Nature Reserve

Spring has sprung and wildlife in the Nature Reserve is stirring. The clouds of blackthorn blossom have faded hawthorn blossom is starting to appear.

Birdlife in the reserve is much noisier. Chiffchaffs and blackcaps and willow warblers have made the journey from Africa and southern Spain to nest here. The mix of habitats in the Reserve means that a greater variety of song can be heard in the Reserve compared with, say, a walk up the Black Ashy (footpath 101) which is surrounded by farmland. If you have the Merlin birdsong app on your phone (and if you haven’t it’s well worth getting: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/) a walk around the Reserve with the app can often show as many as fifteen or more different birds are singing or calling. Walk along the Black Ashy and you might only hear half a dozen or so.

Kingfishers visiting the ponds to feed on sticklebacks continue to attract visitors from far and wide, particularly photographers trying to get the perfect shot. They are best seen from the Alex West Hide. If you want a hide key call Gordon on 07946302571 or call in at the Thornley Woodlands Centre.

The roof on the Alex West Hide was in a poor state so we replaced it rather than try to repair it. It should last last at least another 25 years. A big thank you to everybody who made a donation to the hide roof fund.

Following RSPB advice we will stop feeding the birds around the beginning of May to reduce the spread of bird flu. We hope to be able to resume in October.

Richard Barnes and the Durham Ringing Group visited regularly over winter demonstrating how they catch and ring birds..Once again it has proved very successful. We hope the Ringing Group will be visiting next winter. We’ll let you know.

You have probably seen the bright green, ring-necked parakeets around the village. There have been up to five.. What impact they have, if any, on other birds is still not clear. But as their numbers across the country are increasing rapidly, by 2400% between 1995 and 2023, it seems likely they will compete for food and nesting holes. https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/

Roe deer are being seen very regularly and seem to be much less nervous than in the past and allow you to watch them from quite close quarters. They are a mixed blessing. Whilst they are lovely to look at, they can do a lot of damage to trees, particularly to our coppicing efforts!

Butterflies have been emerging in the warm weather. Look out for orange tip, comma, peacock and small tortoiseshell.. If you’re lucky you might also see the tiny Holly Blue. It’s a lovely pale blue and tends to be seen around holly and ivy. Their names give a clue to identifying them. The male orange tip is a small white butterfly with orange tipped wings (the female lacks the orange tips). The peacock’s wings has “eyes” like a peacock’s tail. The comma is a bit more subtle. It’s is easy to identify by it very ragged, orange-brown wings. But it gets its name from a small white comma on its underwing which is a bit harder to see.

The Community Orchard

Everyone goes to the orchard at harvest time but don’t forget to go right now when the trees are in blossom. It’s a stunning sight and a feast for the senses too. Just take a moment to stand still and listen to the birds singing and the pollinating insects buzzing around. Then breath in to catch the scent of the blossom and wild flowers.

In recent years there have been lots of developments to encourage even more wildlife into the orchard. The pond was dug and is now an established habitat for newts. The pond also attracts dragonflies and damselflies along with many other invertebrates which in turn pollinate the blossom to ensure a good apple harvest every autumn. Elsewhere in the orchard nature club children have created a large bug hotel and a wild flower mound. There are reptile mats and log piles all designed to support an array of wildlife.

Please remember to keep children safe around the pond area. Also, please do not disturb the pond as there are protected species living in it. Do not walk around the back of the pond or climb on the stone wall. Moss is growing on the wall and it is becoming another vital habitat for a range of creatures throughout the seasons. Thank you for your co-operation.

So, take a stroll down to the orchard early one morning or as the sun sets and enjoy this very special community space. Tread gently with respect for the animals and plants that have made a home there.

Children’s Nature Club

The children’s Nature Club meets once a month on a Saturday morning in the nature reserve. We’ve been running now for over 4 years and lots of village children have attended over that time. We love welcoming new children as they reach their fourth birthday.

Over the past year children have been working towards their Green Tree Badge. This is a Royal Forestry Society initiative. We have learnt many facts about trees e.g. how to estimate how old a tree is, how tall it is and how it provides shelter for so many animals. We’ve come to appreciate how important trees are to our world and the climate. We’ve also enjoyed the magic of being in woods, sharing stories and poems and being creative. A few weeks ago, we made fairy dens around the old horse chestnut trees.

On Sunday 28^th June we will be holding a celebration afternoon tea in the Village Hall to present children with their Green Tree Badges. Keep this date clear to join us for cakes and scones and find out more about Nature Club.

