National nest box week

National Nest Box Week (NNBW) is organised each year by the British Trust forOrnithology (BTO), Britain’s leading bird research charity, whose work primarily involves studying the populations of our common and garden birds.

NNBW takes place each year from 14-21 February, and after 10 years it is now an established part of the ornithological calendar.

Each year they publish a FREE Information Pack which includes advice on making and buying nest boxes, siting them, how many to use, reducing the risk from predators, cleaning and maintenance.  

We like our snowdrops

Nest box maintenance

Junior Warden activities - 21.01.2012

During their visit the Junior Wardens; conducted a bug hunt, hung up bird feeders they had made previously and were taught basis video film techniques.

Thank you to all attended. It was a most enjoyable event.

Cumbria's High Sheriff Iona Frost - Pennington visiting the Green Heart Den

Cumbria's High Sheriff Iona Frost - Pennington visiting the Green Heart Den, along with representatives from Barrow Community Trust, and meeting with our valued volunteers and Directors. The visit formed part of their tour to various community projects who have received support from the trust. 

Pictured above are: Volunteer Bryan Aspin, Director Steve Pryer from Furness Building Society, June Chapman Barrow Community Trust, Cumbria High Sheriff Iona Frost - Pennington, Director Joe Wardman, Derek Lyon from Barrow Community Trust, Director Scott Gomersall from SDG Accountants, Lyndsay Aspin from Barrow Community Trust, Rob Cairns Barrow Community Trust, volunteer Karen Moore, Project Coordinator Graham Bromley, volunteer David Hayes and volunteer Lee Pickering. 

Thank you to all who helped to make it a most enjoyable visit.

Support from Barrow Community Trust has enabled us to provide a poly tunnel for the community grow your own scheme.

Barrow Island School visit

A most enjoyable visit from staff and students of Barrow Island School, as arranged by Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood wardens wardens. During the visit the students learnt more about the project as a whole, the railway arches, the wildlife, the community grow your own scheme and took part in an environmental quiz.

Progressing the new gated entrance to the arches

Mark Wallis of Gilmour Fabrications Ltd pictured during an onsite meeting with our Project Coordinator Graham Bromley, taking the final measurements in preparation for the fabrication and installation of new secure gated entrances to the remaining arches facing the Green Heart Den.

Funding to enable this work was provided by The Sir JohnFisher Foundation and Barrow Borough Council.

Network Rail - formal work consents

Excellent news. Following the signed tenancy agreement, Network Rail have now confirmed formal works approval for the installation of a secure, lockable gated entrance to the additional railways arches.

A big thank you to Network Rail Portfolio Surveyor Gemma Luty in arranging for the works approval. It is very much appreciated and will make a real difference.

The fabrication and installation of the secure metal gated entrance will be conducted by Gilmour Fabrications Ltd who previously installed the secure gated entrance to arch D, our arbour and the new gates and railings to the new north plot wall.

Friends of the Lake District funding success

We are pleased to announce that we recently received confirmation of a successful fund application previously submitted to Friends of the Lake District.

Friends of the Lake District works to protect and enhance the special qualities of the distinctive and inspirational landscapes of the Lake District and Cumbria.

Please visit www.fld.org.uk for up to date information about their work, environmental improvement grants, events, membership and volunteering opportunities.

The £2,000.00 grant  award will be used in contribution towards our community grow your own scheme, and enable the purchase of trees, shrubs and plants.

This weeks visits include.......

• Staff and pupils from Barrow Island school. This visit has been arranged by Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team wardens.
• Cumbria's High Sheriff, Iona Frost-Pennington will be visiting on Friday as part of her tour to some of the community groups that the Barrow Community Trust has supported. 
• Central and Hindpool Junior Wardens who will be conducting various wildlife activities.

Winter colour

Winter sun on the Green Heart Den

A touch of frost

Some welcomed visitors

A long tailed little bird.

                                          A Great little bird.

A female chaffinch

Today's volunteer activities

Valued volunteers Bryan, Lee, David and Karen pruning the buddleia.

Some of our snow drops

Some of our birds enjoying the bird feeders

Quote for the week.....

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” - Proverb

Sacred Heart School visit

A visit from staff and students from Sacred Heart School visit, as arranged by Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood wardens wardens. During the visit the students learnt more about the project as a whole, the railway arches, the wildlife, the community grow your own scheme and took part in an environmental quiz.

Secure, lockable gated access to the railway arches........

After recently signing the terms and conditions of the Network Rail tenancy agreement for the railways arches, and as there is currently no access into arches 5 and 6, we are hoping to confirm works approval from Network Rail which would allow us to install a lockable gated entrance to these arches in a similar way in which as we have previously provided gates to arch 4.

This would enable access into the arches, improve the visible appearance of the arches and provided for total security of the arches.

Once agreed the associated work will be conducted by Gilmour Fabrications Ltd, who fabricated and installed the secure gated access to arch 4.

Funding to enable this work is provided by the Sir John Fisher Foundation and Barrow Borough Council.

Today on the Green Heart Den

Crocus beginning to flower.

                                    Additional bracing to the post and wire fencing completed

                                                                            A sleeping caterpillar

Snow drops beginning to flower

Post and wire fence maintenance

Additional bracing installed to the post and wire fencing.

Our fat ball feeders are proving to be popular

Some of our crocus beginning to flower

Communities for Health funding

We would like to thank Barrow Borough Councils Community Services Manager Keith Johnson and Health Improvement Officer Mike Otto for awarding the project a grant from the Communities for Health programme. It was very much appreciated.

The award will be used in contribution towards the total project costs for the Green Heart Dens community grow your own scheme.

Successful Hadfield Charitable Trust grant application

An excellent start to the New Year. We have received confirmation of a successful grant application submitted to the Hadfield Charitable Trust. This grant award will be used in contribution towards the total project costs for Green Heart Den community grow your own scheme being developed on the north plot.

Land lease registration

We are pleased to announce that the 85 year land lease the Green Heart Den and the north plot community grow your own scheme, secured from Barrow Borough Council, has now been formally registered at the Land Registry. Thank you to SDG Accountants and Poole Townsend Solicitors for their assistance, it was very much appreciated.

Woodland Trust - Nature Detectives

The Woodland Trusts Nature Detectives are offering over 1,000 free activities, games and downloads for families, schools and groups.

For more information please visit the Nature Detectives website here.

Quote for the week.....

‎"Don't go through life. Grow through life" - Eric Butterworth

Some of our robins

Information about how you can help birds can be found on the RSPB website here

Some of our new fat ball bird feeders