his years hard boiled Easter task was actually on the day itself, Easter Sunday. Despite it being a popular day for family stuff etc. our numbers were pretty good, but we did get over a baker’s dozen of egg-ceptional volunteers turning up to continue the work on the Jumbeles ponds. If you want to see what we did here previously click here.
On the task side of things we did some trimming of branches, trimming of hedges, built a dead hedge, or linear habitat pile if you prefer, and some pond dipping.
In the pond we found the usual assortment of chocolates.. er.. creatures: fresh water shrimp, hoglouse, various types of rams horn snail, evidence of frogs and toads, and a newt larvae.
But mostly we found chocolate eggs.
Thanks to Caroline and Tom for organising, Jane for shelling out for the eggs, and everyone you made it a cracking task.
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.
Willow weaving in 2016
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. 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.
At the time this was originally posted 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.
To start with we cut back the willow and dogwood, tidied up the planters, and removed the last of the old boardwalk from the pond. We also added a few aquatic plants to get the pond moving again. Finally we rebuilt part of the hurdle that Rick built.
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.
Unusual task this time around which highlights how some conservation activities aren’t actual conservation but are still necessary to looking after a site. By this I mean making the site safe for visitors, and in this case the danger comes from a sheer drop of the edge of a cliff.
Some years ago a fence had been put up to stop people inadvertently walking off the edge of the quarry, the edge of the quarry being next to the car park. Over the years the wooden fence posts have rotted and the fence had fallen over; Bolton Council asked us to if we could do something to fix it.
The first time we came here in November 2025 we cut down the rhododendron that had grown up near the cliff edge and created a dead hedge set back from the cliff edge. Then we began restoration of a hedge that had been planted previously, partly by laying the hedge but also planting new hawthorn/blackthorn to fill in the gaps and extend the hedge line where needed. We then began the process replacing the fence posts, and recovering and reusing the metal sheep fencing that had become buried under years of fallen leaves.
This task we worked on the hedge again, and also along the path from the car park. We also continued rebuilding the fence using Tom’s fencing tools, and it doesn’t look to bad. Good job everyone.
Last year we did some work with the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside (The Wildlife Trust for short) on creating habitat for willow tit. This task is partly a continuation of that work but also a continuation of our work to extend the reed beds at Doffcocker Lodge LNR.
Willow tits have been present at Doffcocker, to some degree, for a number of years but not in any significant numbers. Willow tit’s, including sub-species, have an extensive range covering Europe and other sub-arctic areas with estimated numbers of 175-253 million. However, since the 1970s the population sizes of these birds in the UK has fallen by around 83% and were Red-listed in in 2022. Habitat deterioration is thought to be the main cause of these changes; competition from other similar species and predation could also be a factor.
So, what does willow tit conservation involve? Willow tit’s like to create nest holes in rotten trees in wet willow carr and fen like habitats. But there aren’t enough rotten trees around for them. To give them a hand we took some old, dead branches and attached them to living trees, partly burying the ends of the branches in the ground. Over time the attached branches will rot and soften and the willow tits will be able to excavate nest holes in them. The photo at the top of the page shows a willow tit and the nest it created at Doffcocker a few years ago.
So, that’s the background on willow tits, and there are photos below from that task as week as today’s task. The work to extend the reed beds involved cutting back the willow. You can find more information on our reed bed work on these posts from previous years.
mithills Hall is one of the oldest and best preserved manor houses in the North West of England. The buildings have been built, rebuilt, added to and remodelled over several centuries; the chapel is said to have been originally established in 792 AD and rebuilt in 1520.
BCV’s involvement doesn’t go quiet that far back, but over the last couple of decades we have removed rhododendron and re-surfaced footpaths. Today we were helping the Smithills Hall Nature Trail Volunteers to do both.
The group have been operating since the beginning of 2025 and have been cutting back rhodies ever since, but they were having problems getting rid of the vast amount of brash and cuttings. Luckily BCV have a chipper which we got through the Feeling Chipper fund (Caroline will probably correct me on the details), and with our chipper we made some in roads on the mountains of material. Two groups working together for a common purpose, if only the rest of the world would do the same.
28th December 2025 We’ve teamed up with the Smithills group, partly because they are such a great team but also to do some work on a long forgotten and neglected pond. We think the pond was created in the 1980s, but that is just a guess. One end has been closed off with a dam to hold water but leaflitter has caused the pond to silt up quite badly. As we can’t get a digger in to dredge out the silt what we are doing instead is to removed some of the vegetation, overhanging trees and deadfalls first, then later in the year make the dam bigger. This should raise the water level.
It was a grim day, the sky was overcast, the water around Doffcocker Lodge’s island was grey, cold, and choppy. On the shore opposite the island, beneath a gnarled willow, stood 15 volunteers braving the autumnal weather and waiting their turn to be ferried across the few dozen metres to the island. Two by two with tools and bags the volunteers crossed the water with James acting as ferryman, until all had passed over and stood surveying their world for the next few hours.