For more information about Nature Club contact Rose on 07934869548

Dogs on leads

Just a reminder if you’re a dog owner to keep your dog on a short lead through the Reserve. Quite a few of the birds that nest here have their nests on or close to the ground and will desert their nest if disturbed. Thank you.

The AGM this year is scheduled for July 13^th. in the Village Hall. Time to be confirmed. We’ll be pinning up notices nearer the date..Do come along if you appreciate the Reserve. You might like to come on to the committee or become a Trustee.

We need your help!

To keep the Reserve and the orchard looking as lovely as they do at this time of the year we need volunteers to help us scythe, strim and coppice. No previous experience needed.If you would like to help, get in touch with Don on 07709820907 or Gordon on 07946302571.

We depend on donations for bird food, tools and repairs. If you would like to donate to help us look after the Reserve and Orchard our bank details are:

Lloyds Bank, Sort code: 30-19-54, a/c No. 01477367.

Thank you.

Charity Registration No. 1201323

Purposes of the Charity

To promote for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Clara Vale and its surrounding area including the the promotion of environmental diversity and contribution towards conservation work nationally. To advance the education of the public in the conservation and protection of the physical and natural environment.

Main Activities

• Management of the Clara Vale Local Nature reserve to maintain and Improve biodiversity.
• Allow and encourage public access to the Nature Reserve to observe its wildlife
• Through the Nature Club, provide an opportunity for children and their parents or carers to experience and explore the natural environment.
• Management of the Clara Vale Community Orchard.

This, we believe, conforms to the Commissions guidance on public benefit, PB1.

The Nature Reserve and Community Orchard are freely open to the public at all times.

Contribution made by Volunteers

The Conservation Group is entirely dependent on volunteers to care for the Nature Reserve, the Community Orchard and run the Nature Club.There are no paid employees.

For the period of this report volunteers have given a total of 142 days days of their time to running the Conservation Group.

An approximate breakdown is as follows:

• Managing the nature reserve: 59 days
• Managing the Community Orchard: 47 days
• Running the Nature Club: 18 days.
• Administration 18 days

This is likely to be an underestimate as volunteers contribute to the Conservation group in ways they do not think is volunteering such as talking to other agencies, producing notices for events, advertising activities on social media etc.

We are very grateful for the many hours volunteers have given to the Group, which, for a small village, is exceptional.

Governance document.

Constitution adopted 10th June 2024

How the charity is constituted

Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Trustee selection method.

Trustees are appointed or reappointed at the AGM in June and at other times as required.

Our main achievements and activities May 2024-2025

The Reserve continues to be a haven for wildlife compared to the intensively farmed fields surrounding us. And we continue to receive appreciative comments about it as a place to enjoy nature.

The wildlife in the reserve appears to have followed national trends which, sadly, is a decline in biodiversity, with a few exceptions.

Flora

There is lots of “Nature” in the Reserve. One of the reasons it is of value is because of the variety of plants it contains in such a small area. The Reserve is only about 9 acres there are around 200 different flowering plants.

There are also mosses, fungi and lichens which we have yet to identify. Cutting the meadow areas and controlling the scrub is how we maintain this diversity.

Without this management the reserve would by now be mostly scrub and woodland .

Apart from the group’s management, the variety of plants comes about from the mix of habitats, and that it has never had herbicides or fertiliser spread on it.

Small pockets of grassland and scrub survived the 70+years it was the site of a coal mine, enough to seed much of what is there now. Today, were it not a Local Nature Reserve, it’s likely it would be classified as a brownfield site, ripe for development.

There’s nothing particularly rare on the reserve but it is rich assembly of plants, probably one of the best in Gateshead Borough.

Birds

There are 37 nest boxes in the reserve. We put them up to attract tree sparrows, a bird that has declined nationally by 93% since 2008. This was very successful with around 600 nestlings ringed between 2016 and 2022. In 2023 there was a crash in numbers and only three boxes were used. !n 2024 only one box was used and it was unsuccessful the young were found dead in the nestbox. This year no boxes have been used by tree sparrows. And they have been rarely seen or heard. Bird flu could be a cause, If so as the numbers hopefully will recover we will see them using the boxes again. The big decline in insect numbers is also a likely cause. with not enough young birds surviving to maintain the population. Tree sparrows mostly eat seeds but they feed their young on insects. If that’s what’s behind the crash in numbers, it could be a long time before we see tree sparrows back in the Reserve

Last year the boxes were taken over by blue tits and great tits. Blue tits used 12 of the boxes and raised 42 chicks. Great tits used 7 of the boxes and raised 18 chicks. We’ll have to wait to see what the coming year brings but so far it is not looking promising.

