Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter Spring 2017

Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter Spring 2017

The Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter for Spring 2017 highlights various environmental initiatives and community efforts in the Vale of Evesham. It discusses the restoration of heritage plum orchards, including the planting of Yellow Egg plum trees to commemorate their 190th anniversary. The newsletter also details the ongoing projects at North Littleton Community Orchard, focusing on biodiversity and habitat creation. Additionally, it features insights on the importance of wasps in pollination and pest control, alongside birdwatching highlights from local wetlands. This resource is ideal for community members and environmental enthusiasts interested in local conservation efforts.

Key Points

  • Highlights the restoration of heritage plum orchards in the Vale of Evesham.
  • Details community planting efforts, including Yellow Egg plum trees.
  • Explains the ecological role of wasps in pollination and pest control.
  • Provides birdwatching insights from Lower Moor and Haines River Meadows.
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Bloomin’ lovely
After a relatively mild but dull winter it was nice to see the early blossom of Cherry Plum bursting out to
welcome the spring. This early flowering relative of the plum is not just a welcome sight for us, but it is
important for some of our pollinators as well. Over-wintering Honeybees need to replenish their honey to
feed the young bees in their hives and queen Bumblebees need an early feed as they wake from hibernation.
The Cherry Plum blossom is followed by Blackthorn, Damson, Pear, early Plum varieties, Cherry, later Plum
varieties and then Apples. This annual spectacle is sadly becoming less and less in the Vale as more old
orchards are grubbed out to make way for other crops or development. We continue to manage our old
orchards, caring for the existing trees and planting new trees so that future generations can enjoy this special
sight of blossoming orchards. So get out this spring and enjoy nature’s canvas at its finest.
Tree-mendous effort
As part of OVO Energy’s “I Dig Trees”
campaign we were awarded 400
saplings to plant at our sites. Most of
these were planted at our Littleton
Pastures site between South and
Middle Littleton. With the help of
our regular volunteers and children
from the Littletons School we planted
an area adjacent to the existing small
patch of woodland which will
develop as an area of woodland edge.
This will provide ideal conditions for
birds to nest as well as being a great
habitat for many different insects
from beetles to butterflies.
The mixture of trees includes oak, hornbeam, hazel, goat willow and wayfaring tree so there will be a good
mixture of seeds and flowers to attract even more wildlife.
At the same site we continued with our pond restoration work, enlarging the existing pond which is fed by a
spring-fed stream. Less than a month after we did the work the first frog spawn was discovered!
Vale Landscape Heritage Trust
Spring 2017
Many of our projects are funded by Severn Waste
Services (SWS) through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Without SWS, VLHT could not own, or protect,
anywhere near as many acres of landscape heritage.
2
Pershore Plum Festival’s Princess digs in at Hipton
We continue to restore the heritage plum orchard on Hipton Hill, managing the old trees while planting and
protecting new fruit trees. The present Pershore Plum Festival Princess joined us in the orchard to plant a Yellow
Egg plum tree to mark the 190th year since this variety was discovered in Tiddesley Wood near Pershore.
NLCO orchard planting
Work has continued at our North Littleton Community Orchard and Nature Reserve in North Littleton.
Following on from the twenty trees planted by De Montfort School during the winter, a further 62 plum trees
of various varieties were planted. These have all had stock-proof guards fitted to allow sheep to graze.
We also planted Walnut and Sweet Chestnut trees and
Hazel bushes to add variety to the orchard. The hedges
planted last year are doing very well, and just required
a few extra plants to fill some gaps. A few flowering
shrubs such as Guelder-rose, Wayfaring Tree and Goat
Willow were also planted around the edges of the new
field sections to provide food for pollinating insects.
We have also sown a few small areas with winter bird
seed as a trial to help some of our declining farmland
bird species to feed through the winter months. If this
is successful we will seek advice regarding sowing
larger areas in the future.
Volunteers
Our regular volunteers continued with their efforts through the
winter in all weathers; tee-shirts one week and waterproofs the
next. Tasks included tree planting, removing hazardous old
barbed wire fences, repairing stock fencing, clearing hawthorn
from around old plum trees, pruning apple trees and clearing up
after the winter storms. This included removing a tree which had
fallen through the brand new fence at Littleton Meadows. We
have been joined by a few new volunteers recently which has
made it possible to carry out even more work. If you would like
to find out more about volunteer opportunities, please get in
touch.
Dates for your diary
–
Events April
-
June 2017
Sun Apr 30
Tiddesley Wood Open Day
(Worcestershire Wildlife Trust)
10am
5pm
Tues May 9
Lower Moor guided walk
7pm
Fri Jun 9
Hipton Hill guided walk
7pm
Thur
Jun 22
nd
Hipton Hill guided walk
7pm
Mon Jun 26
th
Littleton Pastures
guided walk
7pm
For more information see our website
-
http://valetrust.weebly.com/events.html
or contact the office
Preparing for seed sowing at NLCO
Vale Landscape Heritage Trust (VLHT) is a registered charity, number 1080109. We work to
protect and preserve the environment in and around the Vale of Evesham and Pershore. We work
with volunteers, funders, farmers and the government to secure the future of, so far, over 280 acres.
3
Wasps
People often ask the question “what’s the point of wasps?” My standard answer tends to be that wasps often
wonder “what’s the point of people?”
Wasps are social insects, closely related to bees and ants, collectively
known as the Aculeate Hymenoptera. The name Hymenoptera is derived
from the Greek words "hymen" meaning membrane and "ptera" meaning
wings and the Aculeates are the ones with stings. So wasps belong to the
group of membrane-winged stinging insects.
The yellow and black colour of wasps makes them instantly recognisable
as these are natures warning colours. Because of this, many harmless
insects mimic wasps to deter would-be predators. Unlike Honeybees,
wasps do not stay in colonies during the winter, instead the new queens
leave the nest in the autumn and mate. They then find a dry cool place to
hibernate and all the males, workers and old queens die. In the spring the
new queens wake and start their own colonies.
In our orchards, wasps feed on nectar and pollen, so pollinating the fruit
as the do. In the autumn they return for their share of the fruit they
pollinated. They also eat many different ‘pests’ from caterpillars to aphids
which would otherwise damage our crops.
Did you know?
There are nine species of social wasps in Britain including the largest
of our wasps, the Hornet.
To identify the different species of social wasps you need to look at
their face patterns (see images opposite).
Wasps are mostly carnivorous, eating other insects but they also
have a sweet tooth (or more precisely mandible) and will feed on
nectar and fruit.
Just like bees, wasps can be revived if they are dehydrated, by
feeding them a small amount of sugar water.
Wasps build their nests from wood pulp (which is why they are
sometimes called paper-wasps), chewing anything from trees to
fence posts and garden furniture. The different types of wood can
be seen in the layers of pulp on the nest.
Only female wasps sting. In fact the females are responsible for building the nest and defending it,
caring for the young wasp grubs and collecting food. Male wasps have only one purpose!
So next time you’re being bothered by a wasp just remember she’s only doing it for the good of the colony.
Friends of VLHT pay a regular amount each
month or year, which supports the important
work saving and renovating old orchards and
hay meadows and woodlands. For details,
contact Gary Farmer at the office.
German
wasp
Common wasp
Hornet
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FAQs of Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter Spring 2017

