The importance of roadside verges

Those who are hell bent on eradicating "weeds" from our wild environment are causing damage not just to the native plants themselves but to the pyramid of biomass that they support. They provide wildlife corridors of cover for all species to hide from predators. They provide a place for insects, spiders, beetles and many other species to live, a "habitat". They are a food source for those that feed on plants. Those that feed on plants provide a food source for larger creatures, "consumers". The consumers get consumed in turn by the top predators. When the bottom level is "removed" all levels above suffer and numbers of mammals and birds fall through starvation.

When a roadside verge is mowed from the road to the hedgerow or wall everything is destroyed. There are tens of thousands of hectares of roadside verges in the UK. Just imagine how many species could live there if they were mot mowed back to a wall or hedgerow. If just one metre was mowed for motorists sightlines we would be in a far happier place than we are today.

You can read more by following this link:

41 percent of UK species have declined since 1970s. Author:Josh Davis First published 4 October 2019............... Source Natural History Museum (UK)

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/october/the-state-of-nature-41-percent-of-the-uks-species-have-declined.html

The loss of wildlife since the 1940s is even greater. KEG members are doing what we can to provide habitat, food, and cover for wildlife. What we do is small when compared with the massive damage that can be accomplished with machinery in very little time mowing verges.

We will continue, we won't give up. Small steps in one year can result in unexpected but delightful results. Using money raised via the Plant Auction and the KEG calendars a couple of years ago we bought bird and hedgehog friendly slug pellets. Metaldehyde ones kill slugs but they also kill hedgehogs and birds that eat the slugs. We said to anyone who would listen, "can we swap a full drum of these for any metaldehyde ones you have left"? Everyone asked agreed and swapped. This year we have seen evidence of far more hedgehogs than in previous years. People with trail cameras have reported seeing more too. This is anecdotal evidence, nothing has actually been measured but lots of people have commented.

It is worth noting that we only sell plants in the Plant Auction that produce pollen and or nectar. Many "garden centre" plants have been specially bred for their beauty. The growers are often interested in making money not in helping the environment. If we have an abundance of some plants we will give one away with the tomato plant that someone has just bid for. Last year we also bought boxes of wild flower seeds, packaged them into small envelopes and gave those away with bought plants. This distributes beneficial plants to people's gardens.

If you ask people to name a weed, many will say dandelion. In a research project carried out a few years ago at Leeds University, dandelion was found to be the single most important plant in the UK as a food source for pollinators. Ragwort, another "weed" came second. Some species of ragwort are very toxic to farm animals and horses so we understand why eradication from fields for grazing is vital but why not just leave them where this is not a problem.

Not everything is as it seems. Human decisions and behaviour result in many unintended or unforeseen consequences. It would seem that human consumption of wildlife in the far east is the cause of the current COVID19 pandemic (2020 -2021). Eating farmed food is infinitely safer and supporting British Farming by caring about animal welfare and minimising the number of miles food travels will help the environment enormously.

Howard Quinn

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2020

January 2020

We have accepted the RHS invitation to participate in the Britain in Bloom competition this year. Due to COVID19 both CiB and BiB are postponed for a year

Well done everyone in the village who made an effort in 2019. BIB is by invitation only and you have to win your category competition before even being considered

Click here to see the Kirkoswald Cumbria in Bloom page for 2019 results. We did really well.

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Millie Bank

As we did our first tasks we noticed the amazing flora on Millie Bank and began to take steps to preserve that. Then we installed an information board to help tell others of the beauty on their doorstep.

Millie Bank is a rare remaining example of traditional Eden Valley Pasture.  Its steepness has made it impossible to 'improve' by ploughing and/or treating with artificial fertiliser, and, as a result, it has retained its wealth of flowering plants.  By mid-Summer, the pasture was a colourful blaze of flowers.

