In this extraordinary year many people have taken refuge in nature like never before.
We’d like to know how your visits to the reserve for walking with your dogs, alone or with friends and family (Social distancing of course) have helped you.
Post your thoughts here or on our Social Media Facebook group
Owing to the 4 week lockdown this months task day has been cancelled, hopefully the December event will be able to go ahead.
Posted in Task Days, Volunteering
We are pleased to say that we have restarted our task days, although we will, of course, constantly monitor the advice and rules about Covid 19 and this may be subject to change again in the future. For the moment, we are meeting on the third Sunday of the month at 10 am at the Mill Road car park. We work at social distances and will break into small groups as necessary. Please bring your own gloves and secateurs and any other loppers or hand tools that you have. Our tools may be used by members but we will not share on the day and they will be sanitised between task days. We do hope people will come along and join us for some useful practical work on the Reserve and an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air. Please contact Adrienne for further information on AdrienneStevenson@gmail.com.
Update: Unfortunately it will not be possible to meet for the November task day owing to the Covid 19 four week Lockdown announced by the PM
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Sadly our usual AGM in April has had to be cancelled due to the virus outbreak. We are also, therefore, not collecting the membership subs for 2020 until October. When things settle down again we will see whether to hold an alternative AGM later in the year.
The April task day has been cancelled. Updates about future task days will be found on this website and on our Facebook page.
If you are using the Reserve please remember the Government advice that there should be no gatherings of people and please respect all other users by maintaining the 2 metre rule and keeping apart.
Whilst dogs cannot get the virus or pass it to humans, it may be better not to touch or pet other people’s dogs at this time.
Please be safe to keep well.
The Committee the Friends of Lancing Ring
Posted in News
Trees donated by the Woodland Trust are to be planted by the Lancing Parish Council at some of their sites and members of FoLR are invited to go along and join in with a spade and their expertise at tree planting!
Meet at Monks Rec at 10am on 30th Nov (weather permitting).
Posted in Events, Members, Volunteering
Bridleway from Hoe Court along the edge of the Reserve
The Council and Lancing College are boundary neighbours along this track. They are working together to identify ash trees that are affected by Ash dieback and have marked those trees that are either dead, badly damaged or will need to be felled for safety reasons. The work will take place over the winter and Lancing College will be starting on their side this week. The track will not need to be closed. Both the Council and the College will be following the guidelines of the Tree Council and will only fell badly affected trees. Following the felling, there will also be a programme of planting new replacement trees.
Adrienne
Ash dieback (also known as Chalara) is a fungal disease from Asia which is now affecting our native ash trees. Unfortunately our native trees have no natural defences to this fungus which is spread by spores. It affects trees of all ages. The fungus grows inside the trees and stops them being able to take up water and nutrients. This causes shoots, leaves and eventually the tree to die back.
It is estimated that ash dieback will eventually destroy over 90% of ash trees in this country. This will dramatically change the landscape of our countryside and will affect species that use ash for feeding, breeding and as a habitat.
Ash dieback has been found for some time in other places nearby and, sadly has now reached the Reserve. The Friends of Lancing Ring are working with Adur & Worthing Council to identify and manage affected trees. We will be following the National Tree Council guidance in managing the situation. Dead trees will be felled by the Council and infected ones will be monitored and managed to ensure they are safe. You may see the top crowns of some of the old established trees gradually dying back and some of these may be reduced to put less strain on the trees. The national guidance is to resist rushing into drastic action as it will make no difference to the spread of the fungus and it is hoped that by taking time to deal with this disease it may be possible to identify any trees in the country that show natural resistance.
We will be starting a programme to plant different tree species to replace any felled ash trees. By planting a mixture of tree species it is estimated that about 84% of species that use ash trees will be supported. Priority will always be safety. The first of the dead trees in the Clump will be felled during this autumn / winter.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
You can help by joining the Friends of Lancing Ring and financially supporting our work.
You can help by coming along to our replacement tree plantings when they are advertised.
You can help by coming along to help us keep the new trees clear of bramble and scrub to give them the best chance to survive
In these days of concern about the environment, trees are more important than ever. Do support us if you can.
More information about ash dieback is available from:
Adur and Worthing Council at https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/news/pr19-145.html
Posted in Events
With regret, the Task Day for Sunday 16th June has had to be cancelled.
The next Task day will be on Sunday 21st July
We look forward to seeing our regulars and any new volunteers will be welcome to join us.
Other Matters:
At the AGM the committee was re-elected and consist of Henry (Chair), Veronica (Vice Chair), Adrienne (Secretary), Sue (membership secretary) and Keith. Henry is still doubling as Treasurer.
Coffee morning and AGM
next Saturday
6th April,10-12 noon
Catholic Church Hall, North Rd
Lots of stalls including Men in Sheds, raffle and coffee/tea, come for a chat and catch up on a year on the clump!
Posted in Events
