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Archive for the ‘Volunteering’ Category

Spring clean-up of the Loop

Posted in Litter picking, Volunteering on April 30, 2018|

A clean-up of the Loop took place over the weekend of 28th and 29th April. Thanks to organiser Charles for this update!

Volunteers principally from the Sustrans Volunteers and the Friends of the Fallowfield Loop took part in the event and over the two days filled bags and bags with litter and collected piles of un-baggable waste. These were left at the side of the track for collection by Sustrans staff with their truck. Fortunately the weather was dry and not too windy although it was unseasonably cold, particularly on the Sunday.

The statistics were:

  • Number of volunteers participating Saturday = 20
  • Number of volunteers participating Sunday = 17
  • Number of volunteers participating Monday = 1
  • Number of volunteers participating more than once = 8
  • TOTAL Volunteer-days = 38
  • TOTAL Volunteers participating = 29
  • Number of black bags filled on Saturday (Levenshulme to Gorton Reservoir) = 55
  • Number of black bags filled on Saturday (St Werburgh’s to Withington Road) = 14
  • Number of black bags filled on Sunday (Levenshulme to Withington Road) = 51
  • Number of bags filled on Monday (Gorton Reservoir to Fairfield) = 6
  • TOTAL Bags of litter collected = 126

(N.B. The bags used were large (100-litre) refuse bags equivalent to approx 1.3 bags as used by the council for litter collection.)

Unfortunately not many pictures were taken to record the event as we had our work cut out completing the route. The real record fortunately is on the Loop for everyone to see – it’s looking a real picture!

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Thursday volunteers continue into 2018!

Posted in Volunteering on January 6, 2018|

Many thanks are due again to Sustrans and the Thursday volunteers who have continued, on the first and third Thursday of every month, to work hard to maintain the Loop and its habitats. Tasks in recent months have included:

  • woodland thinning at Abbey Hey.
  • clearing an area of brambles near Nelstrop Road North, to create a wildflower area.
  • installing the wildlife posts at several Loop entrances.
  • multiple activities at the Levenshulme quadrants (digging out rubble, removing the remaining stumps of small trees, pruning the large hawthorn and cutting back the surrounding undergrowth – all with a view to having a larger open grassy area that can be kept mown short, and so provide a more useful area for community activities).

For the first outing of 2018, the group was out this past Thursday clearing the already-cut brash that was lying around the Athol Road entrance and consolidating it into habitat piles.  As well as making the entrance more attractive, this will give the bulbs planted a year ago a better chance to see the light.

For more information about these task days, which run from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., please contact us, then Sustrans or those co-ordinating the Thursday events will get back in touch!

Volunteers scything
Volunteer at work
Volunteers raking
Volunteers raking
Raised beds at Levenshulme quadrants
Levenshulme quadrants
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Path-widening work
Path-widening work
Path-widening work
Axe
Volunteer at work
Levenshulme quadrants
Volunteer at work
Volunteer at work
Volunteer at work
Volunteers at work
Habitat piles
Volunteers
Brambles near Nelstrop Road North, before clearing
Volunteers at work
Habitat pile

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Installation of wildlife posts

Posted in Art, Volunteering on June 15, 2017| 1 Comment »

In recent weeks the Thursday volunteers have completed, together with Sustrans maintenance staff, the installation of the wildlife posts by entrances to the Loop!  There are nine timber posts, each of which is carved with a different wildlife picture which can be used like a brass rubbing. The posts will also display information posters about the route.

The sleepers were bought with a Green Grant from TransPennine Express and the Forestry Commission. They were carved and sponsored by M3 Industries in Salford, and the drawings for the carvings were done by volunteer Vicky Holden. Thank you to all involved!

New volunteers are always welcome to join the Thursday group so if anyone would like to come along and help from time to time (it doesn’t have to be every  Thursday) then please get in touch!

Volunteer at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteer at work
Foxglove post
Bumblebee post
Sleeper information
National Cycle Network information

 

 

 

 

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Thursday volunteers continue sterling work!

Posted in Litter picking, Volunteering on May 4, 2017|

Over the past several months volunteers from the Friends and Sustrans have continued their excellent efforts to maintain and improve the Loop.  Recent activities have included a spring litter-pick, managing the saplings along the Loop edges, wildflower sowing and improving the grassed area at the Levenshulme quadrants!

New volunteers are always welcome so if anyone would like to come along and help from time to time (it doesn’t have to be every  Thursday) then please get in touch!