The field had been grazed for many years by Shetland ponies and the occasional sheep.  Grazing ceased altogether in 2012 after which there was a profusion of butterflies and wild flowers including some orchids. A survey identified well over 130 species of flowering plants, grasses.  We worked on Millie Bank  for several years eventually replacing the fencing so it could be grazed. Once the fencing was complete the land agent has let the land for sheep grazing.  They have made a big difference to the coarser species. We were concerned that the previous tenant left too many sheep on for too long so sheep ate all of the flowers. 

KEG has managed to reach an agreement with the owner’s Land Agent, and the intention is to graze it only during the Autumn and Winter in the future.  Sheep were taken off at the start of 2019 because the field’s fencing was in a very poor state. This allowed Spring flora to appear for the first time in three years.  Summer flora have also responded positively to the cessation of grazing with over 40 species of flowering plants noted on 23 06 19 (including carpets of bird’s-foot trefoil, betony, ragged robin, greater and lesser stitchwort), 14 different grasses (including  hybrid fescue), and a range of rushes and sedges (including green-ribbed sedge).  Unfortunately, the past few years of year-round grazing have allowed creeping thistle, nettle and docks to thrive, but a concerted effort is being made to remove/reduce them - in between fencing repairs!

In the 2019 Cumbria in Bloom Awards we were awarded 28 marks out of 30 for "Consideration of the Environment" in the General Judging, 28/30 for "Community Participation". our total score for 2019 was 96/100.

We won the National RHS award "Greening Grey Britain" Grow for people, Wildlife or Planet Award scoring 100%.

RHS "It's Your Neighbourhood Award "Millie Bank" 95/100 "Outstanding". This reflects recognition of our efforts over the past 9 years to conserve Millie Bank.

Sue Quinn October 2020

Work parties of socially distanced KEG members over both 2020 and 2021 have taken place on Millie Bank. 

The aim was to remove "rank" species such as creeping thistle, common ragwort, and dock to reduce competition with the diverse range of species KEG members wish to encourage. Pulling thistles out is the best method of removing them but difficult on steeper slopes due to the danger of volunteers falling. Nettles provide habitat and food for insect larvae so are left in verges and shaded areas but controlled on open spaces. We use no pesticides or herbicides, just mechanical methods such as cutting and scything. Cutting pastures at the right time if they are not grazed encourages the desired species. Soil enrichment with fertilisers has to our knowledge never happened on Millie Bank and is one of the reasons that it is the way it is.

KEG members originally formed to help with the entry to the Cumbria in Bloom Competition, but have evolved into an environmental group.

Our first actions were to demolish a dangerous and unsightly ex teenage den in the woods.

We went on to formulate a plan to improve the path along the Raven Beck through Millie Bank and into Common Wood with the help of CCC highways team. 

As mentioned elsewhere on this website many villagers refer to it as "the common". It is not Common land, it is owned and used to be let out for grazing to a villager who kept Shetland ponies. This kept its unusual status as "unimproved pasture". Before 1950 much land was like this and very rich in diverse plant species and the other living creatures the plants support. 

Pesticides and fertilisers are not used on Millie Bank.

Howard Quinn

Millie bank plant species list 2021

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Millie Bank Grazing                                                                        updated 03/10/2021

Sheep have once again been placed on Millie Bank over winter. These Jacob lambs are bred locally, and their grazing habits are ideal to help preserve the wild flowers that grow on this steep bank.

Despite its local name of ‘The Common’, this field is private agricultural land and the public must keep to the footpath at the base of the field - no other public rights of way exists on this land. You are reminded that all dogs must be kept on a lead at all times through this area.

Pregnant ewes will be added on to the land later in the year and so all dog owners are asked to be extra vigilant in controlling their dogs.

Without regular controlled grazing nettles, thistles and briar etc. will take over, with over grazing the animals eat all the flower shoots.

Thank you for your co-operation, 

Ruth Anderson MBE, Chairman,Kirkoswald Environmental Group.

Projects in 2019 and before

Who wrote each part of what follows will give you an idea of how many people are involved. There are many more participants who do not write. They are just as important, active supporters who give practical help to get things done.

