Crowhurst Environment Group (CEG) – Update for January 2024

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Firstly, a very big Thank You to all our volunteers, supporters, fellow wildlife groups and local experts who have helped us over the past year and donated their services freely.

Thanks to them and our Parish Council, we have been able to continue to run wildlife recovery projects and offer a wide range of free events and outdoor activities over the past year.

 

Looking back over 2023, here are some of the things we’ve achieved together:

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·         Year on year gains in biodiversity at Muriel’s Meadow and village wildlife verges, with volunteers putting in serious time scything, raking, gathering and surveying.

·         Version 3 of Crowhurst Biodiversity Audit, compiled by CEG Chairman and Tree Warden, Dr John Feltwell. This audit provides a record of our wildlife and natural environment, both gains and losses. Thanks to John and to villagers for ongoing contributions.

·         Hedge planting  along Forewood Lane in partnership with RSPB

·         Weeding and pruning the community orchard at the Rec and newly planted hedges allowing them to flourish.

·         Litter picking and footpath clearing

·         Helping to establish a new Youth Club Outdoor area

·         Hosting our first Crowhurst Dark Skies Festival in partnership with others across the High Weald AONB.

·         A light meter reading group contributing to a Crowhurst Dark Skies map

·         Walks and Talks with wildlife experts

·         Visits to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Great Dixter and Knepp Rewilding Estate

·         Working and sharing ideas and information with other ‘Wild about’ groups

·         The new Pond Project to map and advise on wildlife friendly garden ponds. We’ve received a great local response with many more Crowhurst ponds than we thought!

·         Starting to consider how to minimise the impact of Ash dieback on the Crowhurst environment. 

·         Monitoring and recording wildlife through our ‘Wild about Crowhurst’ WhatsApp group.

 

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 Working groups: See Wild about Crowhurst WhatsApp Group for latest updates  or contact us below.                                                                                                                        

Wild about Crowhurst WhatsApp Group - This works well for quick activity updates, exchanging ideas and reporting wildlife sightings. Let Sonia know if you'd like to join the group by texting her on 07940865427

 

New volunteers are always welcome. For more information about our activities contact:

Frances Royston: 830236 or roystonsuk@aol.com  Will Kemp: 830454 or willkemp750@live.com

Sonia Plato: 830349 or howleyplato@gmail.com or Diane Burnham: joeldi.burnham@icloud.com or 

Sally Bruce: sally.bruce.csp@gmail.com

 

All the best

The CEG Team

Watch out for future events and activities coming in 2024