to identify the flowers in the summer. They plan to collect seeds in order to sow them next spring.

We should be worried by the global decline of the bee population. The Varroa mite has spread from Asia to to all parts of the world except Australia and has a debilitating affect on bees. The use of chemicals by farmers, loss of habitat and adverse weather conditions are all thought to contribute to this decline.
There is plenty of information about bees on the web, but Breathing Spaces is a good place to start

Wild and Watery

Work in the wood was almost cancelled today as the weather was foul! Even the ducks that visit our garden looked dismal.
However, a sturdy group of woodlanders, donned wet weather gear and woolly beanies and set off over the bridge, with a promise of hot soup and delicious cakes to follow, when the work was finished.
Why the urgency?
Well, with thanks to the Green Light Trust, we have received another Tree Council grant to buy more wild flower plugs and they have to be planted next month. To help the bee population, we have ordered nectar producing plants from British Wild Flower Plants in Norfolk.
The pupils from Elmsett School will put some of the plants into their tree nursery and then collect the seeds in the Autumn.
Thank you to everyone who helped today, to Jackie, Pam and Diane for the refreshments, and the super soup makers

Hadleigh Green Fair

Well, here we are, displaying out wares at the first Hadleigh Green Fair, organised by the local Green Party. Plenty of people came to enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Mac, Maria, Fiona and Morag (the willing volunteers) did a great job looking after our stall and deserve a BIG THANK YOU giving up their time to help. They were able to spend their spare moments looking round and chatting to other, like-minded, stall holders. Bags and books were sold. Nathan Gregory won the Buckle's Wood bag which was packed with eco-goodies.

Although we didn't make a fortune, it was thought that the event was well worth supporting.

Photo: Morag Embleton

Beacon for Bees

People are worried about bees. A lot have been dying because of disease, poor weather conditions, loss of habitat, use of pesticides and other unknown reasons.

As they pollinate some of our crops, fewer, or no bees at all would have a bad impact on the country's food production.

Last autumn we planted loads of wild flower plugs around our woodland, in an effort to encourage insects, butterflies and moths. Not all the plants will grow--the rabbits have made sure of that!

The children at Elmsett School will be growing more wild flowers plants for us this year, as there is space in the tree nursery. If they are quick they could apply for a free packet of

"be good to bees"wild flower seeds from Blue Peter .

What a good idea!

Hadleigh Green Fair

We shall have a stall at the Hadleigh Green Fair,
which is being held between 10am - 4pm at The Guildhall
on Saturday 14th March We shall be promoting Buckle's Wood
and Elmsett School's Community Recycling Centre.
Our bags will be on sale and there will be other eco-bargains to buy and win.

This is the first event of its kind to be organised by The Green Party in Hadleigh and there will be lots to to see and enjoy. These are some of the planned attractions

Acoustic Live Music ~~The Mad Hatters Tea Garden

Craft Stalls & Green Woodworking ~~ Local Environmental Groups

Café Green for Homemade Cakes & Spring Broth
Energy Saving Exhibition
Admission is FREE

Enquiries to: Ian St.John. Tel: 01473 823729