Author: Colin

Halloween Task

(updated 04/11/26 with photos and links)

The Wildering – A BCV Halloween Story

It was a chill October morning on Winter Hill. The sky was clear and blue and BCV’s volunteers stood with dew soak boots waiting for Tom to begin the task.

“Today’s task,” began Tom, “Is to remove rhododendron from the hillside. So, we’ll be cutting down them ones, and them ones,” he said pointing randomly.
“Do you mean these ones and those ones?” said Katrina pointing at several clumps of rhody near by and far away..
“Yes, any you can find. But don’t go too far from base camp, we don’t want have to send out search parties if we can help it. Francis is in charge of the task today as I have to go to an important barbecue, enjoy the task.” With that Tom made his way back to the car park at the bottom of the hill.

“Alright, lets get on with it,” grumbled Francis. And so the day began. Tools were grabbed, ruck sacks were dumped, and people spread out to begin the work of removing the invasive species from the hillside. Rhododendron had spread from nearby houses and was creeping across the moors like a ravening beast, damaging the heather moorland habitat as it went.

Work continued until lunch time arrived, when the group downed tools for tea and butties. After scarcely an hour, Chris, stretching his back gravely announced, “I’m going to have to go, I need to pick up my daughter’s rabbit from the vet’s, then I’m going to a barbecue. The two aren’t connected. Anyone want a lift back into town?” A few hands went up, and several people decided that hard work was too good to do all at once and so were finishing for the day, although the barbecue did sound interesting.
“Lightweights,” scolded Carol.

“Francis, what does rabbit taste like?” asked Craig, looking thoughtful.
“I don’t know, Craig, I don’t eat meat,” replied Francis.
“Does it taste like Chicken?”
“I don’t know, Craig, I would think it tastes like rabbit”
“Have you never eaten rabbit, Francis?” asked Craig’
“No, Craig, I’m a vegetarian,” said Francis.
“Are there any rabbits round here?”
“I don’t know, Craig. Maybe. Rabbits are an introduced species and the country is rife with them.”
Craig fiddled with his phone, “Francis, Francis, look,” said Craig showing Francis his phone, “AI has made you into a rabbit.”
“Thank you, Craig,” sighed Francis.
“I’m going to go and have look for some,” said Craig. He wandered off, looking under the long grass and some clumps of heather that were nearby while making rabbit noises.
“Don’t go too far, Craig, and don’t fall down any gullies.”
“Yes,” said Jane. “Be careful.”

Some hours later and the sun was starting to set, the sky was beginning to darken and the temperature was starting to drop. People began packing up the tools and equipment, and making their way down hill and the way home, or the barbecue that suddenly seemed so popular.

“Where’s Craig?”, asked Jane putting on another fleece against the chill.
“He’s not back yet?” replied Francis. ” CRAIG? CRAIG?” shouted Francis.
From somewhere in the distance came a long, drawn-out howl.
“What was that?” asked Jane looking worried. “That doesn’t sound like Craig’s normal laugh.”
“Oh, it’s just the Carpathian wolves I introduced as part of my re-wilding project,” said Andrew casually.
“What…?”, said Francis.
“I’ve been to Carpathia,” said Carol, “I’ve been to Vlad Dracul’s castle, Count Dracula, for those of you who don’t know. I don’t think I’m not going to hang around, it will take me a while to get to the car park. I see a bad moon rising,” Carol muttered and started off down hill, occasionally looking over her shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye out for Craig.”
“It’s going to be another one of those weird tasks,” sighed Francis. “Why did you bring wolves to Bolton, Andrew?”
“erm… we’ll Franny, re-wilding. Returning fauna that once roamed the land. Trying to restore the natural order that’s been disrupted by humans. You know?”
“No, I don’t know. Craig and wolves are not a good combination. We need to find him urgently. There’s only three of us left now everyone else has left.” Pointing right, “Jane you go that way,” then pointing left, “Andrew you go that way. I’ll co-ordinate from here.”
“Here, you might need this lamp,” said Andrew pulling a battery powered lantern from his bag. “I use it when I’m filming.”

