It was in November 2020 that FLHF that volunteers first started working 10.00 to 12.00 sessions in the fields Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Since that time just under 6000 volunteer hours have been worked in the fields with a wide age span with children from Widcombe Infants and Junior Schools, Duke of Edinburgh Award students from Beechen Cliff, Hayesfield, Ralph Allen and King Edward’s schools, to those in their 70s and 80s. Corporate volunteers from WSP (Bristol), and Rake Up and Grow (who work with adults of differing abilities) have also worked in the fields. Their main work has comprised:
Planting
- We have been successful in getting support (in kind) to plant trees. A total of 3550 saplings (made up of 33 native species) were provided over the first 3 winters. This comprised 950 saplings from TCV/OVO Energy in 2020, another 950 in 2021 and a further 700 in 2022. In addition we obtained 240 from the Woodland Trust and 730 from EForest in 2022.
- Three Tiny Forests have been planted. They are mulched with leaves, arisings from the mowing and wood chippings. A total of 1350 saplings have been planted in these three forests.
- Hedgerows along the western boundary with Beechen Cliff School, the northern side of the Copse, the northern boundary of the Inner Field and the eastern side of the South Field have been planted. This totals over 250 metres and comprises the remaining 2200 saplings
- Planting hay rattle, following donations from The National Trust of seed taken from their own local fields in 2021 and 2022
- Children from Widcombe Infants and Junior Schools have planted 500 cowslip plugs, 200 bluebells and 200 snowdrops in the west, North and Inner fields.
Construction and Maintenance:
- Spreading 30 tonnes of recycled stone on the principal footpaths;
- Clearing brambles from the principal areas of grassland, pruning and strimming;
- Mowing the main grasslands between early June and September, and again between September and early November and removing the cut grass by raking to encourage wild flower growth; 5 fields are mown;
- Building, erecting and maintaining wild-life friendly structures: A total of 21 bird boxes, 5 “Kent” bat boxes, 1 kestrel box, 1 bug hotel and 3 mini-ponds
- Constructing, erecting and maintaining 6 sleeper benches in the North, Inner and Western Fields and The Copse;
- Demolishing of the horse shelter;
- Erecting maps at the West and North entrance to the fields, an information board in the south field, and information boards for each of the tiny forests.
- A tree Nursery has been established in collaboration with More Trees
- Rainwater harvesting and storage systems have been provided for each of the tiny forests along with the Nursery.
Habitat Monitoring
- A flora and fauna group has been responsible for mapping the fields via the I-Naturalist App;
- We received a report from Avon Wildlife Trust following their detailed floral survey early in the summer 2021 on two sites, one on the North field and one on the South field;
- An Ash die back survey identified those trees needing attention;
- A bird spotting group meets once a month and 36 species have been identified;
- A group of volunteers monitors the bird boxes each spring
- Evening walks identifying bats are held in the summer
Education
- Students from Beechen Cliff, Hayesfield Ralph Allen and King Edward’s schools undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme have been active in volunteering with our field maintenance.
- Widcombe Infants and Junior Schools have joined us in planting seeds and bulbs;
- Volunteers were led by our Flora and Fauna group in identifying flowers and trees in the fields;
- Hand scything event, organised by the National Trust took place in July 2021 and July 2022 (South Field);
- Volunteers were trained in hedge laying by one of our own volunteers
External Relations: Media
- Our website, Facebook page and Instagram account continued to be developed;
- A monthly bulletin is issued and sent via Mailchimp to 162 subscribers;
- Monthly articles in Bath Voice have been featured;
- Zoom presentations to the Widcombe Association including one entitled “Lyncombe Hill Fields – Delving Deeper into their History, Ownership and Tenant Farmers”;
- Bath Radio twice recorded interviews.
- We featured in Open Country (BBC Radio 4) in 2022
Outreach
As part of increasing our involvement with other groups we continued to develop contacts with the education, corporate and charitable sectors to increase the range of volunteers involved with us.
- We took part in the annual RSPB Garden and Park Watch in January 2021 to establish the first recording of the number and different types on birds in the fields. This was repeated in 2022.
- We achieved a rating of Advancing in the national Royal Horticultural Society It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative in August 2021, progressing to the top grade of ‘Outstanding’ in August 2022 and again in August 2023.
- A 2-hour walking tour of the fields was given as part of the Bath Climate and Bio Diversity Festival in September 2021 and again in September 2022.
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