Busy for Nature in Bodmin

With Making Space for Nature schemes at three sites in Bodmin now in full swing, Project Advisor, Charlotte Evans, has been leading activities, with the week commencing 1^st November seeing two community events in the town.

The Burgage Plots to the west of Fore Street car park are a series of long narrow plots extending from the backs of the properties that front Fore Street.

On Thursday 4^th November, with bright orange hat and hi-vis jacket, Project Advisor, Charlotte Evans led a team of volunteers, armed with 648 bulbs of Bluebells, Lily of the Valley, Winter Aconite, Wood Anemone and Wild Garlic, to plant along either side of the path running from the car park to Meadow Place. The bulbs will bejewel the walkway with spring colour, whilst also offering a nectar source to the early pollinators.

As the scheme continues, expect to see access improvements, with a glade being created from the carpark and a set of sets improving the informal access from Meadow Place. Some hedges will be managed through coppicing to promote robust growth, whilst planting a mix of native Holly, Hazel, Spindle, Blackthorn and others will provide a more diverse woodland understorey, building the habitat’s resilience to disease and climate change.

Image: Busy volunteers at the Burgage Plots.

On 7^th November children from the Kinsman Estate and Treningle View built a hibernaculum on the small paly area – a cosy place for many types of animals including insects, toads, lizards that seek refuge over the winter. This activity followed an earlier community meadow making on 10^th October, where families planted an array of wildflowers including blue Viper’s Bugloss, yellow Bird's foot Trefoil and bright pink Knapweed, that will be a welcoming display for both people and wildlife come next summer.

Look out for the unique signage created by children of the estate for the habitat that has recently been planted across the site, who have also vowed to keep an eye on the hibernaculum whilst remembering not to disturb any residents that may make it their home as they snuggle away for winter.

Image: New Hibernaculum at Kinsman/Treningle.