HILLS FARM CONSERVATION GROUP JULY 2013 NEWS

Some of our group members ready for action along the Riverside

July so far has been very warm and dry,  good weather for butterflies ranging along the banks, for Bumblebees on the Bramble flowers and clover - and for damselflies emerging from the river.

A news briefing on the local development has been send to members, giving updated schedules for the various phases.

We are already planning for winter work - can we do more to improve our natural environment? We hope to plant more early-flowering native plants and bulbs in places where they will be of benefit to wildlife in the spring, where at present there are only empty stretches of 'amenity grass'

Please scroll down this page to find out about our group and how to join us. Click on the headings at the top of the page for more information about dates when we meet, tools and safety, wildlife and conservation

Midsummer and still Singing

Loud song from many birds along the river during the past few days, even during very dull, overcast and misty weather. Song thrushes are the loudest and are singing most of the day, with chiffchaffs, wrens, whitethroats, blackbirds, robins and chaffinches all joining the daytime chorus. This indicates more nest-building and more broods of young to come during the next few weeks and months.

Flowering Guelder Rose on the river bank amongst luxuriant undergrowth, good for butterflies, dragonflies, bees and birds. The bright red berries of the Guelder Rose attract the mistle thrush and bullfinch during the autumn and winter.

Summer arrives on the Riverside

HILLS FARM CONSERVATION GROUP

Scroll down to find out about the area we cover and where we meet. Click on the headings at the top of this page to find out about our next meet, tools and safety, our history, wildlife and conservation and the group in action.

FROM THE TOP: COMMA butterfly basking on last years dry nettle stems,

 SMALL TORTOISESHELL basking on the wooden bridge,  BRIMSTONE on fresh Bramble leaf and PEACOCK basking on nettles, all on the River Bank here.

Our Banner which we display on days when we are working along the riverside.

The date of the next meet is shown so that interested passers-by can take note

and maybe join us! We don't wait for spring to arrive however but meet each month

all through the year.

A view of early 2013

HILLS FARM CONSERVATION GROUP

A view of the river Arun looking towards Highwood Hill.

February 2013 was a cold month and this was taken on a rare day when the sun appeared.  This stretch of the river, together with its tributary, Boldings Brook is 'our patch' where we work.

Please see all the information about our Group on the previous post and by clicking on the headings at the top of the page.

OUR AIM

OUR  AIM  IS  TO  PROTECT  OUR  NATURAL  ENVIRONMENT  AND  THE  HABITAT  IT  PROVIDES  FOR  WILDLIFE

Spring on the River Bank, May 2013

Winter on the River Bank, January 2013

Early Autumn on the River bank

The area we cover is located at the west of the market town of Horsham in West Sussex, England, alongside the river Arun, its tributary Boldings Brook and their confluence in the Hills Farm area, accessed from Hills Farm Lane. See 'location' at the bottom of this page.

We meet usually on the last Sunday of every month to plant donated trees and hedging, clear litter and rubbish and report back to Horsham District Council and the Environment Agency.

Please click on the top tab title NEXT MEET to find out where and when.

Click on the top tab 'tools and safety' to see what is provided 

and find the safety instructions

Gatekeeper butterfly on bramble on the riverside

Our Supporters:

We are supported by HORSHAM IN BLOOM 

and local businesses 

New Group News replaces old website

HILLS FARM CONSERVATION GROUP - find all the news here! This site replaces the old website

and will be updated after each meet.  You will be able to find separate pages relating to various topics in the same way as the old site but updated.

This will take time .....