 

Volunteer at work
Habitat pile from cut wood
Volunteers and cyclists
Volunteers and bicycles
Volunteers at work – sign
Volunteers take a tea break
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work near Errwood Road
Volunteers litter-picking
Volunteers sow wildflower seeds
A volunteers sows wildflower seeds

 

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Willow arches at Levenshulme quadrants

Posted in Community orchards, Levenshulme, Volunteering on February 20, 2017|

Yesterday some of the Friends were out working in and around the community orchard at the Levenshulme Quadrants.  We were joined by members of the Sale and Altrincham Conservation Volunteers to help with building two willow arches, using willow harvested from the Loop.  Some weeding and general maintenance around the orchard trees was also done.  Meanwhile, Incredible Edible Levenshulme were also out, working on their raised beds of herbs and fruit.  Many thanks to all helpers!

Cutting willow
Preparing holes for willow arch
Constructing willow arch
Volunteers and the raised beds

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Work at the Quadrants

Posted in Levenshulme, Volunteering on October 6, 2016|

Today volunteers were out, for one of our regular Thursday work days, to do some work at the Levenshulme Quadrants.  Particular tasks included:

  • weeding out the grass competing with the orchard fruit trees immediately around their trunks.
  • digging out self-seeded willows in the orchard area.
  • giving the grass a general trim in all four quadrants, partly in readiness for the “Treasures Workshop” on the 9th October.
  • the usual general litter pick and tidy.

 

Thanks to all of those who helped with the work – and new volunteers are always welcome to any of our events!

Chippings
Chipping on orchard paths 1
Chipping on orchard paths 2
Path by raised beds
Raised beds

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Disability groups celebrate open access

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on September 22, 2016| 1 Comment »

Sustrans has published a news item describing how people with disabilities, parents cycling with children, tandem riders, and standard bicycle riders have overwhelmingly welcomed the trial opening of barriers on the Fallowfield Loop!  Read more on this here.

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Scything on the Loop

Posted in Conservation, Volunteering on August 21, 2016|

Members of the Friends were this weekend learning about scything on the Loop, with the sessions led by tutor Simon Tomlin who has written about the weekend here.  Attendees learnt that cutting with a scythe is quiet, clean, and safe to use, and we hope that these skills will continue to be put to use in future management of the Loop!

Scything on the Loop
Scything on the Loop
Scything on the Loop
The Loop

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Trial opening of barriers – updated feasibility study

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on April 27, 2016| 2 Comments »

Further to the recent post about the trial opening of Loop barriers, a final version of the feasibility study for the trial is now available, to incorporate some updates and corrections. A timeline of the planned trial is also available.  The trial is now in progress, with the first 6-week phase having started on 10th April 2016.  The Friends will keep users informed of the trial’s progress!

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Trial opening of Loop barriers

Posted in Accessibility, Volunteering on March 21, 2016| 1 Comment »

Many members have found negotiating the barriers along the Loop to be a cumbersome experience, and the barriers can also prevent certain categories of potential users from venturing onto the route at all, whether in wheelchairs, tricycles, trailer bikes, or tandems. Together with Sustrans we are planning a trial opening of all the internal barriers along the Loop on six successive weekends starting shortly. Actually this will be on each Sunday and the following Monday, so that those using the route for travel to work or school can experience the change as well as leisure users. Subject to review, the barriers will then be open continuously for a three-month period following the weekend trials. The start date of the weekend openings will be confirmed as soon as small posts have been installed so that the barriers can be locked open safely – we hope by early April 2016.

Lorenza Casini, who jointly organised two successful Kidical Mass rides last autumn, with the barriers open, has drawn up an extensive plan and schedule for the openings in a feasibility report for the trial.  Our thanks are due to her for an impressive document. She sees opening the barriers as offering the opportunity for a step-change in the use of the Loop, bringing new users in, and better linking up the different communities through which the route passes.

Different events will be planned to take place while the barriers are open, culminating in a ‘Fallowfield Loop Festival’ some time in the early summer. Towards the end of the period we will conduct a survey of users, to gauge their reactions to the opening.

There are many things that volunteers can do to contribute to the success of this programme.  Please contact us if you can help with any of the following (or have any other suggestions!):

  • Helping with the opening of the barriers at the start of a Sunday and closing again on Monday evening.
  • Coming up with ideas for events to take place while the barriers are open.
  • Giving feedback, once the trial has started, on how you find the experience of the barrier openings.

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