Bee Corridor

Ethos

KEG members have developed a "bee corridor", with plants for pollinators at various spots in the village. Above and below the sports field, we have planted boxes outside unoccupied properties and developed the verge below the Bell Tower.

We do try to grow and sell plants to encourage pollinating insects, which are then spread around the area, and if there are too many we plant them in roadside verges or similar places. The plant boxes we maintain outside George House and Wordsley House  are stocked with pollinator friendly plants. We aim to "Give Bees a Chance" to misquote John Lennon. There are lots of pollinators other than bees also supported by such planting. Many flowers for gardens have been developed for their scent and appearance. In the past plant breeders have not been concerned with providing pollen or nectar so nice looking plants are sold which do not benefit wildlife at all.

Howard Quinn

Planting at the top of the allotments

Many passers-by stop to look over the wall to admire the allotments and pass the time of day. This year Kirkoswald Environment Group decided to enhance the corner by the gate, to reflect what people cannot see at the far end of the allotment field. To this end, part of the bank was dug over and a variety of nectar-rich plants introduced, bringing more colour and diversity, and hoverflies, bees and butterflies for all to enjoy. Other parts of the hedgerow and bank have been left with long grasses, wild flowers and some nettles to provide suitable habitats for a range of species, for example for local barn owls to hunt and moth and butterfly caterpillars to feed.

Planting by the Wall

On the way into the village (near the garage) there is a narrow strip of verge which has been sprayed in recent years, resulting in an unattractive sight as people enter the village.  During the Spring of 2018, a section of the verge was tidied up (removing docks and nettles, but leaving any wild flowers such as cow parsley and white dead-nettle), and some plants such as foxglove, celandine, shining cranesbill and red campion were planted.  Unfortunately, the Great Drought of 2018 began not long after planting, and it is not practical to water the area, but it has some colour for the first time for a long time, as can be seen in the picture below.  More verge has been worked on in subsequent years. Since Covid19 struck we have worked in same household pairs and more latterly socially distanced small groups.

Sue Quinn

Planting at the Sports Field

Kirkoswald benefits from a well used sports field. The school uses it regularly for a variety of sports activities and it is also home to Staffield Cricket Club and Kirkoswald football club. League matches for children and adults are regularly held there. The margins of the sports field are generally left to wildlife and host grasses and nettles mostly. It was agreed that the section nearest to the entrance gate would benefit from some attention, and on 1st May members of the Kirkoswald Environment Group arrived with strimmers, spades and forks to 'attack' it. Areas of the margin were cleared of grass and weed roots and clumps of mainly native perennials were planted along an area of approx 15 sq m, species were chosen which are attractive to pollinators. The area is directly before the further field margin which the environment group helped the school to clear last year. They now have raised beds there with attractive willow woven borders and herbs, flowers and vegetables planted. The school children can now walk past the newly planted  field margin, which six weeks after planting is sporting flowering pelargoniums and other perennials just coming into bud.

Ruth Anderson MBE

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Orchard area before redevelopment

Cottongrass at the Orchard pond

Orchard and wildlife area during redevelopment

Tree sparrow

Hemp agrimony

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03/02/2017

Litter picks

A litter pick was carried out by KEG members, members of the public and children from K'o School in the morning. An analysis of categories of litter were carried out by a group of children in the afternoon.

You can reach your own conclusions about who may be dropping what on village approaches. There was almost no litter in K'o itself. Click a litter image to enlarge

Storm Desmond resulted in KEG members and other volunteers picking litter to fill 100 blue bags and winning an RHS Cumbria in Bloom Special award for flood recovery activity.

In Autumn 2017 a group of 7 picked litter from the higher reaches of the Parish round Renwick.

A litter pick was carried out by KEG members on March 18th 2018 on approach roads to K'o. 16 Eden bin bags of litter were collected. Sadly the very next day litter began to appear again.

Seen on a very littered road in Scotland: an illuminated sign which says "Litter picking risks the lives of road workers". Food for thought, litter droppers!

