Ledbury Focus September 2019 Ledbury Focus September 2019 v2 | Page 49

What's on in
September 2019
An evening with Martyn Davies, butterfly
expert and enthusiast
Date: Wednesday 11th September
Time: 7:30pm
Join the city branch of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
where Martyn will give a butterfly presentation as a
prelude to a butterfly walk he will lead next June or
July.
Venue: The Barrels Pub meeting Room, 69 St.
Owen Street, Hereford HR1 2JQ
Cost: Donations welcome; no booking required
Windfalls - photo courtesy of Jim Higham
the trees can flourish as a wildflower meadow while
surrounding hedgerows provide winter berries and
shelter for birds and small mammals.
In autumn, thrushes and redwings flock to enjoy
windfall apples while insects such as the red admiral
butterfly will also enjoy this sugar boost. Great spotted,
lesser spotted and green woodpeckers all frequently
nest in old orchards, as might little owls if there are
large hollows in some of the old tree trunks. King of
the orchard bugs is the metallic green noble chafer
beetle whose larvae live in old decaying fruit trees
where they take up to seven years to develop into
adult beetles. And, of course, many old trees are
bedecked with mistletoe which supports the
mistletoe tortrix moth and whose berries are
enjoyed by mistle thrushes and migrant black caps.
In recent decades, the intensification of orchard
production has led to the development of smaller
trees which produce larger crops and as a result,
areas of traditional orchard have been lost or
neglected. To support traditional orchards, look out
for local apple juice, cider and perry producers who
harvest from and tend to small, traditional orchards.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Orchard Origins – a
project supporting wellbeing and wildlife in the county’s
traditional orchards –welcomes volunteers who can
learn about all aspects of tending, harvesting and
processing. The Trust also manages several traditional
including at Common Hill and at the Sturts which you
can visit. Find out more at www.herefordshirewt.org.
Ledbury Focus

Queenswood Heritage Open Day
Date: Saturday 21st September
Time: 10am to 4pm
Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of
the country park. Join in with the activities
including children’s crafts, green woodworking and
charcoal making. Watch demonstrations of horse
drawn timber extraction and take part in guided walks.
Venue: Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum,
Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, Dinmore
Hill, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0PY
Cost: free; usual parking charges apply
Talk: Birds in Hereford
Date: Wednesday 25th September
Time: 7:30pm
Join the Hereford City Branch of Herefordshire
Wildlife Trust for a talk with Sue Grunsall of the
Herefordshire Ornithological Club for an illustrated
talk about birds in Hereford. No booking required.
Donations Appreciated.
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 21 King Street, Hereford.
HR4 9BX.
Ancient Pewter Smithing Workshop
Date: Saturday 28th September
Time: 10am to 4pm
The process of metal working can involve lots of
equipment and expensive materials. On this course
however you can work with a metal that can be
formed over a fire using ancient techniques. Using
pewter you will make your own brooch, pendant or
ring to take home with you.
Venue: Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum,
Dinmore Hill, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0PY
Cost: £50
Booking: www.queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org
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