Learning to survey trees the Opal way

Trialing The Opal Tree Survey Packs

One  fresh beautiful sunny Friday morning in June, a small team of committee friends met to test out the newly arrived Opal Tree Survey Packs.

The Opal National Tree Survey runs until September and anyone can get involved.

Having previously read through the packs, which comprise of tree measuring tools, informative identification maps and a recording booklet, Chris Hughes Friends Environment Officer explained and then guided us through the step by step process.   Each survey takes around 40 minutes.

All agreeing it was safe to begin with an easy target we settled to survey the 200 year line of Oaks  Trees, the historic tythe map (1840) for Kings Norton shows the field in which they once stood was called Plum Fields, suggesting arable use of the land and the trees helped form a boundary line.

It all looked rather technical at first, but in practice, due to wonderful resources provided by Opal we whizzed through 2 surveys and felt assured we could share our experiences to encourage others to have a go.

The activities resulted in us viewing trees from different perspectives, underneath the canopy, close up to the trunk, at it roots and surrounding ground, from a long distance for general image to inspecting individual leaves.

Claire became quite attached to our tree, appreciating the warmth of the bark and Liz respecting its great stature.

Both our specimens we found to be extremely healthy so with continued care and appreciation from our community and City Parks, hopefully these two great fine Oaks, which have lived to through:

• monastic harvests
• tolls collected on our canals 
• the construction of Kings Norton Railway station
• manual to steam power to high technical advancements in industry
• Cotteridge trams to buses along the redditch road
• the milling of flour and corn replaced by an eatery and petrol station
• the birth of our Civic Park in 1924
• bombs dropping on Wychall Lane
• prefab houses erected along the upper section of Westhill Road 
• watched tennis games and bowls in our former courts

and continue to occupy their space majestically sharing their various degrees of beauty through all types of weather

and hopefully will stand to see our childrens' children and their grandchildren experience the benefits of spending time in Kings Norton Park.

Specimen 1

Our results so far have been shared with the Opal Survey

Results for Specimen 1:

Using identification route map = Oak Tree

Girth (around trunk) = 294 cm

Height = 10 m

Fresh healthy leaves, no browning or yellowing, no pests or diseases no holes in roots or trunk

Moss, Lichen and birds found.

Specimen 2

Specimen 2

Results for Specimen 2 :

Using identification route map = Oak Tree

Girth (around trunk) = 284 cm

Height = 11 m

Fresh healthy leaves, no browning or yellowing, no pests or diseases no holes in roots or trunk.  Signs of dead wood but few fallen leaves, less leaf cover.   Moss, Lichen and birds found.

The survey also provides information on how to report the most unwanted disease to the forestry tree alert.

Our surveying resulted in us seeing trees from different angles, underneath, from a distance, inspecting individual aspects ... we got quite attached!

We would like to survey as many trees as possible in or around our park and playing fields.

If you fancy having a go at carrying out a tree survey

We can talk you through the pack or have a go with you.

You can collect a pack or find out more on

• Friday 5 July at 11.30 am at our first Friday in the month workout or 
• talk to us at the Kings Norton Festival Stall on Saturday 13 July on The Green. 

More information on the Opal Survey at www.Opalexplorenature.org.

Perfect and Amazing Wild About Birds Event

Perfect weather!  Amazing Wild Birds!

This time the weather was really kind to us, it was just a perfect day, sunny with a gentle breeze, long awaited for after the dipping temperatures of April and May.

Cotswold Birds brought along beautiful specimens from the hawk, owl and eagle families and provided handling opportunities for all ages from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

The hi-light was a bird display at 1pm. Off too  a little shaky start as the first bird released was a little disorientated not realising she had left the Cotswold, unfortunately didn't return that day.  She was found the day after, safe and sound in the Wast Hills, a beautiful area on the Kings Norton Worcestershire border, along her flight path home.  Phew!

A hooded hawk was the next crowd pleasing performance.  It gave us an array of crowd pleasing sky diving hunting techniques soaring from great heights to snatch a tasty rodent treat from handler Mike periodically.  Whilst resting in the treats this hawk was harangued by several crows and magpies who gave an extremely noisy territorial display, the hawk very wisely decided not to stray!  Thank you Cotswold Falconry, the birds are obviously very well cared for and the handlers experts in their field, cheers Mike and Mrs Mike, you were both superb.