The three hunted for Craig, calling his name, “Here, Craigy-Craig,” and whistling. But to no avail. Night fell and the bad moon Carol warned of began to rise over the horizon. Jane and Andrew returned to camp and the safety of the lamp light. Andrew prodded Francis with stick to wake him up.
“Oh, you’re back,” he said standing up from his chair. “I was cogitating.”
The three stood in the circle of light, beyond it’s edge the darkness deepened until nothing could be seen but dark shapes and darker shadows.
“What do we do, we can’t find him?” said a worried Jane.
“The lamp light might help him find us,” said Francis. To which Jane replied , “He’s not a moth, he’s a human being, lost and alone in the wilderness.”
From the darkness came a growl, dark shapes and two points of light could just be discerned, the dark shapes were moving. Circling. The light of the lantern glinting off two pairs of hungry eyes.
“This isn’t goo-” a larger shape flashed through the circle of light, slamming in to Jane, cutting off her last word and carrying her in the darkness.
“Jane.. what’s goo?” asked Francis who was facing the wrong way. As he turned around a dark shape leapt through the lamp light, slapping Andrew to the ground and ploughing into Francis. From the darkness there came a howling and something about vegetables or some such. Then there was silence.

Andrew sat on the wet ground, looking left and right.
The beast lumbered out of the shadows. Seven feet tall, it’s form shrouded in thick dark fur; it’s long limbs ending in sharp claws, it’s long jaws a man trap of glistening teeth. Two grey wolves stood on either side, like attendants waiting for their master’s commands.
“Wh.. wh… were… were… there.. wolf,” gibbered Andrew.
The beast pointed to it’s left, “There wolf,” pointed to it’s right, “There wolf,” then pointed to itself, “Werewolf.”
“You.. you.. can talk?”
“Only when it’s funny, rabbit.” replied the beast.
“Rabbit? I,m not a rabbit…no.. it can’t be.. Craig? Is that you?”
The beast spread it’s arms and bowed, “The same. In the past when I tried to morph all I managed to do was grow a beard, But my wolf siblings have reminded me of my true self. Behold, I am nature incarnate. Warden of the savage garden.
“I suppose this explains why you have such a rapport with dogs,”Andrew quipped while trying edge backwards along the ground. “Maybe we can discuss the situation. Have you found being a werewolf a positive experience? What are your thoughts on lycanthropy in a modern digital world? Was Red Riding Hood the real monster in the fairy tale? Are the worst wolves hairy on the inside? Where The Three Little pigs cowboy builders?”
The beast looked at Andrew with narrowed eyes. “Enough small talk.” The beast pounced.

Human Craig stood in the lantern light, gathering his things and picking something from between his teeth.
“You look like a little lost puppy, Craig,” said Carol switching on her own torch.
“I am, I didn’t know you were there, Carol.”
“I was hiding round the corner, watching what transpired,” said Carol raising an object and pointing it at Craig.
“ohh,.. shiny, what’s that?”
“It’s a crossbow with a silver bolt fitted. I use it when I hunt creatures of the night like you. All of my trips to distant lands weren’t for sight-seeing, I was hunting. I’m a werewolf hunter, and you are my next target. I’ve had my eye on you for a while now.”
“Have you only got one of those silver pointy arrow things?
“Bolts. I only need one.” Carol sighted the weapon.
“That’s a shame, because I’m not alone.”

Behind Craig three dark shapes loomed. The beast to the right looked to be trying to put on a fleece, but it wouldn’t fit so she threw it to the ground. The fleece stood up, went baaa baa, and ran off into the dark. The beast to the left had fashioned the long fur at his neck into a pony tail and was tying a ribbon to it.
“How’s the rabbit, Francis?” asked Craig. The beast in the middle spat out a pair of long ears and growled, “Nice.” “How does it taste?” asked Craig, “Like rabbit,” came the reply.
“You turned them all into werewolves,” gasped Carol.
“I was hungry like the wolf,” chuckled Craig.

Craig took his phone from his pocket, looked up into the night, a fearless full moon had climbed into the black sky, it’s light coating the landscape in silver and shadow. He howled, ” Ahh-woooooo,” prompting wolf Andrew to start singing Werewolves of London and giggling. Human Craig morphed into his werewolf form. A special effect too gory and expensive to relate in this story.
“We are nature, red in tooth and claw,” growled Craig, crushing his phone with a single clawed hand.
“Humans have poisoned the air, polluted the water, brought chaos and destruction to the natural world. We will remind humanity of it’s position in the food chain. Now… Carol.. you can either join the pack.. or you are meat for the beast.”

