Work has started with the help of volunteers to create a wildflower area on Froyle recreation ground.  A turf cutter was hired as part of removing the top layer to leave bare soil.  Thanks to the 10 helpers who rolled and lifted the 3 tons of turves then stacked them into two habitat piles layered with wooden pallets.  These potential ‘homes for wildlife’ can benefit lacewings, solitary bees, beetles, toads and other species –so lets us know what you see there.

Next we will hoe weeds every 3 weeks on Sundays 9th and 30th August and 20th September at 9am and again assistance would be appreciated.  The Wildflower seed should be sown in late September depending on weather.

Updates-  On 9th August we removed deep rooted weeds such as dandelions and started to hoe. The ground was too dry and hard to easily break up the soil. By 30th August, rain had softened the ground and 5 volunteers lightly forked over part of the area and weeded. The loan of a vintage ‘Merry Tiller’ the following week proved invaluable to cultivate the whole area. On 20th September we raked and levelled the soil to produce a good tilth, then broadcast sowed the seed before it rained the next day.

An area 5x20m on the northern edge of Froyle recreation ground is going to be sown with native wildflower seed this autumn.  A meadow mixture of Spring/summer flowering perennials is planned with cornfield annuals included to provide a display in 2016 and act as a nurse crop for the perennials that take longer to establish. Thanks to Froyle Parish Council for purchasing the seed from Emorsgate Seeds, EM5 Meadow mixture and EC1 Cornfield annuals (link to a list of the 27 species Wildflower seed list).

Now all we need are volunteers to make it happen! Can you help on Sunday 19th July 9-12am to remove and stack turves into habitat piles? (The turf will have already have been cut by machine). If so please bring a garden spade and gloves, refreshments will be available.  We will then hoe weeds every 3 weeks on Sundays 9th and 30th August and 20th September at 9am and again assistance would be appreciated.  The wildflower seed should be sown in late September depending on weather. An idea of numbers would be appreciated so please contact us if you can help.

What better way to connect with nature than to capture images of what you see.

Photos must have been taken within the parish of Froyle and depict what you value in local wildlife.

Images should preferably be landscape format with a max .jpg file size 2MB or prints max 7”x5” size.  The winning photos will be displayed on the website www.froylewildlife.co.uk along with at least one photo from each person entering. Entries from under 14’s will be judged as a separate category.

Please submit up to 4 entries by 31st October 2015 either by email to photo15@www.froylewildlife.co.uk or at the village hall Meeting Place on the last Friday of each month by the Froyle Nature Conservation Group table

Update Nov 2015, link to winning photos.

We are inviting logo design ideas from local residents and members of Froyle Nature Conservation Group. Please contact us by 22nd June 2015 if you have a design to submit.

A plan to sow native wildflower seeds in autumn 2015 has been approved by Froyle Parish Council. The proposed area 5x20m is on Froyle recreation ground (link to detailed plan). Initial cultivation will be done by volunteers including Froyle Nature Conservation Group. Maintenance is planned to be an annual late summer cut by volunteers for the next 5 years.

Froyle Nature Conservation Group was formed less than a year ago partly as a follow on to a Parish Plan idea for a ‘wildlife club’. It aims to encourage awareness of local biodiversity and to enhance it. Also to involve the community in practical nature conservation tasks. Anyone with an interest in wildlife is welcome to join.

Wildflower area: The Parish Council has recently been asked to approve a plan to sow native wildflower seed this autumn on an area of the recreation ground (5x20m strip along northern edge). Initial cultivation can be done by volunteers including the group.

New website: Our developing website www.froylewildlife.co.uk has information about wildlife in Froyle including a description of habitats and lists of birds, plants and insects that have been seen in the Parish in previous years. There’s a photo competition and what better way to connect with nature than to capture images of what you see (could be flowers, views, animals).

Wildlife pond: After a slow start, the plan for two wildlife ponds near Gidd Lane had to be changed to a single pond 300m2 area when the topographical survey revealed buried pipes. Next step is a quote for landscape architect and drawings for a planning application. Froyle Park developers NJG say they are committed to completing this project to enhance biodiversity. The earliest pond digging could begin is winter 2015/16.

An initiative to spot and record birds when you are out and about in Froyle has produced over 100 sightings so far in 2015 for the 11 target species. There is more information on the display boards at the village hall ‘Meeting place’ on the last Friday of each month.