Author: Colin

Moses Gate Country Park: Flowering Future

Wildflower Meadow Management 6th September 2026

According to Natural England wildflower meadows and species-rich grasslands, , like many of our natural habitats, have declined dramatically over the last century. Only 2% of meadows that existed in the 1930s are still in existence today; around 7.5 million acres of wildflower meadow have been lost, and 75% of what remains is fragmented and vulnerable. Since the 1940s 97% of lowland meadows alone have been lost. Only 1% of the UK’s land area can now support species-rich grassland; only 2% of the grassland we have are species-rich.

Meadows provide habitat for wildflowers, fungi, bees, flies, beetles, spiders, moths, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, bats and birds; they are also important for carbon storage, water retention to prevent flooding, and habitat for crop pollinators. In addition they also have cultural, historical and archaeological significance.

Over the last few years BCV have been working at a number of sites to try to improve the quality of some of the meadows around Bolton: Ousels Nest Quarry, Chew Moor Meadow, and Moses Gate Country Park are three. Today’s task was at Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton. The work we have done here over the last 2 years is already showing an improvement with a reduction in the growth of brambles, docks and thistles.

The process begins with a reciprocating mower cutting down the vegetation. The cuttings are then raked up and transported to the edge of the site. This process of cutting and removing vegetation helps to reduce the nutrient levels in the soil, low nutrient soils are preferred by wildflowers. During the work we found many frogs and toads, and even a newt, which we moved to a safer area before continuing.

It will probably take a few years but eventually we will start to see wildflowers appearing at this site. It won’t replace the millions of acres that have been lost across the UK but will help to support local wildlife and make this part of the World a little bit brighter.

See more meadow stories on this link

Moses Gate: Rick’s Wildlife Garden

Moses Gate Country Park 23rd August 2026

Rick finds a frog

The wildlife garden near Rock Hall in Moses Gate country park has been around for a number of years, and we probably worked on it in the in its early days, but it wasn’t until 2016 that management of the area was handed over to Bolton Conservation Volunteers. Since then we have installed planting beds, laid hedges, and generally maintained the site; we also both of our Wildfest events here.

Out of all of the places we have worked this one is of special importance as it is the place we most associate with our former leader, Rick Parker (above). Before he passed away in 2024 Rick used the wildlife garden in his teaching sessions, introducing children to wildlife through pond dipping, willow weaving, and species identification. The abundance of frogs, toads, dragonflies, damselflies, newts, butterflies, moths, birds, wild flowers, and fruit trees made it a perfect place for Rick to do the job he loved the most. It’s a legacy we want to continue.

In June 2025 the garden wasn’t in the best condition: the beds were overgrown, the boardwalk had rotted through in several areas and it was in need of extensive repairs. Since then Bolton Council have come in and done a great job removing the old boardwalk and resurfacing the paths, so now we can start work restoring the garden.

Maintenance is an important aspect of conservation, and on this task there was a lot to do. We trimmed the hedges, removed excess vegetation from the pond, cut back overgrowth along the paths, and weeded the planters.

As work progresses more news will be added to this page along with photos, but in the meantime thanks to everyone involved, Rick would be proud of what you all do.

The London Job

Andrew’s Pond Revisited – Chrystal Palace, June 2026

Written by: Andrew B

2016: Andrew's pond, London.
2016: Andrew’s pond, London.

Work on the new pond at Andrew’s place in London started when he cut back all the bramble with a snazzy new electric strimmer. He then had a digger dig a hole – backbreaking work when we dug the first pond by hand ten years ago. The digger left spoil dotted around the site for later.

Paul arrived two days early and, while Andrew prepared his flat for the invasion, Paul (with occasional help from a frazzled Andrew) cleared the invasive bogbean from the original pond. This left enough water in the old pond to support the few frogs and newts still clearly resident. Paul (and earlier, Andrew) then used some spoil to build shallow shelves around the new pond, to support pond marginal plants.

When the crew arrived on Friday for the main residential, we laid first an underlay, then the main liner into the pond depression – flattened to its base by the lightest of our crew, Elaine – before Paul trimmed the liner edge. Francis, meanwhile, used a pole saw to cut overhanging sycamore and scots pine back – all cuttings later dragged by Elaine, Lynn and Andrew to top the pair of habitat piles.

With this done, we filled the pond from a hose, then used the remaining spoil to bank over the edge of the liner. Mick took on the job of shovelling the main spoil heap into barrows – shifting all of it himself – so that Elaine and Andrew could move it to the pond edge to help with burying the liner top.

Though we laid a second sheet of underlay over the top of the main liner, Andrew – taking Francis’s advice on board – later cut this overlay back so its top edge dropped into the water. Francis was right that this overlaid underlay was speeding the wicking away of the pond water.

Andrew added his few new-bought plants to the two ponds, plus a single piece of lesser spearwort back into the old pond. This was the sole survivor from Rick’s provision of pond weeds for the original pond to survive the overgrowth of bogbean. Andrew had tried more than once to clear the bogbean out, but its speed of growth had defeated him.

Fuelling all this work was Trish, our talented resident chef, ably assisted by Lynn. We spent three good evenings around the table eating the delicious grub then jawing away while the sun went down.

Wildflower seeds will be added to the de-brambled pond site as the seasons permit, and hopefully next year, the site will be a riot of colour, happy amphibians, and nectar-hungry butterflies and bees.