“The task today,” said Tom, “Is to cut back the vegetation, pull up any self-seeding regrowth, and harvest the willow. We’ll use the willow to reinforce the hurdles around the edge of the island to stop erosion. Put the brash behind the hurdles, this will help with the erosion control.” “And if there’s any left we’ll build a wicker man for Francis,” said Colin, but nobody was listening.
Everybody began to pick up their tool of choice, bow saws, loppers, or slashers, then got to work on the island’s annual tidy up. After a couple of hours some areas were cleared and a nice pile of willow stems began to pile up ready for use.
“Tom what are these?” asked Craig, pointing at dozens of eggs sitting in hollows. “They are Canada geese eggs,” said Tom. “Doffcocker used to be full of Canada geese, they’re not native and damage to the lodge. They graze the shoreline and dump [phosphates] in the water.” “The eggs were treated with paraffin so they wouldn’t hatch. If they don’t hatch then there are no new geese, so over time the goose numbers dropped. This was something that happened years ago.” “Did we do that?”asked Craig. “No,” replied Tom “We weren’t involved, it was work done by other groups. These eggs are old so whatever you do don’t break them.” “Are they full of dead birds?” gasped Craig, “Jane, come here I’ve something to show you.”
And so the day went on. Just after dinnertime something strange began to happen. In the sky, glowing through the clouds, pale green flashes appeared, bursting silently like eerie flares. “What is that?” asked Jeff. No one knew, not even Chris, who usually would. The flashes continued for several minutes, then died away leaving a sense of unease in their wake. Shortly after, a dull cracking sound could be heard coming from nearby. “Nathan, stop cracking your knuckles,” chided Katrina “It’s not me…. it’s the eggs,” remarked Nathan.
Everybody stopped and stare at the pits full of eggs, each glowing the same green as the lights in the sky. One by one the eggs cracked open releasing small rotting goslings, and a foul stench. As each of the hatchlings caught sight of the volunteers they started to drag themselves forward, black fluid dripping from their twisted beaks and malformed wings. “They’re hideous,” gasped Andrew, “It’s like a nightmare, a badly written nightmare,” and then ran behind a tree for a quick vape.
“We need to get off the island,” said someone sensible, but no one was listening. “We need to get off the island,” said Tom, everyone agreed. “We’ve got time, they’re not moving very fast,” said Jane bravely walking backwards. Caroline took charge of the situation, “Everyone to the dinghy, women and children first…. Mark, get out of the dinghy.” “It was worth a try,” groaned Mark climbing back on to the island. “Joanne, Eve, you go first,” “I’m not a kid,” complained Eve. “Sshh, get in the boat, Ellie.. I mean Evie” said Joanne.
At that point the ground began to quake, the earth broke open and adult zombie Canada geese erupted from their graves. They staggered and croaked, as they tried to find their legs.. some literally. Then suddenly some of them rushed forward. “Stop it, I’m a vegetarian,” screamed Francis as one of the undead birds tried to bite him. “I don’t think they care,” quipped James. “We’ll never get everyone off the island while they are attacking. Someone has to stay and fight them off while we escape,” suggested James. Everybody shuffled around, looked at their phones, hummed, or pretended to be trying to remember something important. “Looks like nobody’s nobody is gonna do it, so might as well be me,” sighed Caroline. “Tom, get everybody off the island. I’ll meet you in the pub.” “But…,” garbled Tom “Do as your told!” shouted Caroline picking up a slasher, walking towards the birds with purpose, and swinging the slasher at the putrid poultry like she was born to it.
The dinghy was built for 3 but that day it carried 14 across the few tens of yards to the shore. The group stood and stared across at the island. The decaying remains of the reanimated geese still quivered and crawled, their terrible cries echoing across the water. But of Caroline there was no sign. An evil wind blew from the island beneath a grim sky. “So, which pub are we going to?” asked Francis.
Sitting in the Doffcocker Inn the group sat and pondered their loss. “She’ll be here soon Tom, I know she will,” said Jane optimistically. “I hope so, I’ve bought her a pint,” replied Tom.
At that moment the door crashed open and in staggered Caroline, dripping lodge water and mud on the pubs newly refurbished flooring. She raised her hand and reached out to the group. “You’ve earned this pint,” Tom said, “here,” and handed it towards her. Caroline’s hand dropped from her wrist, dangling by a shred of flesh, black fluid dripping from the wound. “Food,” she zombie groaned, “pub food”. More zombies burst through the door, some still carrying their smartphones. “Maybe I should have got her a half instead,” said Tom as the planet’s new rulers lurched forward.
And the screams of the living soon became the snarls of the undead.
And now what really happened. The weather was too bad to work on the island so we cut back willow along the edge of the reedbed instead. No one was eaten or turned in to a zombie, and the pub’s carpet wasn’t soiled in any way.