Apart from monitoring the net boxes, the Northumbria Ringing Group visits monthly between November and April over the winter months demonstrating to the public what ringing birds involves and why it is undertaken. This is a very popular activity giving visitors the opportunity to see birds that have been captured close up. The Group ringed 263 new birds last year. Blue tits were the most frequently caught at 80 followed by great tits (34) and goldfinches. The least were magpie, long tailed tit , reed bunting and goldcrest,1 each. Many thanks to the Northumbria Ringing Group for all the work put in to monitoring the nest boxes and particularly the ringing sessions over the winter months.

Two newish bird arrivals to the reserve this year are harlequin duck, a pair used the pond in the feeding station, and ring-necked parakeet. Both nest in holes in trees, and were probably looking for somewhere suitable. Neither have bred here yet. Some residents have had the bright green parakeets on their garden bird feeders. There is concern that they are a threat to native species like woodpeckers by displacing them from their nest holes, but so far there is only limited evidence for this.

Bird migration this year has been slow and some species such as swallows and willow warblers numbers appear to be below average. The swift boxes under the eaves of the village hall, have so far failed to attract swifts but are much appreciated by house sparrows and jackdaws.

The tawny owl box that’s visible from the Alex West hide has been replaced but was quickly taken over by a pair of jackdaws. It was put up late in the season so we’re hoping it might be used by a tawny owl next year.

Insects, Butterflies and moths

2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK and we weren’t spared here. Small tortoiseshells, normally one of the commonest butterflies was very scarce. The wet spring and cool summer were the main factors, along with pesticide use, habitat destruction and climate change. 39 of the 57 resident species in the UK are in decline.

The Reserve holds 16 resident species of butterfly plus red admiral and painted lady which migrate here. We’ve lost a couple of species over the past few years: dingy skipper and wall butterfly. 16 out of 51 species is a decent total for such a small reserve and is no doubt due to the mix of habitats and plants.

Whilst there are only 57 resident species of butterfly in the UK, there 2500 species of moths. Moth trapping has been undertaken in the reserve over last year and 150 different species have been recorded.

Moths have some unexpected names: Green Carpet, Snout, Dingy Footman, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Flounced Rustic, to name but a few.

We plan to organise a moth trapping demonstration over the summer/autumn.

Mammals.

The wild mammals in the reserve are less visible. Grey squirrels, brown rats, and roe deer are perhaps the most likely to be seen. Rabbit numbers fluctuate due to myxomatosis but there are usually a few around.

There is evidence of badgers digging beside the paths in the reserve. And of course there’s plenty of evidence of moles. Foxes are present but perhaps not as common as in the past. Maybe they have become urban foxes. Stoats and weasels have been spotted from the hides.

Four species of bat are present:

Common and Soprano pipistrelle, Noctule and Daubenton’s. We hope to organise a bat walk later in the year.

Amphibians

Frogs have never been common in the Reserve. Most years only small amounts of frog spawn is it be found. Toads are more common and in the late summer there can be hundreds of toadlets wandering around the reserve. We’re really not sure why there is this difference.

There are smooth newts in the Reserve ponds but no great crested.

Management of the reserve by means of coppicing, scything and scrub control will continue. Many thanks to the volunteers who helped with this, in all weathers, throughout the year. Without their help the Reserve would not display the biodiversity it does today.

The Nature Club

We’ve had another successful year of monthly Nature Club sessions for village children aged 4-11. The number of children attending sessions has averaged 8. Over the year 17 village children have joined for one or more sessions.

Topics covered in Nature Club sessions have included:

• Exploring minibeasts and their habitats,
• Pond dipping,
• Seed dispersal,
• Apple Day activities in the village hall and in the orchard,
• Gruffalo trails,
• Making Christmas wreaths,
• The RSPB bird count,
• Tigns of spring,
• Parts of a tree and leaf shapes.

Each session has its own structure but we always gather together in a circle to welcome everyone and to sit quietly together at the end, sharing some of our findings and listening to a poem or reading a story. During the session there is often a nature trail or a spotter sheet to complete. Children no longer race off to finish first but take their time, observing details and taking care to step gently with respect for the animals and plants in the reserve. There is usually a creative activity using natural materials or children record their observations in their nature journals.

