OUR SWALLOW, SWIFT AND HOUSE MARTIN PROJECT
In the next few years, Edgmond Wildlife Group is going to monitor our House Martin and Swallow nests with the help of our members, house owners and other volunteers.
We will work with the community to establish a more precise measure of the village status of these birds and map breeding sites on a survey map.From this data we should be able to formulate a plan to support and improve the remaining population and perhaps encourage the return of the Swift to Edgmond Village.
Working Together
Join Us and get involved.
The Current Status
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After modification to the Lamb roof a few years ago we may have lost the last remaining Swift stronghold in the village.
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This year our village has a single breeding record for House Martin.
Swallows are still doing well but each year traditional nesting sites both in and around the village undergo structural change/development. The access to easily accessed covered structures, out buildings, barns with beams and ledges, must be protected or Swallows will go the same way as these other species. The UK has lost 16% of its Swallows in last few years. If we are not careful the Swallow will join the House Martin and Swift on the RED list!
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Lets Take Action
Join Us, EWG and get involved.
We need your help! Email us if you want to take part. edgmondwildlife@gmail.com
Here are things you can do!
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Join the group
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Sign up to help monitor the nest on your house, in your shed etc and record the number of nests, and the number of successful broods each year.
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Help us update our web with live progress reports in the spring. People like to know when these birds return from Africa. Who will have the first Swallow in Edgmond in 2026.
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Sign up for a nest box for Swifts or House Martins. Some maybe free if we have a successful grant application but already we have people buying their own. We can advise about where and we can help install. Talk to us. But let us know if you are buying your own.
One swallow doesn't make a summer
but no swallows, swifts or house martins will make our world a little poorer.
but 5 swallows would be great.
Edgmond Wildlife Group - Success!
Thanks to all those intrepid volunteers who braved the freezing temperatures this morning to add trees and shrubs to the depleated hedge lines and corners of Edgmond playing field.
Hay Making - Success!
Planted in the autumn 2021 and harvested in August 2022
Well done to all those involved in our meadow project. It has taken several years to get this stage and a lot of hard work.
Our new power scythe was in need of a little fresh high octance petrol before it set off at a gentle pace to scythe its way through our 1000 sq meter meadow. A moment to enjoy!
Paula and I cut and raked on Friday and the following day a great team of enthusiastic helpers arrived to move the hay to a stack near the gate ready for Neil Furness to pick up.
Our job is nearly complete for this year! However we do feel that the germination of Yellow Rattle was a little weak! We also thought that the survival of Yorkshire Fog from the the previous field was little too strong!
With these thoughts in mind we will over sow with a good ration of Yellow Rattle in the Yorkshire Fog Areas to weaken its advance and this will give other species a chance.
We cant wait to see what happens next year when we expect other wild flowers to burst through.
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COMMUNITY CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Seventy Years and Seventy Trees
January 22nd and 23rd - 2022
What a fantastic weekend and a fitting tribute to a Queen, who this year, is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. Thanks go to Harper Adams University and the volunteers from Edgmond Wildlife Group who turned out to plant 70 different fruit trees next to a public track on University Land. The volunteer group included representatives from those students from abroad who are currently studying at Harper.
Get Your
Hedgehog Highway Badge
We want to encourage people in Edgmond to create Hedgehog Highways. So, when you have linked your garden to a neighbours post a photo on here and we will send you our special Hedgehog Highway Badge to put by it Screw the badge to a fence panel or post and show other people in Edgmond we are working to conserve Hedgehogs. It might be a 13cm square hole in a fence, a gap cut in the bottom of a gate or even a tunnel under a concrete fence. We have a limited supply so get cracking.
Well done to the 5 households in Edgmond who have already received their badges.
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EWG at the Edgmond Fete
The first fete in Edgmond for many years went really well. The EWG committee were on hand to welcome new members, help with wildlife ID and advise on conservation issues. Visiting children came to check out the pond life and small skull collection. We had a great day. The wonderful Edgmond Wildlife Map was created by Paula, it is so good we have used a photograph of it for web site background.
Girl Power!!!!
Here is today's team taking a well earned break after grappling with monstrous amounts of yellow flag choking the St Peters school pond. The group is engaged with trying to sort the children's wildlife area. Today we have also been cutting back to let light in. There is a long way to go yet! Watch out for next work party. Big thanks to all who took part, great progress has been made.
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COMMUNITY CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Seventy Years and Seventy Trees
January 22nd and 23rd - 2022
What a fantastic weekend and a fitting tribute to a Queen, who this year, is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. Thanks go to Harper Adams University and the volunteers from Edgmond Wildlife Group who turned out to plant 70 different fruit trees next to a public track on University Land. The volunteer group included representatives from those students from abroad who are currently studying at Harper.
Get Your
Hedgehog Highway Badge
We want to encourage people in Edgmond to create Hedgehog Highways. So, when you have linked your garden to a neighbours post a photo on here and we will send you our special Hedgehog Highway Badge to put by it Screw the badge to a fence panel or post and show other people in Edgmond we are working to conserve Hedgehogs. It might be a 13cm square hole in a fence, a gap cut in the bottom of a gate or even a tunnel under a concrete fence. We have a limited supply so get cracking.
Well done to the 5 households in Edgmond who have already received their badges.