In Action

HILLS FARM CONSERVATION GROUP 

IN ACTION

Usually there's no time at all for posing for photos  - and mud and cameras don't mix - but here are photos of some (not all) members of the group involved in a variety of tasks on our 'patch' on the riverside.

Installing two new 'Woodcrete' bird boxes on trees during an incoming storm

Spring 2016

Just one of three bicycles found on the river bank on the April meet 2016

30 native bare root hedging plants and another fruit tree planted to protect the bank

March 2016

Loading up the new truck on a cold January day 2015

On the same winter's day, extracting a supermarket trolley from the fast-flowing river

Planting native bluebells 6th December 2014

given to us by the developer in mitigation for the loss of plants

during the construction of Phase 1.

Removing more trolleys from the river. Two other group members wait on the bridge

ready to haul up the assorted rubbish. September 2014

Installation of three bat boxes made by one of our group to the Wildlife Trust's design

February 2014

March 2014

Some group members planting native wild flower seeds and plants grown from seed, on the sub soil where an old oak was uprooted in a storm on the river bank. Seeds were donated by South and South East in Bloom and Southern Water and also the Grow Wild project piloted last year by Kew and the RSPB

December 2013

Clearing the aftermath of the pollution incident upstream in September 2013.

Retrieving the oil-soak booms was rather more onerous than anticipated!

Using the SKYPLIERS, an extending pole like a giant fishing rod

with pliers at the end for grabbing rubbish that is inaccessible across

the river bank. They are very effective but need at least two people

to operate them and a third person to retrieve and collect the rubbish.

Planting the very first apple tree - this one is a crab apple - to

form a linear mini orchard along the river.
Only two very old apple trees remain from what were probably
two small orchards along the river many years ago. We hope to
restore the tradition, to benefit wildlife!

Planting the Guelder Rose, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Field Maple

and Rosa canina plants provided for us by Horsham District Council.

Planting was carried out along the river where banks were in danger

of collapse and to fill in gaps in existing hedgerows.