Author: Colin

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.

Moses Gate: Tree Planting

3rd May 2026 Moses Gate Tree Planting

Our first task of May and we’re back at Moses Gate Country Park planting trees. We’ve planted here and nearby since 2022 and today’s session extends the planted area and also replaces some of the previously planted trees that have failed. We also cut back some trees and branches on the nearby reed bed. We plant some we chop some.. circle of life I suppose.

There’s no mystery to planting trees: you dig a hole, put the tree in it, put in a small stake for support and a tree shelter to stop deer and shrews nibbling it to death. Trees are planted a few feet apart and then grow as nature intended. There’s a bit more about tree planting on a previous post which you can read on this link.

We also celebrated Francis’ birthday, his age is an official secret so.. sshhhhhhh.

Thanks to Tom and Caroline for organising and every one else who turned up.

Habitat Management

The Barlow – 19th April 2026

Today’s task was just a but of tidying up on on the hedges with members of the Barlow’s volunteers. After checking the hedges for nests we gave them a trim and took out any overhanging branches and regrowth that risked shading out the hedge. You can find other work we have done here on these two posts about hedge laying and pond creation.

Other than that it was Eve’s birthday. Here’s a few photos to pad out this very short post.

Easter Task

5th April 2026 – JumblesCountry Park, Pond Work

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.

Happy Belated Easter from BCV

Moses Gate: Rick’s Wildlife Garden

Moses Gate Country Park 22nd March 2026

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
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.

Ousels Nest Quarry: Natural Barrier

8th March 2026 – follow link for what3words location

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.

More posts about Ousels nest here and here