Millennium Wood volunteer day 11th November ’18

Hedgelaying in Millennium Wood, Tuesday 20th March

Next Tuesday, 20th March, there will be the first installment of green infrastructure input for the public space of Millennium Wood, from Cornwall Council using European regional development funds.

There is an opportunity to get involved in laying hedges, and instruction will be given, though tools are not provided. Therefore a sharp billhook or axe, plus pruning shears/ loppers and gloves, etc., would equip anyone wanting to learn. The leader/facilitator has also asked that participants bring eye protection.

The contact for this activity is:

david.may@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Meeting 22nd February 2018

Notice of PEN Meeting on 22nd February.

Open to members and non members.

7pm Redwing Gallery, Penzance.

Please email secretary@p-e-n.org.uk if you are interested in attending and would like the agenda.

The charity is in need of Trustees and volunteers who are experienced and have time to invest in both Love Lane and Millennium Woods.

Upcoming Millennium Woods event: horse logging day- Sunday 21st January

2017 A.G.M.

The Penwith Environmental Network 2017 Annual General Meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, 30th March 2017 in the side room at the Dolphin Tavern, Quay Street, Penzance.

Midsummer update

It’s been a while since the last update (mainly due to my camera breaking)… the recent heavy rain after a dry spell has everything at the Love Lane site looking lush.

The wildflower meadow (above) is looking colourful…

With a variety of poppies…

..and other flowers, enjoyed by the insects.

Strawberries are still producing…

Gooseberries well on their way…

..as are the Blackcurrants…

..and a bumper crop of Blueberries…

..Apples are ripening (time to thin them out a bit next week, picking off any diseased or damaged fruit, letting the trees put their energy into the good ones)…

..and finally, at last, we have some Pears! That almost makes up for having missed all the Cherries (the birds had them), as they had decided to ripen during Golowan week.

Bluebells

Here’s a quick guide to the different types of Bluebell found at Love Lane…

Above is the native ‘english’ variety… note the drooping stalks which give it it’s characteristic look. It’s generally found in the woods or in shaded areas.

This is the ‘spanish’ variety… straight stalks and flower bells all around, it’s generally found out on open ground.

Finally, above is a very rare variety, to my knowledge only found at Love Lane… It took me a while to identify: It’s common name is ‘Bluebells attacked by a muppet with a paint spray can’. Hopefully we won’t see too many more of these.

This little chap is a welcome visitor, though!

Spring has Sprung

It’s official… there are elderflowers:

We’ve taken off the lower shoots on the willow, so there are some withies in the making:

…and the blueberry are flowering:

What with the cherry, damson, blueberry, elder, wild garlic, pear and most of the apple, not forgetting the japanese knotweed, you’d think the only colour Love Lane can do for flowers is white!

But then you catch a flash in the corner of your eye… hidden amongst hazel and almost eaten by a monster brash-pile, there is this: