Friends of Buchan Country Park Newsletter 2016 Ed01

Newsletter 2016 edition 01 Welcome to a brief look at our 2016 events so far, run by the Friends of Buchan Country Park.

Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday 27th March 2016 If you braved the weather on Easter Sunday this year and made your way down to Buchan Country Park then you were certainly in for a treat! We had chocolate eggs galore, with our annual Easter egg hunt in the wildlife garden, fun and games in the Countryside Centre, as well as some tasty refreshments on offer at the entrance to the park.

See Inside: Page 1

Easter Egg Hunt

Pages 2-3

Fun Dog Show

Pages 4-5 Nature’s Free Offerings Mike Shelley, FoBCP Volunteer Pages 6-7 Ranger Report Tom Burns, Countryside Ranger Page 8 Photography Competition Plus our future events!

With wellies and raincoats on, there was a huge turnout of families enjoying both our ‘easy’ and ‘challenging’ Easter egg hunts. Whilst inside (and out of the rain!) we had a variety of free games for kids to play as well as a tombola and craft sets for sale.

To be in with a chance of winning a chocolate Easter bunny, visitors were asked to guess the number of eggs in a basket. We can reveal that the correct answer was 94 and congratulations are in order to the winner – Indie!

Thank you to all those who came along on the day and took part, all funds raised go to the Friends of Buchan Country Park who work closely with the countryside rangers to fund projects around the park and put on events for visitors to enjoy.

Above, the Easter egg trail, and a great family day out.

Below, games inside the Countryside Centre and many braved the rain.

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Fun Dog Show

Sunday 26th June 2016 We had a fantastic turn out for our annual Friends of Buchan Country Park Fun Dog Show, with the sun shining on the participants for most of the day, and managed to raise valuable funds to go towards the park.

As with all of our events, the day was run entirely by our volunteers, so a huge thank you goes out to all those who made the day possible. A special thank you also goes to Zoe Blake, The Friendly Pet Nurse, Arundawn Dog Rescue, and Katealisious Cakes who all had stalls at the show and helped out with the judging of classes.

This years show was sponsored by the fantastic TPS Electronics Ltd who not only provided financial backing for the show, but whose owners sit on the Friends of Buchan Country Park committee and were essential to helping run the event.

The overall winner of this years show was Hutch, who along with his partner in mischief Starsky, won the praise of all our judges.

Above left, Ranger Tom (still attending on his day off!), right a contender for ‘Junior Handler’ category. Right top, some families stayed all day, overall winner Hutch with his owner, winners prizes and Zoe The Friendly Pet Nurse.

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Hutch’s owner Mark won a printed portrait courtesy of our photographer Jan Hacker.

All in all a good day, thanks to all who helped and those who came along to take part.

Fun Dog Show RESULTS Best Puppy Penny a French Bulldog (owner, Tom) Best Bitch Nancy a Cocker Spaniel (owner, Jenny) Most Handsome Dog Marvin a Cockapoo (owner, Darren) Best Fancy dress Bailey a Schnauzer dressed as a Dinosaur (owner, Michael) Best Rescue Mollie a Staffy (owner, Tracy) Best Junior Handler Max the Labrador with his handler Sam (10) Waggiest Tail Hutch a Jug (Jack Russell x Pug) (owner, Mark) Best Senior Mitty a Springer Spaniel (owner Mia)

Above, the day in full swing. Above right, Katealisious Cakes selection on the day.

The dog the Judges most wanted to take home Teddy a Wire Haired Fox Terrier (owner, Holly) The most appealing eyes Louis the French Bulldog (owner, Scarlett) The best of the best Hutch a Jug (Jack Russell x Pug) (owner, Mark)

Lots more photos can be found on our Events page at www.fobcp.org.uk Page 3 Join us and help the park, find out more: fobcp.org.uk

Nature’s Free Offerings Mick Shelley FoBCP Events Co-ordinator

I have always been a keen ‘forager’ so it won’t be many weeks before you will find me taking advantage of natures free offerings which are to be found growing in the hedgerows and countryside around Crawley. Maybe it’s a case of going back to my ancient ‘hunter/gatherer’ roots.

The first freebie most people think of is the old favourite, blackberries, which are to be found just about everywhere. We have all been out blackberrying at some time in our life haven’t we? Fantastic for tasty crumbles, pies and of course jam, on their own or combined with apples.

Above left, Sloe Berries. Right, Bullace (plums).

Why stop there though, how about finding some sloe (Blackthorn) bushes, there are plenty around in the hedgerows, and making some sloe gin ready for Christmas. Delicious.

Then there is sloe and apple jelly, a most scrumptious treat to have on your morning toast. Sloe bushes have vicious thorns so be careful when picking the sloes.