Lickey Hills Rangers, Steve and Adam worked their magic providing interesting and accessible environmental activities including a make shift bird hide and creations from wood.  Martyn and his colleague from the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds bought along nature books, bird song CD's and survey aids and those who joined were able to build bird boxes.  They spotted this quite rare Beetle Wasp, identified by Steve Hinton.  

Above is  Hannah, NIA apprentice making one of the bird boxes.  Hannah (above will help us later in the year accessing funding to the Nature Improvement Area Funding.

Our chosen charity for this event was the Hedgehog Charity, who set up in a garage in Bromsgrove talked to people about how to care for hedgehogs in their gardens, why we need to care them and what they are doing.

We asked our stall providers to give us a question each to create a quick quiz.  The prize a wonderful Hedgehog Cake, an albino or a brown hedgehog, created by Lynn and Beth

1. What is a baby Hedgehog called?
2. Name the egg in the nest?
3. How heavy is a Bold Eagle?

Two winning set answers 
Two winning sets of answers, below:

1.  Hog let  
2.  Ostrich  
3.  8 1/2 lbs

were pulled from a hat containing all the participants, who had been rewarded on entry with an animal shaped chocolate, were Charlie (trending sunglasses) pictured on the right with this mate below and Chloe pictured below.

The Friends of Kings Norton Tree and Park Trail was a huge success with many correct and interesting answers with some families riding their routes.

Thank you to everyone who came along, helped out and those who participated in the activities and everyone who had fun... and possibly an ice-cream too from Donatello's who provided ices and drinks.

If you would help arrange an activity or an event you are encouraged to contact us and we can work together to bring about the kind of things you and your family would like to see in our park.

This was a free event.   Membership is also free.  Donations are gratefully received.

Why not email your thoughts and experiences about the day and times spent in our park.  We can add you to our email circulation lists which advises of forthcoming events and planning news.

Email:  info.foknp@gmail.com

Tweet:  @kingsnortonpark

2013 Aspirations, plans and making it happen!

Date:  2 Aug 2013

Aspirations, plans and making it happen!

It all takes time but many hands make light work, get involved it can be fun.

The formal bit....  FoKNP Committee

Saturday meets at 11 am Kings Norton Library unless otherwise stated

•           2 March
•           18 May AGM  -  Start 11 am all welcome!
•           14 September
•           9 November

We will also arrange adhoc planning meetings from time to time, you can get involved email if you are interested.


FoKNP Committee members are:

Chair - Lynn Horsnett
Secretary - Dinny Weston
Treasurer - Lucy Horsnett
Environment - Chris Hughes
Young Persons - Andy Ryan
Cttee members:    Liz Wilson, Claire Simpson, Maggie Sweet

If you are interested in being a committee member please do not hestitate to contact us.


One off events so far... and what ever you wish to organise, we can support each other 

• 1 March – The Big Plant with Trees for Life and Kings Norton I&J School – success.
• 10 May - wetland wildlife survey (NIA) & clean up.  10.30 am - bring gloves and wellies!
• 1 June  – Wild About Birds 11.30am hedgehogs, Nat Trust, Cotswold Falconry, rangers
• 13 July – Kings Norton Festival/Farmers Market Activity Stall
• 9 August - National Play Day in Kings Norton Park
• 14 September - Farmers Market Help out
• October - Farmers Market Stall - consult on NIA and edible flower bed
• December - Winter Fayres

Regular hands on in the Park or Playing Fields .... Monthly Workouts  

11 am on the first Friday of each month meet in the car park weather permitting.  This is a suggested programme of workout activities which will act as a guide but may change according to priorities.
•           3 May – Canal Feeder tidying and weeding - bring loppers, clippers and gloves
•           7 June – Tree Survey, Flower meadow,
•           5 July –  Shrub beds, Tree Survey Top
•           2 Aug –  Playing Fields Canal Feeder & River Rea
•           6 Sept – Autumn tidy and planning wetland area
•           4 Oct –  Shrub Beds prune and split
•           8 Nov – Border areas practical & leaf collecting
•           6 Dec – Winter tidy up

We have met some people who weed or litter pick at their own convenience - many thanks to you, please keep up the good work!

