Guest Post Blog By Bob Earlswood Wildlife Partnership

Bob is the membership secretary for Earlswood Wildlife Partnership. He has kindly agreed to tell us a little bit more about EWP and his role within it. Bob is my first willing volunteer to provide editorial for my blog and for that I am extremely grateful. I have a hit list of people and organisations I would like to invite to be Guest Writers whether they will all be as willing as Bob I really don't know but I really do hope so. Some of the work our volunteers and organisations do for us in order to keep our environment and community ticking along often goes unrecognised by the wider community.

My thanks goes to Bob and everyone involved with Earlswood Wildlife Partnership for helping keep our Flora and Forna protected and safe for future generations to enjoy. Without further ado please welcome A Blog by Bob of Earlswood Wildlife Partnership

About Earlswood Wildlife Partnership

The Earlswood Wildlife Partnership (EWP) is a partnership between local residents, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) and the Canal and River Trust (CRT) and evolved out of the Earlswood Lakes Partnership which had done sterling work in protecting and enhancing the local area since 1997. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust owns Clowes Wood and manages New Fallings coppice (on behalf of the Bourneville Village Trust) and Earlswood Moathouse (on behalf of the National Trust) and the lakes and feeders are managed by the Canal and River Trust.


The Aim of the EWP is “to enhance the biodiversity of Earlswood and its surrounding areas for wildlife and people now and in the future”.

The History Of EWP

An initial meeting was organised by Izumi Segawa (WWT Living Landscapes Officer), Ron Hill (Warden of Clowes Wood and one of the founder members of the WWT), Brenda Brown and other members of the Earlswood Lakes Partnership in 2009 in Earlswood village hall and it was here that Cheryl and I “signed up” and agreed to join the committee but it was in 2010 when Izumi managed to get grant funding from the Nineveh Trust that things really started to get going. The money from the Nineveh Trust allowed us to buy equipment such as bat detectors, moth traps, bat boxes and bird boxes as well as books.

Bobs Role within EWP

The steering committee of the EWP meets 3 or 4 times a year to decide on events and actions and as Membership Secretary it is my responsibility to keep members details up to date and to communicate with them through the newsletter. I also put up notices to inform the public of our events and activities. Tony Philp, one of our more active members and local bird expert, will be running another “Birding for Beginners” course in early May and has produced an information poster for the event so today I have been printing and laminating the posters ready to be put up later this week. Paul Wilkinson (CRT ecologist and bat expert) has also been in contact regarding a joint survey with the Warwickshire Bat Group so I have emailed a few people to check their availability and coordinate dates and times.

On Sundays I like to help out with the WWT volunteers in Clowes Wood. The work is varied depending on the season and involves tree and scrub management, path repairs, removal of invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam and in the autumn cutting the meadow with scythes….try that for a good upper body work-out!

Bobs decision to get involved and Volunteer

I must admit that my decision to get involved with the EWP was mostly selfish.  My interest in nature only really started when I moved to Earlswood in 2008 (I was amazed by the number of different bird species I saw in the back garden!) and my basic knowledge of the natural world was sadly lacking. By getting involved and being around “experts” I thought I could learn a few things and appreciate more of the natural beauty of the area…and I have not been disappointed. I enjoyed walking around Clowes Wood long before I moved to the area but it is even more enjoyable when you can tell Wood Anemone from Wood Sorrel and pick out Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing in the background.

If you would like to get involved or find out more 

Email  

by Clicking the link below

Earlswood Wildlife Partnership

Or

 EWP2010@BTINTERNET.COM

Upcoming Events

Sat 3^rd May 7pm – Evening Chorus Walk, meet at Clowes Woods car park (Wood Lane) Donation £2

Sat 17^th May 10.30am – Wildflower Walk, meet at Clowes Woods car park (Wood Lane)

Donation £2