Summary
of the core area report Jan 19th to April 19th 2009
NB The 3 year education warden contract finished on March 31st. It has not been
renewed.
However, the demand for the services provided under the contract continue with
requests for walks, advice and tasks. Volunteers are keen to resume tasks should
they again be supported.
Education
Visits
2 groups totalling 61 people were shown parts of the Burrows.
Talks
4 illustrated talks given to local organisations
Interpretive Displays
The Burrows display boards were erected and manned at 3 events plus 2 weeks in
Barnstaple library where much interest was generated.
Management
Organised Biosphere Volunteers Conservation tasks have taken place on over 14
occasions plus regular litter removal including dog faeces, monitoring, survey &
habitat management on the site contributing 86 volunteer work days to the
benefit of the site.
Research & Monitoring
Water table readings & rainfall were recorded monthly, 2 newt counts & 2 rabbit
counts were completed.
Dogs
The dog problems continue and a keen volunteer collects and disposes of bagged
dog mess.
J M Breeds
20.4.09.
Report on the core area from January 19th to April 19th 2009
NB The 3 year education warden contract finished on March 31st. It has not been
renewed.
However, the demand for educational, advisory and volunteer activities within
the core of the Biosphere Reserve continues and, as an established contact I
continue to receive requests for walks, information, advice & tasks.
Educational Visits
Jan 25th Barnstaple Holy Trinity Church group of 23 taken on a Saunton dune
walk.
Mar 23rd West Down Primary School 28 children and 10 adults taken on a 1hr walk
through Saunton dunes
Talks
Illustrated talks on Braunton Burrows were given to the following
organisations:-
Jan 28th Westward Ho! Friendship Club, 37 members.
Jan 30th South Molton Parish Church Friends Group, 28 attended.
Feb 5th Westward Ho! Ladies Club, 90 members.
April 1st Chawleigh W. I., 45 members.
Interpretive Displays
The Braunton Burrows display boards were erected at the following events:-
Feb 20th Roundswell at a British Naturalists talk by Johny Kingdon where c180
people attended.
Mar 1st to 14th Barnstaple library foyer.
March 26th Braunton Parish Hall public meeting
April 18th Ilfracombe Landmarc Theatre with interactive beach material for the
Go Wild in the Garden day
All these events attracted much interest in the Burrows and helped foster good
public relations.
Management
Grazing
For details contact Christie Estates.
Biosphere Volunteers Conservation Tasks
14 scrub bashing tasks were organised with up to 7 volunteers present on some of
the weekend tasks, these contributed c56 volunteer work days to the management
of the site. Four of the tasks were alongside the American Road clearing scrub
in preparation for the new fence, 10 were in Twayblade Slack clearing around the
scrapes that support a new population of water germander Teucrium scordium. In
addition 2 tasks were organised at Swanpool SSSI.
Two keen new volunteers, both with chain saw qualifications & insurance have
used their own equipment to excellent effect especially in Twayblade Slack .
Other volunteers continued clearing litter and contributed at least 26 work days
to the total of 86 during this period
N.B. All the volunteers are keen to continue should tasks be supported on the
Burrows and again be organised.
Admin
Meetings
Jan 20th Fremington MOD/Landmarc Partnership.
Feb 17th Biosphere Environmental Quality Group Hallsannery re Habitat Action
Plans.
Feb 18th Braunton Countryside Centre Trustees.
Feb 27th Burrows -Training Area south with Landmarc & MOD re fence line.
Mar 17th Fremington MOD/Landmarc Partnership.
Mar 18th Braunton Countryside CentreTrustees.
Mar 26th Braunton Countryside Centre, Martin Hirschnitz studying climate
adaptation
followed by a site visit to the dunes.
Mar 26th Braunton Parish Hall a public meeting held to update people about new
developments.
Mar 30th Barnstaple Devon Wildlife Trust local group committee.
Sandy Lane car park
The car park was open and in use by the public throughout this period and
remained a popular free car park. The Police dealt with one overnight rave when
c100 vehicles arrived.
Research & monitoring
Water tables
Water table readings and rainfall taken monthly, assisted by 2 volunteers
Dates readings taken between which change occurred No of sites Water level
min changes
max
average
Jan 1st Feb 1st 17 rose +6 +48 +16.7
Feb 1st Mar 1st 5 fell -4 -12 -6.4
12 rose +2 +23 +9.75
Mar 1st Mar 31st 5 fell -2 -8 -4
8 rose +2 +15 +6.75
Rabbit Counts Two rabbit counts were completed assisted by 4 volunteers, 2
counts were aborted part way through due to sudden hailstorms.
Training Area Jan 26th 343, count difficult in some areas of unmanaged rank
vegetation where rabbits readily conceal themselves.
Grazing Trial area Jan 16th -184.
There was no significant change in numbers on the counts
The monitoring and survey activities enjoyed by many volunteers (4 volunteer
work days) have been severely constrained by the 33% reduction in funding and
affected by consistently poor weather.
Fauna
April 2nd I Lane Pond - a torchlight crested newt count totalled 66.
Dogs
The problems of pollution and disturbance by dogs continue with no sign of
resolution. Regular attempts were made by a dedicated and disabled volunteer who
clears large quantities of litter, especially dog mess from around the
Broadsands & Sandy Lane car parks and neighbouring dunes. However, his valiant
efforts cannot keep up with the rate at which people deposit litter & leave
their dog mess.
J M Breeds 20.4.09