Aspirations and focus... things we are working on in  2013

Below are things the Friends group have been working on recently and  – but don’t forget we can include the things you would help become a reality too, and with more help comes a wider focus.

•           Leaflet  - FoKNP leaflet (completed), needs a community wide circulation
•           A4A purchases – of equipment and resources - now underway
•           Bins, benches & notice board -  underway
•           Wild Bird Event – rescheduled event now on 1 June at 11.30am until 2.30pm
•           Trees  – plant standards & whips – completed. Explore tree trail funding
•           Tree Survey – Opal national survey packs - until September
•           Canal Feeder  –  cleaner (litter picked April), unclogged (partly April) & reduce weeds
•           Wetland – Survey with NIA 3 May. Apply for funding NIA & approach businesses
•           Storage facility – renovation funding, clean, recycling bins (playing fields) - Football teams
•           Shrub Beds – patch (1 bed), weed & mulch, cut back and separate shrubs in autumn
•           Wild Flower Meadow- more seeds (Feb) & cut and remove (autumn)
•           Bridges – explore funding following Wetland project

If you are interested in getting involved in the organising and planning of any of these particular aspects of the park please drop us an email.

info.foknp@gmail.com
@kingsnortonpark

AGM - Officers and agreed priorities 2013

What we did at our AGM on 18 May 13

Elected the following officers 2013/14

Chair:   Lynn Horsnett

Secretary:   Dinny Weston 

Treasurer:  Lucy Horsnett

Environment:  Chris Hughes

Young members:  Andy Ryan (pending acceptance)

Committee members for 2013/14:  

Liz Wilson,  Claire Simpson, Maggie Sweet & 1 vacancy

             

 Remember you don't have to be on the Committee to have your say or get involved . 

Email info.foknp@gmail.com

We recognised all the wonderful things done so far and said thank-you

Refurbishing play area, restoring Civic Garden, shrub and tree planting, establishing a flower meadow, new benches, new bins, 1920's event, activities with schools, mass litter picking, linking up with Birmingham Spaces Forum, Gap project support with National Trust,  Willow work with Millennium Fields Trust, cleaning canal feeder,  supporting Canals and Rivers Trust to clean Kings Norton, etc.     

We thank everyone for everything you do   

We are aware some people regularly clean our park and tidy our beds in their own time outside of our workouts - a big thank you, and of course we should thank workers from Birmingham City Parks and the Canals and River Trust who tend to the majority of parks works throughout the year, thank you.  We recognised those who helped to fund us last year - Big Lottery, West Midlands Police, Community Chest and membership donations. 

We discussed our priorities for remainder of 2013

Investigating the creation of a wetland area 

The site identified was a former lily pond , an historic marl pit and other natural areas hopefully to be funded by the Nature Improvement Fund.  Initial positive surveys have taken place but there are many barriers to overcome.  We will work with Simon Atkinson, Hannah and James from NIA.   You are welcome to get involved with this project if you wish. 

 Spending our lottery award by November 2013      

In Includes events packs, environmental equipment, aids, tools, noticeboards, protective clothing, 

wild about birds event, etc. 

Refurbishing the Pod

This is a metal storage and hopefully future meeting facility on playing fields. 

It will be shared with the Football Teams and Community Police. 

There will electricity, toilets and recycling bins - the football teams are doing lots of work to identify funding.

Maintaining Shrub beds

Replenishing, weeding, mulching, pruning Lower Civic Garden beds this autumn.  

Need shrubs tolerant of water in beds 3 & 4.

Wild About Birds Event

To put on an event opening activity in the park, includes Cotswold Birds of Prey, RSPB, Hedghog Charity, Lickey Hub rangers team and parks activities. 

Opal Tree Survey

To complement the focus on tree planting we hope to survey our main trees and contribute our findings to the national Opal tree survey which runs from May to Sept 2013.  

100 packs had been sent by Adam Bates.  We hope to work with local groups or schools. 

Canal Feeder Bridges

A section 106 funding principle had been previously made.  Our intention is to pursue as the bridges are in very poor condition.   This work will only be completed with the support of our elected representatives; Steve Bedser, Valerie Seabright and Peter Griffiths and our constituency parks manager, Sue Amey as well as volunteers. 

