Ohh Deer

Bambi was spotted walking around Rufford last month.

Rufford and Bestwood springing into life

Currently at both Country Parks signs of Spring are all around us. Daffodils along Rufford's main drive again flowered early, Brimstone and Comma butterflies were spotted yesterday in the midday sunshine and the first frogspawn was seen in a small pond at Bestwood.

Alongside all the signs of Spring work has been relentless as usual, clearing up windblown trees after Storm Doris hit and making the Parks safe was priority. Volunteer groups at Rufford helped with this as well as reprofiling an area which will eventually be an artificial Kingfisher bank......pics to follow.

The Volunteer groups at Bestwood have also been very busy and have spent a great deal of time creating a fantastic hedge which they have laid, staked and bound.



Storm Doris

As you might be aware, Rufford Abbey Country Park was closed yesterday due to the onslaught of 'Storm Doris'! 

Operational staff were on hand to monitor the park and discourage the hardy dog walkers. Woodlands can be very dangerous in high winds. 

This morning the Ranger Service and the Janitor team came in early to do a site inspection and assess the damage. Areas with a high footfall are prioritised - this includes all the main paths, commercial outlets, gardens and lawns. 

There were a few small trees across pathways but these were quickly dealt with. Amazingly the umbrellas outside the restaurant survived! 

One larger tree in the gardens had fallen and obscured the gate to the maze. We used the chainsaw to fell this tree safely. The trunk and branches will be cut into logs and, once properly seasoned, will be sold in the Courtyard. 

Luckily, our Conservation Volunteers will be in tomorrow to help with the remainder of the clear up. 

Spring on it's way......

Here at Rufford the flowers and wildlife always seem to think that Spring comes earlier each year.

The Daffodils that were out early last year are even earlier this year and we have already had 3 ducklings spotted in the Wetland Conservation area.

Most of the wildlife is now pairing up, including the Great Crested Grebes on the lake, soon they will be doing their beautiful courtship display.

Whilst over at Bestwood the staff and volunteers have been doing a sterling job on laying a hedge.

Christmas Storytelling

Here are a few images from the recent Christmas Storytelling at Rufford Abbey Country Park.

 

 

 

It was a great success, with thanks to the scouts, story teller, Ranger Service and all volunteers!!

Autumn finally coming..............

Here is a melee of photos taken recently at Rufford, the leaves are finally starting to drop and frosts are upon us.........

Tree of the Week

HAZEL- Corylus Avellana

Hazel can be found throughout the UK, commonly seen in the understory of lowland oak, ash and birch woodland as well as in hedgerows. It can often be confused with Elm, as they have similar looking leaves, however hazel are a lot smoother.

• Hazel is often coppiced and can live for several hundreds years but when left to grow, it can reach a height of 12m. Hazel was grown in the UK for large-scale nut production until the early 1900s. Cultivated varieties (known as cob-nuts) are still grown in Kent, but most of our hazelnuts are now imported. 
•  It's bark is smooth, grey-brown, which peels with age. Leaves tend to be more oval with a pointed tip, hairs on the underside and toothed on the edges.