The Nature Club leaders plan sessions for a few months ahead. Although we have a plan for each session one of our principles is that we are flexible and respond to what is happening in nature around us or when children come up with their own ideas. In December, huddled around the Kelly Kettle drinking hot chocolate, we had a spontaneous review with both parents and children sharing their highlights of the year.

Another essential principle is to give time for children to engage in activities at their own pace. Some of the group might move on to the next activity while one or two children will still be engrossed in their work and wish to continue without interruption.

Parental engagement continues to be an integral element of nature club with children and parents engaging in the tasks together. In this way children and parents learn together, e.g. parents might use the wildlife guide to identify a flower then

support their child to look closely at the flower parts, counting the petals and checking the leaf shape to decide together if this is their specimen. On one memorable day, children chose one of the soft toy birds and headed off with their parents to make a nest for their bird. Parents also enjoy the creative activities working alongside their children. Observing this, it feels as if this is precious time for families to spend together.

A new development this year has been to sometimes run Nature Club on the same day as a Conservation Group task day. Children have observed volunteers scything and coppicing and creating a dead-hedge to deter deer from eating away at the coppiced trees. Members of the conservation group have answered children’s questions and explained how and why the reserve needs to be managed. When we established the nature club, we envisaged that children might themselves become conservationists in the future. Being actively involved in conservation tasks from a young age will hopefully ensure some of them become tomorrow’s conservation volunteers.

We have recently introduced the Green Tree Badge, run by the Royal Forestry Society. The aim is to help children learn more about the amazing world of trees and forestry. We will incorporate activities into Nature Club sessions. When children have competed at least eight activities (we may do more), they will receive a Green Tree Badge to sew on to a jacket.

Clara Vale Nature Club is thriving. In so doing it provides opportunities for children and their parents to engage with nature and learn how they can play their part in caring for the environment.

The Community Orchard

The orchard theme this last year have been about stability and the consolidation of the new membership system and natural environments, along with community favourites events like Apple Day.

1. The new online membership system with card payments and membership reminders has been a success with everyone commenting on how easy the new system is to use, and improving our online records management including data retention management and new ways to communicate with members and potential volunteers. We now have 39 registered members.
2. Apple Day was a huge success with favourite activities like apple juicing, apple fritters and tea and cake in the Hall being enjoyed by all. It was great to see so many people and families chatting, socialising and having fun in the autumn sunshine with more than one person commenting to me after the event about the community feel as everyone contributed what they could to make the juice. The highlight was a musical parade with the village children from the Village Hall to the Community Orchard.
3. Following a risk assessment after the new orchard pond iced over, we undertook some risk remediation work to reduce the depth of the pond to a safe depth to allow easy egress, and this work also improved the underwater habitat.
4. The new orchard pond showed early Spring signs of amphibian life with many smooth newts, some frogs and a few great crested newts.
5. Management tasks included regular strimming of the paths to allow safe and
6. easy access, bulb planting and hedge trimming.
7. In 2026 we are looking to plant some new trees to increase crop variety and biodiversity, perhaps nut trees.

Finally, here is some feedback from a local resident about the orchard:

“I just wanted to message and say I have lived in this village since I was younger than 2, on and off with moves and travels. I grew up around the community orchard playing and passing through. Today I went for the first time in years and I must say it’s absolutely gorgeous! Everyone has done an AMAZING job it not only keeps all my childhood memories but also has improved massively. The pond – incredible, the little walk from the path into the woodland bit it’s so well kept!My family buried my pet rabbit down there when I was a little girl and it just warmed my heart today going down.”

History

Back in the 1980’s, a group of inspirational and dedicated village residents set about the process of establishing the Clara Vale Conservation Group in order to turn the derelict site of the Clara Vale Pit into a Local Nature Reserve. These days, it’s hard to imagine that the reserve has not always been there. Over the years, the site has been developed, pathways improved, bird hides built, trees coppiced, wild flower meadows established and maintained, nest boxes installed, ponds cleared and bridges built. All of this has been achieved by the conservation group volunteers. Those with knowledge and skills in conservation management have shared their knowledge with those with less, or no experience, but keen to learn and get involved.

This has led to the Reserve we have today and the Community Orchard which the Group created in 2000. These are assets to our village and a tribute to all those who have contributed to their development, and to the miners who worked the pit, without whom the village would not exist.

