The Trust met with the Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust

19th July 2013
THE TRUST MET WITH THE SURREY AND SUSSEX PROBATION TRUST.
This morning the Trust met with The Surrey and Sussex  Probation Trust to see if they could assist with removing the tipped material from Speckled wood. The meeting was attended by the Trust Chairman and the weather was beautiful. The Coordinator seemed very interested in our project and has agreed to help us with volunteers. This is expected to start around August and specific targets were agreed. The Trust would like to thank The Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust for offering this assistance.

Volunteers clear footpaths in Speckled Wood today

19th July 2013

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR FOOTPATHS IN SPECKLED WOOD TODAY
This morning volunteers were busy clearing the woodland path that comes down from the Village green today. The pathways are being widened from the green down at the moment to allow better access and visibility.

More metal makes it way to the growing pile in Speckled Wood

18th July 2013
MORE METAL MAKES ITS WAY TO THE GROWING PILE IN SPECKLED WOOD.
Last night members of the Trust moved material out onto the upper pathways so that it could be removed in the Morning. We wish to thank Chris & Martin for their help. This morning The Trust was back in the Wood moving this material from the pathways onto that e main pile. The main pile is growing in size now . Thanks to Martin and Bernard for moving this.

Members of the Trust rescue a baby seagull

17th July 2013

MEMBERS OF THE TRUST RESCUE A BABY SEAGULL
This afternoon members of the Trust where notified of a baby seagull trapped in the Japanese Knotweed which had been cornered by a cat in the woodland. The quick thinking members rust to its help with a pair of scissors and gloves to free it.

The baby Seagull was checked over and its wings seemed to be functional before it was released slightly undignified. The seagull was seen to wander off up the road and fly onto a flower border. The members left it there to recoup and to fly off once it had settled down.

Local organisation donates hand made bat;bird and owl boxes

17th July 2013
LOCAL ORGANISATION DONATES HAND MADE BAT BIRD  AND OWL BOXES
This morning a local group the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project have kindly donated three different nesting boxes to the trust to be put up in the woodland. These have been gratefully accepted by the trust as they have been beautifully made from totally recycled product. If you would like to know more about this group and their range of recycled projects please contact the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project: http://www.recyclingwood.org.uk/ Tel 01424 715566

This evening the Trust have been moving more metal

16th July 2013

THIS EVENING THE TRUST HAVE BEEN MOVING MORE METAL.
More metal has been moved by Friends of Speckled Wood Management Trust to the main pile they have been gathering in the entrance way at the top of the woodland this evening. This is only a small part of the metal remaining in the woodland the Trust contact ed The Ore Centre yesterday to ask which volunteers had been responsible for the work in the garden area Mrs Mags Pawson was kind enough to pass the details on to the Trust members and  the group have been contacted and a site visit will follow shortly. The Trust hope this will help them meet their target this year in time to have Natural England visit to check the site designation and change it if appropriate..

This morning the Trust have been busy in Speckled Wood

14th July 2013
THIS MORNING THE TRUST HAS BEEN BUSY IN SPECKLED WOOD.

This morning the Friends of Speckled Wood have been busy in the woodland repairing footpaths in the the woodland. The started early repairing the upper entrance to the woodland which had been left as a piece of corrugated steel under some soil. This was removed and two railway sleepers placed in to  make the entrance easier to find and better to use.


The metalwork clearance also continued as another piece of metal was removed from the stream where the children play.The Trust is still busy removing metal from the Woodland and is still working on fixing its members tractor to enable this to happen faster. Piles are now appearing around the upper woodland that are building in size.

A recent newspaper story in the Hastings Observer highlighted this work that the Trust had been doing and   showed how it was something that was started in the 1940's

Children help clear the the stream

14th July 2013
CHILDREN HELP CLEAR THE STREAM.

A group of three children were in the woodland this morning annoyed that someone had thrown the bricks and rocks they had worked hard to remove from the stream earlier back in. They were seen to be busy removing them again with happy smiles. They have been watching the Friends of Speckled Wood volunteers for weeks and this is lovely to see them helping.

Serotine Bats videoed in entrance to Speckle Wood

10 July 2013
SEROTINE BATS VIDEOED IN ENTRANCE TO SPECKLED WOOD.
Tonight Serotine Bats where seen flying in the air above the entrance to the woodland on Speckled Wood at around 9:41pm at night. This was quite excitedly seen by two observers and videoed on a camera phone. the two members where incredibly lucky to get this shot of the bats.

This proves without doubt that there are bats in the Woodland. The Trusts wants a complete survey to be done and is trying to contact someone in the area who is capable of doing a full survey.

There is a last attempt to meet the members of the Trust on site with the Bat Detectors that they have been lent  :  https://www.facebook.com/events/272531692884801/?ref=3

Short ramble through the woodland with Bat Detector III

5th July 2013

SHORT RAMBLE THROUGH THE WOODLAND WITH BAT DETECTOR III
Following our trip to Mallydams last week they were kind enough to lend us a bat detector an early Bat Detector III . We went out just after it got dark to do a walk through . At first there was not a lot to hear until we spotted a young badger before coming out of the woodland to go past the church and back in through the top. As we went past the church we had chirps at around 42-50 . These disappeared until we was halfway down the steps and then came back. We could hear an OWL hooting and sadly the units batteries died. We think this could be either Serotine or Pipistrelle. More investigation will be needed to confirm.  The trip also was interesting as lots of animals  such as badgers where seen and owls hooting all in the woodland.

Two responsible dog owners help out.

04th July 2013
TWO RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS HELP OUT.
The Trust want to thank the two dog owners who where in the woodland this evening picking up glass and bagging up other less responsible dog owners pooh.

The Trust said this was lovely to see and  wish more dog owners would help out keep and keep the environment that they can walk there dogs in clean and hygienic.

The Trust put up another nesting box

3rd July 2013
THE TRUST  PUT UP ANOTHER NESTING BOX
Today the Trust found another site for a recently purchase nesting box made by the RSPCB. The site was chosen as it was facing the correct direction and was slightly away from where people walk. The latest nesting box makes three that the Trust has placed in the woodland now.  One of the Trust members has said that they will build an OWL nesting box . The Trust are looking forward to this as their is known to be owls in the woodland. We hope to have news of this soon.

The Trust Meets HVA for a company check

2nd July 2013
THE TRUST MEETS WITH HVA FOR A COMPANY CHECK-UP.

Today the Trust members met with the Hastings Voluntary Action to check their progress as a company and look at their structure. The Trust gave a full presentation to HVA and detailed account of how they started up. The representatives were please with the Trusts progress and a very positive meeting was had by both parties  with HVA stating that the Trust meeting its immediate targets to achieve land ownership of Speckled Wood.

July News letter released

2nd July 2013
JULY NEWSLETTER REALEASED.
 The July Friends of Speckled Wood newsletter has now been released and is available online here thank you Kelly:


http://www.friendsofspeckledwood.org.uk/gb/news/2013-07-02-FOSWMT%20newsletter.pdf