‘Wetland Wander’ on Thursday 7^th October

This will be with Alison Jones, the Advisor for Farming in Protected Landscapes with Shropshire Hills AONB. It will be from 10.00 to about 12.00 am at Stags Head, New Invention, SY7 0BS where Sarah & Simon Jameson bought a field next to their house at auction in September 2018. Since then they have been managing the land for biodiversity, including the creation of a strip of wetland by deculverting a large land drain, planting trees and enhancing the hay meadow for wildflowers. The wetland project was funded via the Shropshire Hills AONB with the Woodland Trust and Environment Agency. They have planted nearly 1000 trees with help from the AONB and Woodland Trust. One of the ponds was enlarged via the Shropshire Wildlife Trust Shropshire Ponds project. There is more information here: https://sarahnewinvention.wixsite.com/we-bought-a-field .To book a place Phone Sarah Jameson on 01547 528546 or email images@sarahjameson.co.uk . There is a small charge of £3 to offset publicity and other associated costs.

Wild Food Foraging Walk on Friday 8^th October

This will be run by Rob Rowe, a well-known south Shropshire naturalist who has now run quite a few foraging and plant hunting days, searching for edible and medicinal species. This combines Rob’s botanical skills with his love of names and story and is a good way of engaging people and drawing them in to the natural world on our doorstep. Rob has lived and botanised in South Shropshire for 40 years and during that time has conducted plant surveys for many organisations including the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, Caring for Gods Acre, and local Community Wildlife Groups. He has also helped set up the Marches Meadow Group and the Middle Marches Community Land Trust and is  currently helping with a hedge project with CPRE Shropshire, the Countryside Charity who are also supporting this event.

Walkers will be searching the hedgerows for seasonal edibles and stopping en route for a hedge-laying demonstration. The starting point is the Chapel Lawn Village hall car park, SY7 0BW, at 10.00 am. Appropriate clothing and footwear for the time of year is required. Again, there is a small charge of £3 to offset publicity and other associated costs. If you would like to attend, please phone Patrick Cosgrove on 01547-530347/07757-559409 or email pccosgrove@icloud.com

Apple-pressing on Saturday 9^th October.

This will be with the Kemp Valley Apple Group and will be outside Chapel Lawn Village hall, SY7 0BW,  from 11.00 am until about 4.30 pm. Apples can be juiced and also pasteurized which means that the juice will last for 12 months or more. As well as your apples (and pears can be mixed in), you will need to bring along clean bottles and plastic containers. Plastic containers of any size are suitable for immediate consumption or for freezing juice.  75 cl wine bottles with screw lids are necessary for pasteurising. Pressing – 50p/litre. Pasteurising 40p/bottle. This is astonishing vale compared with shop prices. In order to avoid having to wait too long when you arrive, please book in advance with Sara Randall on sara@randallfulton.org.uk or 01588-680096. Payment will be by cash on the day.