The Low Barns Volunteer Task Force
Welcome

Durham Wildlife Trust

Welcome to the Low Barns Volunteer Task Force photo gallery.

This gallery contains photos taken during tasks carried out by the Durham Wildlife Trust volunteers, staff, and VROs based at Low Barns.

We hope the photos in this gallery will give you a flavour of what's involved in volunteering with the Durham Wildlife Trust. It is also a great place to find out about upcoming tasks and training days!

Tasks run every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month!

We meet at Low Barns but pick ups are available depending on the task location.

If you're interested in finding out more then contact Emma Pearson on 01388 488728 or email Emma at epearson@durhamwt.co.uk

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Top Photo

Lunch round a roaring fire
(27 hits)
Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)
Most Recent Photo

Pyromaniacs united
Training Days & Events
The Durham Wildlife Trust run regular training days to allow volunteers to understand the management principles underlying many of the practical tasks.

Wednesday 25th November
Low Barns
Winter tree identification

DWT staff and Dougie Nisbet (ex Low Barns VRO) will lead the day. The main objective is to learn how to identify 15 tree species without any leaves. Sounds hard but it is the best way to learn! Meet 9.45am at Crook Market Place or 10.20am at Low Barns.

Friday 18th December
2pm at the Slug & Lettuce (Durham)
Volunteer Xmas Meal

Both the Low Barns and Rainton Meadows Volunteer Task Force will be out in Durham for an afternoon meal at the Trust’s expense! It’s a small way to thank you for all your hard work throughout the year. We have 35 places available so book asap with Emma!

Thursday 24th December
Low Barns
Volunteer Xmas BBQ

OK, so a BBQ in December is a little strange but it was great last year! You can also have a go at sprout conkers! Remember to bring food to add to the feast. No need to book just turn up and feel free to bring your partner or a friend. The BBQ starts at 12.30pm.

Places for training days are usually limited so book asap to guarantee your place. Ring Emma on 01388 488728 or email Emma at epearson@durhamwt.co.uk
Groups
  • Access works
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  • Black Plantation
  • Bracken Spraying
  • Derwent Reservoir
  • Grassland Management
  • Hannah's Meadow
  • Hawthorn Dene
  • Heart of Durham Site
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  • Training days
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  • Vegetation Management
  • VRO Best Bits
  • Wetland Management
  • Woodland & Scrub Management
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    Top Photographs This Week
    Lunch round a roaring fire  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)  (27)
    Chris with a giant toastie  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)  (19)
    Nicola dragging hawthorn to the fire site  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)  (18)
    Oh dear more flooding  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Wed 18th Nov 2009)  (17)
    Chris and Norman removing gorse  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)  (17)
    Gareth shoulders the burden of some gorse  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009)  (16)
    Is this close enough Craig  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Thu 19th Nov 2009)  (16)
    Chris,Stu and Gareth cutting gorse  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Wed 18th Nov 2009)  (15)
    Nichola looking windswept  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 20th Nov 2009)  (15)
    10 The moment before the beast attacked  Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Thu 19th Nov 2009)  (15)
    Most Recent Collections
    Sat 21st Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Sat 21st Nov 2009) (12 images) New
    A wonderful turn out for a saturday task as we returned for the last time this week to the Fell. We started a new fire site and managed without the help of hot ashes to get a blazing fire going. We could not see much in the thick fog but plenty of gorse was cut and treated. Most of the day was spent in heavy rain and everyone was glad at lunch time to eat their baked potatoes.
    Fri 20th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 20th Nov 2009) (10 images) New
    Another day cutting and burning gorse and hawthorn up on a wet and windy Fell. Many thanks to everyone who survived the morning drenching to do a sterling days work.
    Thu 19th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Thu 19th Nov 2009) (15 images) New
    With rotten weather and a bag full of spuds we started day 3 on the Fell this week. Yet more cutting, burning and treating of stumps. With the high winds the fire at times was a bit temperamental but we persevered and burnt masses. Thank you to all who braved the elements and we hope you enjoyed your potatoes.
    Wed 18th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Wed 18th Nov 2009) (10 images) New
    Another day on the Fell cutting and removing small trees and gorse. Many thanks to the team of volunteers who braved the floods to get there.
    Tue 17th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Tue 17th Nov 2009) (9 images)
    The start of this weeks task on the Fell got underway with a brilliant Tuesday team. We had a new volunteer Andrew join us and we welcomed the return of Dale. As usual it was cutting, quading and burning of Hawthorn, with the addition now of Gorse.
    Fri 13th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 13th Nov 2009) (11 images)
    The last day (for this week!) cutting and burning trees and gorse. Next week we will be spending 5 whole days doing the same!!
    Thu 12th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Thu 12th Nov 2009) (9 images)
    In wonderful autumn sunshine we had another fire and small tree felling session on the Fell. A good turn out for a Thursday with a welcome return of Trevor.
    Wed 11th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Wed 11th Nov 2009) (12 images)
    More scattered tree removal up on the Fell today. A fantastic turn out by the trusty volunteers and a big up to Helen on her first day on the quad.
    Tue 10th Nov 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Tue 10th Nov 2009) (10 images)
    Another day on the Fell removing small trees and having a fire. Today’s fire was fab and at one point it took five of us just to keep it fed, as it was burning wood that quickly (according to Helen and a few paid off volunteers!).
    Sun 8th Nov 09Sharon's Best Bits (22 images)
    Sharon aka Shazza is off to work on the dark side - a consultancy! However, by the looks of it she will be doing the same stuff (burning, cutting, pulling, loppering and generally more of the fun stuff!)...just this time she will be getting paid. Farewell Shazza and see you next at the volunteer xmas BBQ at Low Barns!
    Sat 7th Nov 09Burnhope Reservoir: Small Tree Felling (Sat 7th Nov 2009) (8 images)
    A small Sat Team out today felling small trees on an important grassland site. Small is the appropriate word today! Come on Sat Team where have you all gone? :) 
    Fri 6th Nov 09Low Barns: Reedbed Management & Sharon's BBQ (Fri 6th Nov 2009) (70 images)
    A brief session on scrub control around the margins of the reedbeds at Low Barns then BBQ time for Shazza's send off! We then finished the day off with sparklers!
    Thu 5th Nov 09Derwent Reservoir: Wetland Management (Thu 5th Nov 2009) (12 images)
    Another trip up to Derwent Reservoir to help Sue with some wetland management, on a beautiful November day.
    Wed 4th Nov 09Low Barns: Reedbed Management (Wed 4th Nov 2009) (9 images)
    Today we once again returned to the Wild Wetlands reed beds to continue removing Typha. We concentrated on three areas and managed to remove loads with the compact but hard working team. At times we were not sure if it was wetter in the water or on dry land due to the changeable weather.
    Tue 3rd Nov 09Hylton Dene: Litter Pick (Tue 3rd Nov 2009) (13 images)
    Today the Tuesday task force drove off into the unknown to Hylton Castle and Dene. We were helping Morris to litter pick various sites, then we had a wonderful private tour in the castle. Hylton castle belonged to the Hilton/Hylton family up untill 350yrs ago. It then had various occupiers including the National Coal Board who used it for storage until 1950. English Heritage is now responsable for the castle.
    Fri 30th Oct 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Fri 30th Oct 2009) (11 images)
    Todays team of volunteers visited Hedleyhope Fell to remove and burn the previously felled trees. With the help of Shazza on the quad they made good progress.
    Thu 29th Oct 09Hedleyhope Fell: Scattered Tree Removal (Thu 29th Oct 2009) (13 images)
    Work continued today on the Fell cutting and BURNING the scattered trees. The team made fantastic progress and got a load of the backlog burnt.
    Wed 28th Oct 09Rainton Meadows: Bird Ringing Training Day (Wed 28th Oct 2009) (27 images)
    Both the Rainton and Low Barns teams met today at Rainton Meadows to learn about the value of bird ringing for ornithological conservation. A big thank you to Martin Hughes for leading the day.
    Tue 27th Oct 09Hedleyhope Fell: Rush Cutting (Tue 27th Oct 2009) (13 images)
    A small Tuesday team started work on one of the areas identified for reintroducing the SPBF butterfly. In the fog and murkiness we managed to strim and rake an area of rushes to improve habitat conditions for the butterfly.
    Sat 24th Oct 09Low Barns: Scrub Management (Sat 24th Oct 2009) (13 images)
    On a very wet and yucky day Durham ConSoc joined the regular volunteers to remove willow from in front of the North hide at Low Barns.
    [ More collections ]
    Tasks This Week
    A break from Hedleyhope Fell this week with a task at a different reserve every day! Scrub control and scots pine felling at Malton on Tuesday, snowberry control at Tudhoe on Thursday and to end the week sycamore/ beech felling in Baal Hill on Friday.