I hope that rather than being an excuse for not cleaning the mess up that the message was "take your litter home" - litter picking poses a serious risk to people who do clean it up. In 2018 a KEG group did a pick covering the village and all of the bottom half of the Parish.  People went out at different times and deposited the bags at Langdon House for the collection arranged with EDC. There are now quite a few people who pick regularly. This year we were joined by the Girl Guides who were allocated a safer area to pick and found a few bags worth.

We will pick around Renwick again in the Autumn.

Sue Quinn

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Bird Life along the Raven Beck

Dipper and Grey Wagtail frequent Raven Beck, with Buzzards over the nearby plantations. In spring, Common Wood echoes to the songs of Nuthatch and Tree-creeper and to the drumming of Greater-Spotted Woodpecker. Later, summer migrants, such as Willow Warbler and Blackcap, add their distinctive voices. In autumn groups of Siskin and Redpoll feed in the upper canopy, and, in winter, foraging parties of Long-Tailed Tits roam the woodland. Adjacent to Common Wood is a mature conifer plantation home to Goldcrest, Jay and Red Squirrel.

Common Wood

Common Wood is naturally regenerated mixed woodland with a rich flora. In early spring, Wood Anemones and Bluebells carpet the ground, with Marsh Marigolds and Golden Saxifrage on wetter flushes. Later these flowers are replaced by huge swathes of Wild Garlic, and Dog’s Mercury which thrive in the deeper shade. Summer sees Herb Robert, Wood Cranes-bill and Woundworts flourishing in the sun dappled areas.

Clive Griffiths

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18/02/2017

Bark and Bud Walk

Several Keg Members enjoyed a walk and talk about identifying tree buds and bark. Many people can identify trees quite well when they are in leaf. Nigel and Lois made it seem simple identifying trees from looking at their unopened buds and their bark. Now we just have to try and remember it all.

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K'o Calendars for 2023

Kirkoswald Environmental Group Calendar Competition

We will run the calendar photo competition this summer and produce a 2023 Kirkoswald Civil Parish Calendar. We will return to the original format where we ask people to choose up to three of their favourite images of places in the Parish. We do not normally choose images with people on them.

Please print these and write on the back the following information:

Your full name

Contact telephone number

E-mail address

The month that the photo was taken

Brief description of what is shown in the image/where the image was taken.

You can put two images on an A4 page to save money of printing. Please put the printouts into an envelope with your name on it. There will be a box for entries in the Community Shop and for outside of opening hours you can place them in the remote post box or through the door at Langdon House.

Liz Cave will be collating and organizing judging. We will pick one portrait format image for the front cover; this can be of any month. We will pick 12 landscape format images, one appropriate for each month of the year. Any photos taken over the past 18 months are acceptable. Photos must be of a large enough pixel size for print quality. A minimum of 2480x1748 is recommended, larger files are fine 4 by 3 format is best. The deadline is Saturday 06/08/2022. Howard will be in contact with people who have bought calendars in the past by e-mail, preordering really helps us decide how many to print. They make great presents. Proceeds will be spent on environmental projects within the Parish.

Howard Quinn

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One of the joys of gardening is the way that it brings you closer to nature. Whether it’s a robin helping himself to grubs from freshly-dug soil, or a songbird providing music whilst we work, birds are an important part of the garden landscape. And while we may curse the pigeons who take our brassicas, most gardeners want to encourage birds in our gardens, particularly when we read of the decline in the populations of some of our native species. Indeed, the RHS lists blue tits as one of the control methods recommended for pests such as the codling moth. So, how do encourage them?

About once a year members of our environment group get together to make bird boxes. To simplify this, one of us will purchase the timber( which is not tantalised ) and cut out the pieces. Members of the group then fasten them together, with varying degrees of success. The finished articles are either auctioned off at our annual plant sale, or put up around the village. Some are now down by our wildlife pond on the allotment field, whilst others are in Common Wood, or in peoples gardens around the village. Over the last six years we must have spread over a hundred bird boxes around our village.

