Hopesay Hill – Bird Walk

The first bird walk organised by the Kemp Valley Wildlife Group, led by Dave Pearce, was held on Saturday 12th May 2012. Six people walked over Hopesay Hill, Hopesay on a clear, sunny morning, observing a wide range of birds, including:

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiff Chaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goshawk (distant view only, possibly a Sparrowhawk), Great Tit, Greenfinch, Green Woodpecker, House Martin, Kestrel, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Raven, Redstart (m&f), Robin, Song Thrush, Skylark, Swallow, Swift, Wheatear (m&f), Wood Warbler, Wren, Yellowhammer.

The next bird walk, lead by Leo Smith, will be at Walcot, Lydbury North, on Sunday 24th June, 9.30am – 12.30pm. A chance to see water birds, hedgerow birds and possible Lapwing. Meet by the Powis Arms.

Towards a Plan for the River Clun

 Shropshire Hills Area of Ouutstanding Natural Beauty Partnership

Meeting at Lydbury North Village Hall, 7.30pm, Thursday 26th April

Tucked away in one of the most beautiful and remote parts of the Shropshire Hills, the River Clun is an important tributary of the River Teme, and is the only Shropshire River designated as a Special Area of Conservation. Taken together the Rivers Clun, Redlake, Kemp, Unk and numerous brooks amount to over 280 kilometres of flowing water which means that nowhere in the catchment is more than a kilometre from a watercourse.

Like all rivers, it is subject to pressures and demands which need to be balanced. Now a plan for the River Clun is in the early stages of development and set to become the foundation of how the river is cared for in the future.

 Mike Kelly River Valleys Officer with the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership comments; “We often take water for granted, but in fact the waters of the Clun are a resource of immense value, and many, including the local community, businesses, and tourism providers are reliant on it. It is the source of our drinking water, provides water for crops and livestock, a valuable habitat for wildlife, and supports tourism, recreation and fishing”.

During 2012 the AONB hopes to publish a Clun Catchment Management Plan to help balance the many pressures that affect this vital resource. Mike Kelly adds; “The Clun is an internationally important river and we want to make sure it stays that way, maintaining its status is crucial not only for wildlife but also for the local economy”. Over the next few months the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership will be hosting a series of events involving organisations and the people that live and work in the catchment. We are seeking people’s views on the key water and catchment management issues. Evening events will be held at Lydbury North Village Hall on Thursday 26th April at 7.30pm, Clun and Bucknell (dates TBC) where all can have a say about the future of the catchment and help shape the plan.

Raven Walk SOLD OUT

This Sunday’s raven’s walk is already at full capacity, so there are unfortunately no more tickets available. Please keep an eye on our events page for other upcoming events. Many Thanks.

Raven Spectacular

2012 Events programme

Take a look at the Events page for our programme for 2012. The Raven Spectacular on 12th February has only a limited number of places available so if you are interested please book early!
There are other events for later in the year which will be posted on the Events page very soon. If anyone has ideas for events they would like to see offered please leave your suggestions on the Contacts page.
Thanks
Chris Penny

Winter Barn Owl Sightings

There have been quite a few barn owl sightings in the Kemp Valley in the past 4 weeks-one seen flying across the main road half a mile west of the Powis Arms, another flying across the same road very near the village shop and another more regularly seen at Red House Corner.

Please report any more sightings.

Thanks

Chris Penny

Woodcock sighting

Sandy on November 21, 2011 at 20:40 said: Edit

Think I saw a woodcock the other day up on the edge of Stank Lane – it flew off fairly low and fast. Not sure it was but certainly looked like one