    The winter tree identification training day is on Wednesday this week. An informal day with a ‘simple’ aim to identify 15 trees without their leaves!

    Tuesday 24th November
    Malton
    Scrub control & tree felling

    Wednesday 25th November
    Low Barns
    Winter tree ID training day

    Thursday 26th November
    Tudhoe Mill Wood
    Snowberry control

    Friday 27th November
    Baal Hill
    Tree felling

    Saturday 28th November
    NO TASK

    Pick up info

    For Tuesday Malton task: 9.20am at Low Barns, 9.45am at Crook Market Place, 9.55am at bus shelter in Tow Law (near Batsons), 10am at the top car park at Hedleyhope Fell or 10.15 am on site at the Malton Picnic Area car park.

    For Wednesday Training Day: 9.45am at Crook Market Place or 10.20am at Low Barns.

    For Thursday Tudhoe Mill Wood task: 9.20am at Low Barns, 9.45am at Crook Market Place or 10.15 on site at Tudhoe Mill Wood.

    For Friday Baal Hill task: 9.20am at Low Barns, 9.45am at Crook Market Place, 10am atDemesne picnic site car park or 10am on site.

    Maps and info for all sites can always be found in the links box below.

    Travel by bus and not sure how to get to Low Barns or Crook? Then go to Traveline to get bus info.
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    Latest News From Craig
    Durham Wildlife Trust


    Saturday Tasks

    We have a great team of volunteers who come out on a Saturday to manage our nature reserves in West Durham. We are always looking to recruit new volunteers for Saturday tasks and ways in which we can promote volunteering.

    If you work for an employer who is willing to promote volunteer opportunities to their employees or if you would like to volunteer then please contact Emma Pearson on 01388 488728 or epearson@durhamwt.co.uk for more information.

    We currently run two Saturday Tasks on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month!
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    Pick-up and reserve location info
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