What initiatives are discussed in the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter?
The Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter for Spring 2017 discusses several initiatives aimed at environmental conservation and community engagement. Key projects include the restoration of heritage plum orchards, where volunteers planted Yellow Egg plum trees to celebrate their historical significance. The newsletter also highlights the ongoing efforts at North Littleton Community Orchard, focusing on biodiversity and habitat creation for local wildlife. Additionally, it provides insights into the ecological importance of wasps and their role in pollination.
What is the significance of the Yellow Egg plum tree planting?
The planting of the Yellow Egg plum tree marks the 190th anniversary of this variety, which was discovered in Tiddesley Wood near Pershore. This initiative not only honors the historical significance of the Yellow Egg plum but also contributes to the restoration of heritage orchards in the region. By involving community members and local schools in the planting process, the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust fosters a sense of stewardship and awareness about the importance of preserving local fruit varieties and biodiversity.
How do wasps contribute to the ecosystem according to the newsletter?
According to the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter, wasps play a crucial role in the ecosystem by acting as pollinators and natural pest controllers. They feed on nectar and pollen, which aids in the pollination of various fruits in orchards. Additionally, wasps consume a range of pests, including caterpillars and aphids, which helps protect crops from damage. The newsletter emphasizes that understanding the ecological importance of wasps can lead to greater appreciation and protection of these often-misunderstood insects.
What birdwatching highlights are featured in the newsletter?
The newsletter features birdwatching highlights from Lower Moor and Haines River Meadows, detailing the presence of various winter waterfowl and migratory birds. Notable sightings include a Long-eared Owl, which was observed roosting in an unusual location, and a pair of Shelduck that arrived early in the season. The report also mentions the presence of Golden Plover and Snipe, along with the arrival of spring migrants like Sand Martins and Curlews. These observations contribute to the understanding of local avian populations and seasonal changes in the area.
What community involvement is highlighted in the newsletter?
Community involvement is a significant theme in the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Newsletter, particularly through volunteer efforts in local conservation projects. Volunteers from the Littletons School and other community members participated in planting trees at the North Littleton Community Orchard. Their contributions not only enhance local biodiversity but also foster a sense of community and environmental responsibility. The newsletter encourages further participation and highlights the importance of collective action in preserving the natural heritage of the Vale.
What are the upcoming events mentioned in the newsletter?
The newsletter outlines several upcoming events for community members to engage with nature and conservation efforts. Events include guided walks at various locations such as Hipton Hill and Lower Moor, providing opportunities for local residents to explore and learn about the natural environment. These events are designed to raise awareness about local wildlife and conservation initiatives, encouraging community participation and fostering a deeper connection to the landscape.

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