Projects | Wildaboutwesthope

Wild about Westhope run projects to help promote our work to support local wildlife and community.

Projects are a good way to focus on specific areas of work which often requires additional financial support to get them started.

We are very grateful to the groups and organisations who have supported us including :

- Westhope Estate

- National Lottery Heritage Fund

- Shropshire Community Fund

- Joan Howles Trust.

See below for our current and former projects.

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Composting toilet

We have created a Compost toilet using a Pole Frame construction. The toilet is made using Larch wood sourced from the local woods. Our thanks to Will Hannam from 'Woodlanders' who took on our volunteer crew to teach them the various different construction techniques to make the project a great success. We are hoping to use the skills and techniques we learnt to make a new volunteer shelter.

Wood Pasture

We are creating a new wood pasture. The area has been permanent pasture for many years and already has 3 large mature trees and an area of scrubby species. We have installed 6 new enclosures and planted a single specimen tree in each surrounded by Blackthorn whips. We hope theses trees will become the veteran trees of the future.

Leaky Dams

We have installed a leaky dam within the steam that flows through Black Island. We are planning to do a feasibility study to learn more about the hydrology and wildlife of the water which flows through the nature area.

Willow Beds

We have planted a new willow bed adjacent to the stream on the Manor meadow. The willow bed will be part of a wildlife corridor which connects established woodlands in the area. The willow will be a source of material for our 'Gifts from the Woods' and a valuable habitat providing cover and food for mammals and bird species.

Woodland Edge

Woodland edge is the zone between a woodland and open fields and if managed correctly has an abundance of wildlife with different layers of trees, shrubs, flowering plants and grasses. The woodland edge is warm, sunny and sheltered compared to open fields or dark woodland and is the preferred habitat for many birds, butterflies and mammals.
In recent years the gradual merging of woodland into fields has been lost to a hard edge where fields are managed right up to the woodland. The woodland edge project will provide opportunity for hawthorn and sloe, blackberries and wild rose to grow to their full potential.

Invasive species

We have started a program of clearing non - native invasive species. In the woodlands we have large area of Laurel and Snowberry. They were planted many years ago as cover for pheasants but have spread rapidly and have become dominate in some areas. We have cleared large areas and replanted with species natural to the area. The work is ongoing with the need to cut back the very persist re-growth.
Himalayan Balsam grows on some of the banks along the water courses. Each year we pull the plants up whilst they are flowering but before they set seed.