Watering the black poplar saplings, Wednesday 31st May 2023 at 7pm

The weather has finally become dryer and we have young black poplar saplings in the park which need watering. Unfortunately in other years we lost saplings due to insufficient watering, so this year we want to make sure every tree that needs it has enough water.  As published before, the black poplar saplings are important for the ecology of Ladywell Fields.  

They need several buckets of water in dry weeks, and unfortunately we cannot rely on the contractor to water the trees enough.  We should therefore take the initiative and start watering ourselves. 

Volunteers are invited--this won't take very long and also makes for a lovely evening walk through the park. Bring a garden bucket, if you can.

Meet Wednesday 31st May, 7pm at the community orchard (southern tip).  

Please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested.  As the summer progresses, we will organise more, regular watering sessions. 

Meet the wildlife at Ladywell Fields Biodiversity Week from 20-28th May 2023

Meet the wildlife at Ladywell Fields Tiny Forest.

This year's Biodiversity Week at Ladywell Fields will be all about the Tiny Forest--our local nature reserve of 600 saplings, planted last November along the western side of the middle field by Dressington Avenue. 

Tiny Forest Biodiversity Week is a simple survey of wildlife.  More volunteers are welcome to spend time in nature and conduct a small survey to monitor the tiny saplings as they grow into a super powerful forest!

This can be done on the day and at the time to suit you--no appointments to keep.  Everything you'll need can be found at https://tinyforest.earthwatch.org.uk/biodiversity-week.

Community Orchard volunteering session

+++ UPDATE--PLEASE NOTE+++

As we expect very wet weather on Saturday 6th May 2023, we are postponing the volunteering session.

A new date will be published here shortly.

+++++++

The plum blossom has nearly finished in the orchard. Once the fruit has set, we can do some pruning on these trees. We are therefore having another volunteer session on Saturday 6th May, 10.30am - 12.30pm. For those who wish, there is also comfrey cutting and weeding the mulch circles around the smaller trees. 

Rendezvous in the orchard, at the southern end of Ladywell Fields, near the Bournville Road entrance. Under 16s welcome with close supervision. Please bring your own gloves and secateurs if you have them, but some will also be available to borrow. Please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested, to gauge numbers and so we can let you know if we have to cancel in case of wet weather.

Black Poplar Saplings

Last year twenty new trees were planted in Ladywell Fields, including 14 Populus Nigra Betulifolia, the native black poplar. The male trees have long been growing in the park, but in recent years several have fallen in storms or had to be felled. We hope to establish a new generation of native black poplar trees along the river, and to include the rare female trees.

Last year was, of course, a tremendously difficult for newly planted trees due to the severe drought.  Unfortunately we lost six saplings. The planting scheme has ensured they are replaced and three male, plus three female, trees have just been replanted. If you look for the new tree cages near the river, you will see that the trees are still very small. It has again proved very hard to find anyone who can supply them and these young whips have come from Suffolk. They will need our care for the first couple of years but are fast growing and should soon establish.

All these trees have a fortnightly watering contract for the first two years, however they will need additional watering through dry periods. Last summer a small group of us spent a very pleasant hour watering on Wednesday evenings, 6-7pm. Please get in touch if you would like to help this year. ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk.  

Community Orchard volunteering sessions Saturdays, 28th January and 18th February 2023, 10.30am - 12.30pm

There is quite a lot to do in the orchard at this time of year so we are holding two volunteer sessions in the next few weeks. We'll be doing winter jobs: pruning, weeding, mulching and checking guards and posts. Please come along to help and maybe learn something new about caring for trees. Rendezvous in the orchard which is at the south end of Ladywell Fields, near the Bournville Road entrance. Boots and old clothes recommended. Under 16s only with close supervision. Please bring your own gloves and secateurs if you have them, but some will also be available to borrow. Please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if interested, so we can gauge numbers and let you know if we have to cancel due to wet weather.