Hopefully some photos will follow soon

BCV 50th Birthday Party

July 4th 2026

Being for the benefit of BCV
Being for the benefit of BCV

Has it really been 50 years since a small group of people met at a community centre somewhere in Halliwell (so the legend goes) and decided to do something to for nature? Apparently so. 50 years of blood, sweat and beers, 50 years of working for wildlife, 50 years of trying to reverse the damage caused by the human world.

Doesn’t time fly.

Over those years we have built ponds, planted woodlands and hedges, reed beds and meadows; created habitat for frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies, butterflies and birds; used traditional crafts for hedge laying, dry stone walling and willow weaving. We have worked with schools, local authorities, farmers, land owners, and other community groups wanting to improve and protect the natural history in their area; and we built and cultivated one of the best independent conservation groups in the country. We have won awards for the work we have done and the respect of some of the great and good in the conservation world.

It’s only fair that we let our hair down (at least those that still have some) and enjoy a night of partying. Without our dedicated band of volunteers we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do, so tonight is for you.

Over 50 years we have had too many volunteers to count. A few are still here from the early days, but a new generation of BCVers are rapidly making their presence felt. But as well as celebrating the present and future, tonight is also about remembering those who are no longer with us. These people gave their time and commitment but didn’t get to see the continuing results of their work. Here’s a list in their memory.

Rick, Dr John, Jane, Dennis and Edith, Jim, Harry, Evelyn, Dennis D, Neil, Dwain, Fred, Kevin, and John F. And lets not forget the pets: Ben, Reggie, Jasper, Buddy, Brandy, Bruno, Floyd, Luna, and Ziggy. I’ll be happy to add any I’ve missed.

So, tonight’s party was held at Tonge Moor Cricket Club and attended by 100 people, a mix of volunteers, clients and colleagues from other groups, friends and well wishers. This wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution and organisational skills of the following heroes: Tom and Caroline, Katrina, Craig, and Jane. Thanks you all. Let me know if I’ve missed anyone and I’ll add them to the list.

If you want to what we did in our Yester years there are photos on our scrapbook pages: Scrapbook 1990s (covers 1980s-1990s, Scrapbook 2000-2010, Scrapbook 2010-2020 enjoy.

Grimeford Village: Game of Stones

Dry Stone Walling 28th June 2026

This task sees us continuing our rebuilding of a long stretch of wall along Lower Rivington Reservoir. When we started in 2024 it was mostly just a line of rubble about a half mile long. Our mission: rebuild it.

Dry stone walling is an ancient method of building walls and other structures from stone without the use of mortar. Although walls were designed to create field boundaries they do benefit wildlife by creating wildlife corridors and shelter for invertebrates, small mammals, and amphibians. Over the years we have found toads, newts and shrews living in the gaps of old walls.

Dry stone walls have two sides made up of interlocking courses, any spaces between the two sides are filled with smaller fragments called hearting. No mortar is used, hence dry stone. Larger stones are used in the foundations and the lower courses of the wall, with smaller stones used as the wall narrows towards the top.

Choosing the right stone for the space it will fit in to is crucial to constructing a safe and stable wall. If the blocks don’t fit together properly then the wall will have weak spots. To improve stability through stones are used to act as wall ties, these hold the two sides of the wall together. Usually a line is used to ensure the faces of each side of the wall is straight and even. Once the wall has reached the required height it is topped off with coping stones. The Dry Stone Walling Association has loads of information about wall building for those who want to know more.

2013: Our first dry stone walling competition.
2013: Our first dry stone walling competition.

As always with each section of wall we work on we have to gather together all of the stone and sort by size with the largest pieces closest to the wall. Some stones are buried and need to dug out, some have been dragged away to make fire pits or just to be thrown in the reservoir. Fun for someone but not for us.

Then begins the process of building the wall course by course like a game of Tetris, except the courses don’t disappear when completed. It would be nice if the stones were neatly rectangular but as with all things in nature many stones are irregular shaped and it takes a bit of ingenuity to find a place for them. Many years ago we had an an annual dry stone walling competition, the prize being a stone shaped like a boot, the stone had previously been part of a wall. Our walling mentor, Paul The wall, once said that any stone can be used in a wall regardless of it’s shape, they just take a bit more work.

Thanks to United Utilities, Lucianos Restaurant, and everyone who turned out.

Firwood Fold: Balsam Apocalypse

Balsam Bashing Sunday 14th June 2026 – Tonge Moor Cricket Club

Balsam bashing. Words that send dread and fear through the souls of conservationists everywhere. The yearly exercise of ripping up Himalayan balsam, the persistent invasive that never goes away, can be soul destroying. But should be pack up our weed whackers and let the balsam win? No. Balsam may be here but it doesn’t mean it is here to stay.

So, what is the story of balsam. The plant with the pretty pink flowers was introduced to the UK in 1839 by the Victorians as a decorative garden plant. And like many of the Victorian’s favourite exotic plans soon went on the rampage across the countryside’s water ways. Balsam creates dense stands that out compete native species, in winter it dies off leaving riverbanks and the shores of water bodies exposed to erosion. It also interferes with fish spawning areas. There are some plant experts who dispute the negative aspects of balsam and think we should just live with it. Generally though, besides the Victorians. the only creatures that likes it are bees. More balsam stuff on this pocket sized guide.

As our balsam removal has been so successful on the area around pond our main target this time was the area behind Tonge Moor Cricket Club. We came, we saw, we bashed. Thanks to everyone for taking part.