History Trail

Working with the Lifford Business Association, Kings Norton History Society and Kings Norton Nature to produce a circular history trail starting from The Green, walking through the park, along the nature reserve.  This will be walk number 4, of a set which cost £1 each and can be purchased from shops on The Green.  This should be available late summer early autumn. 

              Join in and take the steps towards making the things you want to see in our Park happen.

Contact us at :  info.foknp@gmail.com

Keeping the Park Clean 1st Friday in month 11.30am

Can you spare an hour on a Friday morning to help litter pick in Kings Norton Park?   It would be super if you could.

           Meet us in the car park bring gloves and pickers if you have them, if not you can borrow ours.

            We aim to clean-up where litter has become ingrained over a period of time.  
     We meet on the first Friday of each month at 11.30 am.
We also do other things like plant, survey and plan events and activities. 

Some of the volunteers removing rubbish along Canal Feeder

Removing rubbish embedded in copper hedges

Future Events

Friday 7 June - workout in park at 11.30am

Saturday 13 July Kings Norton Festival Activity Stall 11.30am

              Also see our Aspirations, Plans and Making it Happen article last updated 28 April 2013 and
our AGM report back.

Contact us at :   info.foknp@gmail.co.uk

Tweet:  @kingsnortonpark

Wild about Birds NEW DATE 1 June 2013

 

NEW DATE

Wild About Birds 

 Kings Norton Park

Saturday 1 June 2013

11.30 am to 2.30pm

FREE EVENT

Discover who occupies the skies and take part in activities

Please leave your dog at home

or keep on lead

Birds of Prey Display by Cotswold Falconry

Activities with the Lickey Hub Rangers

 the National Trust and RSPB

 

Contact:   Friends of Kings Norton Park

Info.foknp@gmail.com

www.friendsofkingsnortonpark.blogspot.com

@kingsnortonpark

A Fantastic Big Plant... trees!

 What a fantastic day!

300 whips, 10 standard trees and a flower bed all before lunch.

Trees for Life and Birmingham Parks Department certainly know to work smoothly with schools and business.  Thank you for all your preparatory work and a very professional and smooth implementation.  

Massive thanks to the wonderful pupils of Kings Norton Junior and Infant School and accompanying teachers and parents.  Who like a huge long red caterpillar twisted through the park along the canal feeder, over the bridge and across the informal football pitch and gathered before Steve, Senior Ranger for a thoroughly entertaining and very important, but humorous brief>  Pupils they found their feet and dived into planting... all whips going the right way up!   Well done everyone you were all absolutely brilliant, thank you.  


The School Council, during a change over of classes shared their interest and environmental knowledge in a discussion about trees and wildlife.   I learned a lot!.   The 3 Oak trees which form a line, the 4th Oak having been previously cut down, are just above the strip where the whips have been planted.  Having been recently measured the mature Oaks are known to be about 200 years old and were planted to create a border of between two fields, which were arable and pasture land, once called School House Field and Church Field.

We would like to invite King Norton Junior and Infant School to come back periodically to study the trees growth and development and to join in other environmental activities.

This event was only made possible this year due to the financial support by Trees for Life and their co-sponsors, Deutsche Bank.  They are a fairly new business in Birmingham who not only donated funds but in taking their community responsibilities very seriously, release  staff for 2 days a year to get involved with different aspects of community.  Twenty of Deutsche Bank's enthusiastic staff members shared the planting experience with pupils, teachers, parents, volunteers and parks staff on the day.  The result 10 large ornate trees, which will in time form part of a tree trail and 300 whips which when developed will form a natural  corridor between the formal Park and the River Rea.  By midday, the DB team who were also in red, had worked very hard all morning without a break, could safely say  'the prospect for growth in the park had substantially increased'!

BCC Parks donated shrubs to pad out a failing shrub bed which had become immersed during the flooding season and Friends planted up after helping with the trees.   A big thank to you, particularly those who consistently help out in a number of different ways.

Future ventures to help plan and get hands on involved include:

• Wildlife event 23 March - . 11 pm until 2 pm.
• A Wetland Area in the old Marl Pit - planning, sourcing funds and practical side
• Tree Trail - source funds, design and print
• First Friday in the month at the Park at 11.30 am for tidying up beds, pruning and other such tasks.  Come along, its good company too. 

Get in touch with us at:  info.foknp@gmail.com