Morning comes. Two Carpathian grey wolves sat looking towards a horizon stained red by the rising sun, a silver crossbow bolt sticking out of the ground in front of them. They howled, the same long mournful sound that had echoed across forests and valleys before humans had learned their first language. Their eyes followed five dark shapes as they raced across the moors towards the artificial lights of civilisation. By day the pack would rest, but come nightfall they would teach the world to be just like Craig.

There are around 500 wolves in the Carpathian Mountains living peacefully along side their human neighbours. There are no wolves on Winter Hill and no plans to introduce them. Craig sometimes has beard but is not a werewolf. Carol has travelled extensively but, as far as we know isn’t a werewolf hunter, although in her time as a security guard she did face down many night time prowlers. This story is dedicated to Carol, Craig, and all of the wardens of the savage garden who give their time to make the world a better place for nature.

Halloween stuff from previous years can be found through this link

We didn’t find many rhododendron on this task as United Utilities got there first and did an excellent job of clearing the stragglers.

But if you want to see what we usually on Winter Hill have a look here.

Belmont Reservoir: Trees a Crowd

October 4th 2026 – Habitat Management for Wading Birds

Belmont reservoir was built in 1826 to provide the people of Bolton with water, today it is home to a sailing club and is also a haven for for 100 bird species including black redstart, common sandpiper, little ringed plover, green plover (aka lapwing/peewit), oystercatcher, curlew, golden plover, great black-backed gull lesser black-backed gull, goosander, great crested grebe and ring ouzel to name a random few. Today also saw a rare visitor from eastern Europe, the pallid harrier, which caused a bit of a stir amongst the birders. The site is owned and managed by United Utilities.

Our task at this site was to remove willow and willow seedlings in order to maintain the habitat for wading birds, as they don’t like vegetation around them that can hide predators. The work involved a lot of wandering around looking at the ground searching for willow seedlings, consequentley we didn’t see any rare birds. Once found, we pulled out the little willows by hand, or with the help of trowels. Some willows were so big they had to be dug out with mattocks and aching backs.

Although not the most exciting task we have ever done it was a task of considerable importance for bird life on the site. Belmont Reservoir was one of the largest populations of black headed gull in the country; during breeding season there can be in excess of 5000 pairs, not counting the chicks.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and to both United Utilities and the Belmont Sailing Club for letting us work on the site.

Ousel’s Nest Quarry: Flower Power

Meadow Management, Sunday, 20th September 2026

Ousel’s Nest Quarry Local Nature Reserve, Turton, is a site we have been working at since 2014. The site, which is managed jointly by BCV and The Wildlife Trust, has hedges, trees, ponds and the largest wildflower meadows we have ever worked on, today we are working on one of those meadows.

Species-rich meadows and grasslands have declined by 7.5 million acres (3.03 million hectares) since the 1930’s, only 2% of the meadows that existed at that time exist today and of those 75% are small, fragmented areas. The decline began during World War 2 when 6 million acres were ploughed under to provide food for Britain’s beleaguered population, but after the war that destruction continued as the requirement for housing and industrial development grew. Today these developments still encroach on greenbelt land; only 1% of land in the UK now support species-rich grassland.

Meadows are the cornerstone of our green and pleasant land, an intrinsic part of the UK’s natural and cultural heritage. Meadows provide habitat for wildflowers, bees, butterflies, moths, and many other insects, also spiders, small mammals, birds, reptiles and bats. Meadows can also act as carbon sinks and flood defences. On today’s task we also found short-tailed field vole and shrews.

Common Frog
Common Frog

Wildflower grasslands do have some protection, mostly if they have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest or as a Local Nature Reserve, but many won’t have this level of protection or are not properly managed leaving them at risk of being lost.

While Bolton’s meadows don’t have the range of species as chalk grasslands there’s still plenty we can do to improve what we have. Today we were mowing the grass, now that the flowers have died off, and removing it to the edges of the site. Raking up the mown grass stops the build up of nutrient in the soil, wildflowers thrive in a low nutrient environment while grasses prefer more fertile soils. Mowing also helps to distribute seeds; at the moment the meadows have knapweed, scabious, at least one type of orchid, and yellow rattle to name a few, but we hope to improve this over time. Thanks to all involved

Other Posts about meadows can be found in the Meadows category.

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