Friends of Dothill & Shawbirch Local Nature Reserve
7th January
First session of the year: continued work on the ride, making good progress.
14th January
One team continued work on the ride.
Others installed willow tit boxes, filled with sawdust and rotting wood.
We plotted the grid reference of each box as we want to monitor progress.
21st January
One team continued on the ride...
...while another installed sponsored nest boxes - well done Ian!
28th January
Today we did the water testing, worked on the ride and cleared the Tee Lake outflow.
January sights
4th February
Nearing the end!
11th February
One team cleared a fallen tree by the canal pools...
...while another cleared brambles at the Shawbirch entrance to let in light for the daffs.
18th February
Letting more light onto Donnerville Spinney Meadow, and removing blackthorn by Admaston Bridge.
25th February
One team did a HUGE litter-pick and removed tree guards, while others did the water testing and coppicing.
A few February sights
4th March
The Friends cleared brambles and planted oaks in Millennium Wood.
Frog spawn is appearing in the ponds now, recognisable in clusters; toad spawn is in strands.
11th March
The Friends prepped some coppiced material and began repairing the Beanhill Wood dead-hedge.
18th March
More litter-picking this week, while another team continued repairing the dead-hedge.
25th March
One group cleared willows by the canal pools...
...while another team cleared willows by Tee Lake. Fantastic work all!
A few March sights
1st April
Litter-picking, willow removal and tying replacement stakes to the maples today.
8th April
Removed willow, repaired the Beanhill dead-hedge and pruned the hedge on the north end of the 'snake' field.
15th April
One team pruned the hedge plants along the 'snake field' path, while another worked on the dead-hedge.
22nd April
We painted at the Morville Drive steps, removed willow and took up the old decking under the pier bench.
Some new bridge signs were installed this week - thank you Keith.
29th April
Telford & Wrekin recently installed new fencing at Shawbirch Road, which we're now painting.
A few April sights
6th May
Teams worked on willow removal in the scrape...
...and clearing the 50 Tree Trail signs and trees.
At Tree 20 Scots pine we also did some ivy control.
13th & 20th May
At this time of year it's mostly about keeping paths and signs clear. We also reinstated a missing bench.
27th May
Just a few of us today, tackling Himalayan Balsam at the south end of Tee Lake.
May sights
3rd June
A small team continued with measures to slow the flow of The Drain.
14th June
We exhibited at Wellington Midsummer Fayre, a cracking event!
17th June
Teams did some clearing round the maples and the Shawbirch entrance, and put cages on the Severn Drive elms.
24th June
One group began prep for a new path by Downing Bridge, while another cleared paths.
June sights
1st July
Path clearing and continuing with 'slowing the flow'.
8th July
We worked on controlling invasive Himalayan Balsam in Beanhill Wood.
15th July
Another session on Himalayan Balsam management.
22nd July
Path clearing and continuing with the new path by Downing Bridge.
29th July
Path clearing and path building today. Great work, everyone!
July sights
5th August
Ragwort control, path clearing and metal removal.
12th August
We all continued opening up the ride NE of Tee Lake.
19th August
More work on the ride, plus oak sapling management on Donnerville Spinney meadow.
23rd August
We exhibited at the Celebration of Nature / Urban Scarecrow event in Wellington.
26th August
Finished on the ride and Donnerville Spinney meadow, and cleared undergrowth by Tee Lake.
August sights
2nd September
Tree Trail work, willow clearing and cutting back around the concrete blocks by the canal pools.
9th September
Top layer added to the path by the canal pools...
...work on the concrete blocks and path clearing. Great work, all.
16th September
More work on the blocks, more path clearing and a new bench was installed by the canal pools.
23rd September
Path & Tree Trail clearing, and installing a bench on Beanhill meadow.
30th September
Today everyone got involved in coppicing hazel and building a refuge for wildlife.
September sights
7th October
We worked on willow and aspen removal around Tee Lake.
14th October
More clearing of willow cut from the Tee Lake silt flats.
15th October
11 people joined a Fungus Foray led by Les Hughes of the Shropshire Fungus Group. It was fascinating and there were some nice finds.
21st October
One team prepped two blocks for painting, another continued stacking willow for collection.
28th October
Main task - removing bramble and small trees to create air flow across Tee Lake...
...other work done included clearing the Dothill Pool outflow of debris and young trees.
October sights
11th November
We were rained off last week but work on the west side of Tee Lake continued apace today.
18th November
Planted wildflower seeds on the ride and did some clearing where the 'robot' had been deployed, east side of Tee Lake.
25th November
Continued work on the east side of Tee Lake, and cleared the outlet of debris and ivy.
November sights 1
November sights 2
2nd December
Continued on the Tee Lake east side and coppiced Tree 44. This looks drastic but coppicing leads to vigorous regrowth.
16th December
Rained off again last week but lots done by the Horse Pool and Tee Lake before stopping for the Christmas break.
December sights
