Achievements in 2024
Organised several events, including a litter pick, two walks around Sennowe, two farmland guided walks around Highfield, dawn chorus walk, bat walk, local history walk and moth trappings.
Held our first Ryburgh Nature Watch Week including a talk by Nick Acheson
We started inventory of our wildlife
We started / joined in Wensum water quality testing
Grown our membership to 69 households – some losses replaced by new members
Articles written about us in NWT’s Tern and Norfolk living magazines
Advised Ryburgh Parish Council on its biodiversity policy
Created links to / supported other wildlife and environmental groups in Colkirk, Kettlestone, and Stibbard.
Installed first two bug hotels in the village.
Planted 1,500 spring bulbs around the village for early pollinators as part of the Pollinator Pathway initiative.
Identified our first overgrown “zombie” pond in the village and obtained agreement from Sennowe to restore it to open water.
Began to implement a management plan (in agreement with Sennowe) designed to improve the old railway line for wildlife and access.
Created a relationship with Crisp Maltings about biodiversity / net zero
Created and shared a vision for wildlife in Ryburgh.
In dialogue with NWT about our vision and how they can support us.
Rejuvenated our website.
Adopted an unofficial logo of a Lapwing and the Wensum for the Group. Thank you Barley for the artwork.
Regular monhtly newsletter sent to members with information on local and national topics.
New from our wildlife sites
Old Railway Line
The wildflower grassland along the centre is now being cut once in autumn, not in spring / summer to allow flowering and nectar as part of the parish Pollinator Pathway network.
The trees, shrubs and brambles are allowed to flourish in their existing positions but will be kept from encroaching onto the grassland.
A narrow central footpath is maintained to allow access along this important village amenity.
Community Woodland
The first trees and shrubs have grown considerably and now create a colourful mixed woodland, full of blossom, berries, and fruit that provides a very good habitat for wildlife as well as a valuable and much-loved village amenity. The spring bulbs we added are beginning to spread and the squirrels and jays have been busy planting acorns too. The Wassail event, led by Holt Ridge Morris, was a suitably memorable way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the year that the community came together to create this new home for wildlife in the centre of the village.
Great Ryburgh Common
The group is concerned about access to and state of this special site. Something to address in 2025.
Scrape
Vegetation is currently limiting the view of the scrape from the hide. Something to address in 2025.
Stibbard Junction Field
Over the last year the field has continued to provide some refuge for native perennial flowers and rarer native annuals e.g. centaury, hop trefoil, catmint, and both smooth and hairy tare. Unfortunately the hedge trimming last year during very wet weather caused perimeter surface ruts around the field and loss of considerable hedgerow and bramble habitat resulting in the sad loss of breeding whitethroats.
Old Railway Line Pond
Over four work parties members have cleared the pond of tree and shrub vegetation, so that the water is now open to sunlight.
After the breeding season in autumn 2025 mechanical clearance of stumps and sediment build up will take place. This will allow regeneration of water plants from seeds in the original pond base.
For safety reasons a protective “dead hedge” has been created around the pond using the cut branches. This will also help to prevent disturbance to the pond’s wildlife from dogs and will reduce contamination of the water from their flea and tick treatments.
2024 Wildlife Inventory
The committee has been keen to set out a base line of wildlife in Ryburgh against which we can measure change over time. Nick Parsons has compiled a bird list, Roger Ward a moth report, and David Cooling a butterfly list. Barley and Ian Wilson have surveyed the old railway line for birds and plants. These are on the website and the committee hopes that member will send in sightings in 2025 to help get a fuller picture of local wildlife.
It would be great to extend these species list to mammals and plants etc. Any volunteers to help coordinate these would be appreciated. Don’t be shy.
Plans for 2025
- Strengthen our link and relationships with NWT and other community stakeholders.
- Assist Crisp Maltings with biodiversity improvements throughout its site.
- Hold our second wildlife watch week.
- Focus on the habitat quality of our wildlife sites.
- Continue with a range of walks and community events.