Please bring the Tas with you on the evening - a jam jar or small bottle of the water from a stretch of the river near to you and maybe some stories to share about it.
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- Written by: Carol Sharp
Anne Edwards's Trees Talk was extremely interesting and wonderfully illustrated, and was received enthusiastically by a keen audience.
Anne, who works at the John Innes Institute, was the person who first discovered Ash Dieback which originated in Ashwellthorpe Wood and has since spread countrywide, weakening and slowly killing off this iconic species.
The good news is that some resistant trees are being identified (some in Forncett) so a breeding programme from this healthy stock will help begin to regenerate a much loved species.
Anne recommended the following small native trees - all good for wildlife - if you're thinking of planting this autumn:
Hawthorn, Crab, Rowan, Medlar, Cherry (Bird or Wild), Quince, Perry Pear, Hazel, Silver Birch, Elder, Holly, Spindle, Guelder Rose, Privet.
If you're looking for an 'ornamental' or a fruit tree she recommended getting a copy of Nick Dunn's book, 'Trees For Your Garden.'
Looking to the future, we're going to have to know which trees will survive in our rapidly heating climate, as many of our familiar native species will struggle.
Thanks to Carol Sharp for the photographs.
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- Written by: Christina Wakeford
A creative workshop for children up to age 12. There is no entry fee, but donations will be gratefully received to cover our expenses. Snacks and drinks available. This will be the fourth of our popular school holiday events for youngsters. Activities will include art and craft, as well as music and story.
This year we have Taryn Everdeen and Nick Francis from the Steam Museum to lead the children in exciting musical activities to finish off what promises to be an immersive morning.
As usual all our helpers are experienced with young children and no child will be pressured to join in the communal activities. Parents will be responsible for their child's safety.
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- Written by: FNM Steering Group.
Forncett Nature Matters opposes the development proposed by Tasway Energy Park. Whilst we support green energy, sustainability and the need to mitigate climate change, we do not recognise developments on this scale as green or sustainable. Current proposals cover 3,600 acres of good quality agricultural land with solar panels, battery storage systems and runs of cabling including under the very sensitive chalk stream – the River Tas. This development will butt up to a proposed 2,700 acre solar ‘farm’, East Pye, which, with other local proposals, accounts for 18,500 acres of industrialised development between Ashwellthorpe and Diss.
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- Written by: FNM Steering Group.
An attentive audience of 60 enjoyed Sue Alderman's delightfully illustrated presentation of 'Hare's Tales'. You'll never mix up your hares and rabbits again! The brilliant pictures included unwilling females up on hind legs fending off overamorous males; a rare one of the eventual mating (which takes place in a milli-second); several of adorable leverets; and a mother, sitting up, alert for predators, and suckling her young.
Sue has been a devotee of these beautiful creatures from the age of five and, along with three other enthusiasts, she eventually founded The Hare Preservation Trust, a very active campaigning group currently engaged with government to establish a closed season for hare shooting: we're the only country that doesn't provide this level of protection for these magnificent Lagomorphs (along with rabbits, the hare is not a rodent!)
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- Written by: FNM Steering Group