Star Award for Greenfield LNR

Great news. Last year Rebecca of the Wildlife Trust entered us into the Biodiversity section of the Star Sustainability Awards run by Elevate.Elevate is the pathfinder company undertaking a lot of the renovation work of older properties in the Lancashire area, in partnership with five borough councils, plus Lancashire County Council, English Partnerships and the North West Development Agency.
Rebecca and I were invited to attend a special presentation evening held at Dunkenhalgh Hotel. To the delight of both of us Greenfield LNR won in the biodiversity section. We are now proud possessors of a Star trophy. To view this all members are reminded that there is General Meeting on 15th September. 7.30pm at the Crown Hotel. Albert Road, Colne.

12th. September we are having a stand at the Pendle Canal Festival to raise funds.All help welcome . Contact Secretary on 01282 859745 for more details.
18th September BAT WALK & TALK by Mike Fisher.7.00pm sharp at the LNR's car park.Bring a torch, wrap up warm and wear sensible footwear

Trip to PenworthamEnvironmental Education Centre

Some of the Junior Rangers and their accompanying adults took part in Arts and Crafts celebrating Marine themes,saw a number of animals exhibited(such as the mini-monster above, the Frilled Lizard, who was expecting to lay her eggs any minute), and met author Corrina Brown who has produced a book, Scentville's Scenties.It has been beautifully illustrated by a fourteen year old Kelly Ma. It is all about keeping places sweet and clean, free from rubbish and chewing gum!The group went round the Centre's grounds and saw the kitchen garden,sculptures of wild life, ponds,a bird hide and a willow wigwam. The Centre also manages two woodlands, one of which contains a replica Viking Longhouse. Here special courses are run.The Centre is one of a number throughout the country, where the National Grid has made land available for environmental studies.It is wonderfully decorated inside and out.The Green Man stained glass window above is just one example. Everyone enjoyed the day out.We may be able to go again and perhaps become Vikings for a day! Who knows?

The Big River Clean

It's been a while everyone. First I must say a really big Thank You to Andy and his (rather small) band of stalwarts from CWAC for all their marvellous and exhausting work on a very hot weekend to get the crud and appalling amount of detritus from out of the River Colne,that runs through Greenfield LNR. An even smaller group from Friends of Greenfield LNR did their bit in various ways. But special praise goes to Denise C. and her 7 years old grandson Harrison, who spent at least three hours toiling away collecting and dragging rubbish. This on a day when Denise was due to go on holiday that very afternoon.Would that all our members and Junior Rangers had such loyalty and dedication.Let us hope their combined efforts are noticed when we are inspected by the Judges on July 22nd for Colne in Bloom Competition.
Above left is just some of the first day's collection. By early afternoon on Sunday twice the amount rested in the skip.Also the Anglers had trimmed back a lot of over overhanging trees and cleared a log jamb near the overpass and sewage pipe.We now have a much better riverside down there.
Other happenings have been: a trip to Martin Mere WWT for Downy Ducklings week.17 in all went including nine youngsters.Everyone agreed they'd had a fabulous time. Our first AGM went off well with a presentation by Paul Shoreman on Badgers. A new Committee was elected and have since had their first meeting. Meetings for all members will be quarterly. Next is on September 15th. 7.30pm at Crown Hotel, Colne.
We have had a pond dip which was well attended.
Look out for details of a Wild Camp in our woodland for July/August. Details will be sent out to Juniors and other interested members soon.Remember be Wild about Wildlife and help look after what we've got.

Friends of LNR spread their influence

Today, Thursday 26th. March 2009 some of us are off to Earby to help the Cubs and Beavers build four nest boxes.It will count towards their badge gaining, and they are going to buy them off us and put them up in their patch of ground. So it has been a good spin off from the rather poorly attended session we put on in Colne.
It also gives us a different group of young people to work with to encourage love for the environment and the wild life within it.

If there is anyone out there who can give us ideas or tips on getting the public to take part in Wild Life activities, please tell us. Thanks

Change of Date

Hi Everyone, JUNIOR RANGERS and MEMBERS.
Please note, we are unable to have our usual end of month litter pick and Junior Rangersmeeting on Saturday 28th March. But WE SHALL BE MEETING FROM 4.00pm - 6.00pm on MONDAY 30th.MARCH at the LNR car park.
We shall be litter picking and also Balsam Bashing. The Culprit, Himalayan Balsam, is in the picture right.
Much as this alien plant is very useful for honey bees who love it,sad to say it is a choker. If it gets into the waterways watch out. It is coming up as seedlings at the moment so we are starting our campaign to try to eradicate it! THE JUNIOR RANGER WHO COLLECTS THE MOST BALSAM SEEDLINGS IN 30 MINUTES GETS A PRIZE!

Watch the birdie!

Our nest box building morning was a credit to all the organisers and helpers. Just a pity more didn't turn up. Still there has been a spin off, Cubs and Beavers at Earby want us to take four kits over on Thursday 26th March and will make them and buy them to put up.

A number of our members went to Stocks Reservoir on both days of hauling brash, to be used in the River revetment scheme that Andy Pritchard and his Colne Water Anglers are putting into place. It was a cold, wet and windy weekend but everyone did their share and eight trailers of the stuff is now safely stored for future use. Speaking of Andy here's a picture of his great nephew Josh delightedly holding his newly created bat box which he intends to put up in his garden( with a bit of help from you know who, of course)

National Nest Box Week-our event

Rachel and Rebecca have a go on the Candy Grabber. (R) Nest box making with Harold, he's the one with the beard!!

Our last event, Bat and Bird Box making went down a storm with the children who attended. But sadly it was not as well attended as it should have been. As usual a few people put in a lot of work, only to be disappointed at the turn out. But we never give up. Onwards and upwards is the cry!
On the last Saturday of the month, to our delight all the children turned up for Litter picking, followed by feeding the birds on the new bird tables made and erected for us by Mr. Harold Beattie. Thanks for all your help, Harold! Thanks to Sue for cleaning off the interpretation boards.Thanks to everyone who came and did their bit to help.
Later the children all made pooters so that they can look at small bugs and creepy crawlies close up, before releasing them back to their natural habitat.
Our next Litter pick and Junior Ranger Club will be at 10.30am on Saturday March 28th.Meet at CarPark at Greenfield LNR. Junior Rangers may start to learn how to film wild life and club events. On Tuesday 28th April we are having our AGM at the Crown Hotel, upper room,Albert Road, Colne. From 6.30pm to 7.30pm there will be a special talk and slide show about Badgers.So come along and meet Brock, and Paul Shoreman who belongs to the Lancashire Badger Group. He is also a Countryside Ranger.