The Reserve

Hard to believe, but spring is on its way. In the Nature reserve snowdrops and hazel catkins are the early signs. Yellow celandines, coltsfoot and primroses will be showing soon. The many different plants growing in the Reserve (around 200). provide homes and food for the many different insects, spiders and other invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds and other animals. Our work in the Reserve is aimed at maintaining and, where possible, improving this biodiversity.

Birdsong has picked up and the thrice-repeating calls of song thrushes are loud and clear. Walk around the Reserve and you’ll hear yellowhammers calling for “a little bit of bread and no cheese” and the great tits “squeaky gate” song. By the end of March the first long distance travellers, chiffchaffs, will have arrived. You’ll hear it “chiff-chaff-ing” from the tops of trees. Willow warblers arrive from from Ghana and the Ivory Coast around mid April. They look like to chiffchaffs but their song is very different, described as being “ a descending call, as soft as summer rain”. Overhead, look out for sand martins and, a bit later, swallows.

Besides birds, look out for roe deer which are often seen in the reserve. Foxes and badgers are present but very wary. Badgers let you know they’re around by their diggings besides the paths. Stoats, weasels and rabbits, field voles and woodmice also live in the reserve. It’s for these animals, and to protect ground-nesting birds, why we ask dog owners to keep their dogs on leads.

People have been asking “Where are the ponies?” Unfortunately we have not been able to have the Exmoor ponies to help us with the mowing this winter.But we have managed to scythe or strim most of the Reserve ready for the spring. We’re hoping the ponies will be with us next winter.

The hides.

The two hides look out on to woodland, ponds and feeding stations. We feed the birds between October and May. Yellowhammers, woodpeckers, reed buntings and nuthatches are among the birds coming to the feeders. On the pond there are kingfishers, mallard, moorhens and lately a little egret has discovered the pond’s sticklebacks. (Little egrets were very rare in the north east until this century.) You will need a key to access the hides. It costs £5 and gives access to all the hides in Gateshead. Contact Gordon (07946302571)or buy a key at the Thornley Woodland Centre.

The Alex West Hide has been leaking for some time. We have now raised the money to replace it thanks to some generous donations. Thanks to evebody who donated. The work should be completed soon. We first need to make safe a nearby ash tree which unfortunately has ash die-back.

Bird ringing.

The Northumbria Ringing Group visits regularly to catch and ring birds. Their next visits, so long as it’s not raining or windy, are between 8.30 -11am on Saturday March 1^st and Saturday, April 5^th. It’s a rare opportunity to see birds in the hand and find out about why birds are ringed. Well worth a visit.

Children’s Nature Club

Clara Vale Nature Club has been running since May 2022 and meets once a month on Saturday mornings in the nature reserve or the community orchard. All village children between 4-11 are warmly welcomed. Parents and carers stay and join in with the activities alongside their children.

The sessions vary according to the seasons and weather. We start by sharing nature news and talking about what we can see and hear around us. Then we go off on a nature trail or pond dipping or investigating bugs. When we get back together, we discuss our findings and then we have a creative activity using natural materials. We’ve enjoyed weaving, water-colour painting, clay models and much more. If it rains, we go to the woods and build dens. We always end with a story or poem.

Children are very engaged in the sessions. Away from screens and other distractions they focus intensely on nature whether it’s a simple wild flower or a scuttling beetle. Every child has a nature journal to make notes and drawings of what they have observed. They have all become more aware of the seasons and of life cycles and are always eager to learn more. Each time we meet we talk about taking care of the plant and animal life in the nature reserve. This connection with nature from an early age will stay with children as they grow up. They are set to become the conservationists of the future.

If you have wondered about coming along with your child and want to know more, please get in touch with Rose on 07934869548.

The Community Orchard

Pruning Day this year will be on Saturday, March 8^th. Meet in the orchard at 10 am. If you’ve never pruned an apple tree, don’t worry, we’ll show you how. We will also be clearing vegetation from around the bases of the trees where it has become overgrown.

We need your help!

The Conservation Group needs volunteers to get involved and continue the maintenance of the reserve to ensure it’s survival and development in the years to come. There are a variety of tasks throughout the year. So, if you like being out of doors, and would enjoy a workout without the gym fees then do get in touch.( Don….. Gordon 07946302571). The next task in the Reserve is on Sunday, 16^th March at 10-12. Or come to one of our regular committee meetings which are held in the Village Hall on the second Monday of the month at 8pm. 

We depend on donations to pay for the bird food, replacing tools and equipment and repairs.

If you would like to donate to help us look after the Reserve, our bank details are:

Lloyds Bank. Sort code30-19-54 a/c No. 01477367 Thank you.