To encourage a variety of birds we make boxes with a range of hole sizes, from 25mm for tits to 45mm for starlings. Other species, such as robins, wrens, and spotted flycatchers prefer an open-fronted box, so we also make these. One year we concentrated on boxes for swifts, which have to be sited high on a building with an open approach, and these seem to be working - the skies over KO are currently full of these noisy visitors, and this morning we found an egg shell on the ground beneath an occupied box, so something seems to have worked. Our other swift box has been commandeered by starlings, who have bred successfully (and noisily, by our bedroom window!) for the last two years, even though we have told them that they are in the wrong kind of box.

We have also made bat boxes, and this year are planning to build homes for hedgehogs. 

The scheme is still in its’ infancy, but we can already say that we haven’t seen any ‘old’ style slug pellets on our allotment field this year, and that other gardeners around the village have also traded in the nasty sort for the new alternative. Gardeners aren’t bad people, so once they see that the ‘new’ type work, we hope that they will stick to them. We have already handed in a boxful of metaldehyde - containing pellets to the County Council for disposal. We will obviously continue to monitor the situation, with periodic reminders, and a continuation of the amnesty scheme. It’s got to be worth a try.

Nick Anderson Aril 2017

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Woodland Management

The landowner  of Common Wood was concerned about the number of non native trees in the wood.  Through the winter  members of KEG felled sycamores and removed some of the wood, leaving some to enhance habitat.  This year we repaired part of the path through Common Wood ourselves.  The path had been eroded by another minor flood.  It is in an area where the floods of 2012 left a huge bank of stone  leaving the path at some points lower than the beck so liable to flooding.  We repaired the path using some of the larger stones thrown up and some of the sycamore to weave an edge.

Nick and Ruth Anderson

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We are now members of Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group and are cooperating with their Squirrel Ranger, John Lisle. Martin Thomas is the KEG member coordinating information. If you see any red or grey squirrels please either phone Martin on 07765 888987 or John on 07841 449648 or e-mail redquirrels@kirkoswald.org with the date, time and location of the sighting. This is especially urgent with greys as they need to be controlled as most carry squirrel pox which they are immune to but it almost always kills red squirrels in a very painful manner.

More at http://www.penrithredsquirrels.org.uk

Red squirrel monitoring using automated trail cameras. This is done in conjunction with the Red Squirrel Warden

These red squirrel were seen on one of the two feeders we installed in Common Wood.

We are using a squirrel mix which contains maize. None has been taken so far. Grey squirrels eat maize, reds do not. Disappearance of maize indicates that grey squirrels are present. Reds are taking the contents that they do like. The feeders don't just help the reds, they allow us to detect greys.

Red Squirrel project

In 2018 the main project for KEG was to help support and maintain our population of red squirrels.  Martin Thomas, a KEG member has done a lot of work with small mammals.  We worked with Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group and their warden, John Lisle.  John came and assessed the area placing 2 and then a 3rd feeder along the Raven beck.  We have a supply of food, from the Bird’s Bistro, at a discount and the feeders are topped up by members who walk up the beck regularly.  We have purchased some trail cameras to monitor activity.  These enabled Martin to spot the grey squirrels.  Traps were set which have to be checked twice a day by law.  One trap contained a hedgehog who was released after a struggle, with no harm to the hog but leaving a prickled Martin. We now have several volunteers who help monitoring.  Some of the pictures are wonderful to see.

Martin gave a talk in the Church Institute which was attended by nearly 40 people including children with parents.  To advertise the event we did a display in the shop window.  This was greatly enhanced by some work from the school.  Some pupils had done a lot of research into red squirrels and recorded their findings for us. There is a growing  email list of people who receive regular updates and photos  about the red squirrel population.

Awareness of the dangers greys can pose has been raised and people are regularly reporting sightings. Unfortunately we saw some evidence of squirrel pox and then fewer and fewer sightings of reds.  We continue to monitor and hope.

Martin Thomas

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