The bullace is a very small variety of plum and easily confused with the sloe. You can use bullace in place of or in conjunction with sloes as they are very similar.

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Above left, Quince fruit. Right, Crab apples in the frost.

The wild damson, a small plum, is another tree well worth seeking out, I know of a few close to where I live in Bewbush. This fruit makes delicious jam or jelly.

When making jam or jelly from these fruits it is always advisable to add some apple into the recipe to provide the pectin which is essential to provide a good firm set. There’s nothing worse than runny jam! There are some crab apple trees around and these would be the ideal choice if you can find some. The crab apple is one of the ancestors of the cultivated apple, so we have a lot to thank it for. The good old Bramley is a perfect substitute for the crab apple though and readily available in Bewbush if you know where to look!

Any of the above mentioned fruits plus elderberries and rosehips in any permutations can be combined to produce a Hedgerow Jelly.

I will be making some Sloe, Blackberry And Apple Jelly in due course and there will be a few jars available to buy at the All About Apples event in the Autumn.

A couple of local parks have some Quince bushes, an interesting fruit from which you can make jam or jelly. In Portugal the quince is called a Marmelo and marmelada (quince cheese) is a preserve made from quinces.

It is said that this is where the word Marmalade comes from. In my opinion it is an acquired taste, though worth a try if you are feeling adventurous. You can find recipes online.

So get yourselves out and do a bit of foraging but don’t forget to ask permission first if it is

private land, and particularly if you are in a place such as Buchan Country Park, we do not want wild life habitats destroyed in our pursuit of a free meal. You can’t beat getting something for free which tastes great as well but please observe the do’s and don’ts regarding foraging…

www.naturessecretlarder.co.uk/wildfood-rules.htm Sloe Gin Recipe Ingredients 450g/1lb sloes

225g/8oz caster sugar

1 litre/1¾ pint gin

Method •P rick the tough skin of the sloes all over with a clean needle* and put in a large sterilised jar. * Alternatively freeze overnight, a lot easier than pricking!

•P our in the sugar and the gin, seal tightly and shake well.

•S tore in a cool, dark cupboard and shake every other day for a week. Then shake once a week for at least two months.

•S train the sloe gin through muslin into a sterilised bottle.

Drink, cheers.

Optional. The discarded, gin soaked sloes can be used for making SLOE JELLY, waste not want not!

Sloe, Blackberry & Apple Jelly Recipe

Some Basic Wild Food Rules 1) Get a guide and learn to identify

If you are new to foraging, it’s always best to learn a few easily identifiable and common species first, such as Stinging Nettles. You will need a good identification guide to plants along with a wild food guide as it is very important to identify common plants correctly.

2) Forage for Free?

It’s important to gain permission to forage from the land if it doesn’t belong to you. Most land owners will be happy for you to gather wild foods but does not include their orchards or vegetable patches!

3) Double-check

It is vital to identify any wild food with absolute certainty. You need to cross-reference each identifying feature with a good identification guide. Only once this has been done and you feel comfortable should you attempt to eat any of your wild foods. If you have never tried a particular wild food, then only eat a small part at first, not because it means its toxic, but as with any new food it may not agree with you.

4) Not the whole thing!?

Not everything from the same plant may be edible.

For example, the leaves may be edible, but the seeds may be toxic.

5) Is the area clean?

It’s very important to only gather wild foods from clean areas. Avoid roadsides, areas around agricultural land, public areas where councils may spray, bodies of water which look stagnant along with anything that grows around the edge.

6) A lmond-like aroma?

Ingredients 1kg sloes

1kg apples (bramley or crab apple)

1kg blackberries

Sugar 500g per pint of juice

The proportions of sloe and blackberry are not too important, e.g. you could have 0.5 kg of sloes and 1.5 kg blackberry or vice versa, it matters not. Try to maintain the apple weight though as they provide the pectin necessary for the jelly to set well.

Method •W ash and pick over the fruit, discarding any that are damaged •W ash and cut up the apples into small pieces, cutting out any bruises. Don’t peel or core them •P ut all into a preserving pan with a little water and simmer until soft and it’s mostly juice.

•P ut into a jelly bag and strain for about 4 hours or overnight (Don’t squeeze the jelly bag or the result will be cloudy) Discard the pulp • Measure the juice •R eturn to the pan and add 1lb (500g) sugar per 1pt (600ml) of juice and allow to dissolve over a low heat whist stirring.

•B oil rapidly until setting point is reached.

(Skim off any surface scum) •P ut into sterilized jars, cover and label. Enjoy on toast, scones, rice pudding; with cold meat; or in a sauce for venison or pork.

If you pick up on an almond-like aroma then this indicates hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide is toxic to humans in large amounts. