Friends of Bowland
Activities
The 2018 Festival Bowland programme has now come to an end. Almost 70 events took place between February and the middle of October covering everything from moorland bird walks, bat nights and wildflower days to clog dancing, star gazing and stone carving.
Many thanks to all those who organised or led events as part of the programme and who are, even now, planning events for next year's Festival calendar!
The Friends of Bowland organised an Apple Day at Ribchester Village Hall on Saturday 6th September. The day was supported by the National Landscape Unit through staff time, financial assistance and publicity via the Festival Bowland events programme.
As in previous years, the Friends of Bowland practical conservation group raked the vegetation off the SI verges at Newton in August/September 2018. The cutting was done by P Blackwell with the Allen scythe and cutter bar which he looks after.
The SI verge at Tinklers Lane was cut and collected by D Higham.
The bid mentioned in previous updates was not successful, and so the challenges of verge management continue.
Plans have been produced for Greater Butterfly orchid, Globeflower and Juniper.
All three plans are underway.
During the summer of 2014 & 2015, large amounts of Himalayan Balsam were pulled from the hedges and edges of Clear Beck Meadow. It was reported that less was in evidence in 2015 than in 2014, but the location of the site next to a water course mewans that this needs to be an ongoing management action. The work was undertaken by National Landscape, LCC & NE staff together with members of Friends of Bowland.
An assessment is needed as to the next steps of restoration - soil compaction has been identified as a problem.
Working group re-established in April 2014.
Will meet approx twice per year and direct biodiversity delivery through the development of annual delivery plans, made up from work across the delivery group.
Actions
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1C | Continue to support the 'Traditional Boundaries' programme, managing and restoring hedgerows, dry stone walls and railing fences |
Develop at least 3 traditional boundary restoration projects per year Annually Hold 3 training events/competitions per year Annually |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3I | Liaise with local authorities to maintain or enhance the biodiversity of roadside verges, through maintenance of appropriate and timely cutting regimes |
Extend Ribble Valley pilot 'Roadside Verges' project to other local authority areas in the National Landscape 2015 |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4F | Play an active role in county-wide Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) projects such as 'Lancashire Invasives', to help manage and eradicate Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and Giant hogweed in the National Landscape |
Organise 15 volunteer days per year Annually Complete INNS Strategy and Action Plan 2014 Secure funding for continuation of county-wide INNS project for Lancashire 2014 |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6B | Develop bid to Heritage Lottery Fund 'Landscape Partnership Scheme' for a landscape restoration programme for Pendle Hill area |
Complete Stage 1 Bid planning 2015 Submit Stage 1 bid 2015 If successful: 2016 Commence development phase 2017 Submit Stage 2 bid 2017-18 Commence LPS delivery |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7G | Investigate potential development of National Landscape 'Dark Skies' position statement seeking to address light pollution within and surrounding the National Landscape |
Hold meeting for interested organisations to develop position statement 2016 If agreed, position statement published 2017 |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3B | Support communities in undertaking projects and activities which help to conserve, enhance, celebrate and interpret the local environment within the National Landscape landscape |
Support at least 6 community projects per year Annually Support 2 'Networks for Nectar' community engagement projects 2015 |
View | |
| 2.3G | Support the development of ' Friends of Bowland' group as a focus for volunteering activity with the National Landscape |
Attend meetings, where appropriate Annually Hold 3 joint training activities/events per year Annually Promote events and activities via website and local press Annually |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2D | Continue the development of involving local volunteers to help maintain and enhance the PRoW network, particularly on National Landscape 'promoted routes' |
Recruit 2 new 'Promoted Routes' monitoring volunteers annually Annually Organise an annual event to support and provide feedback to 'Promoted Routes' monitoring volunteers Annually |
View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6A | Support and promote an annual Festival Bowland programme of partner-led events for both visitors and local communities |
Produce a 'Festival Bowland' events calendar Annually |
View |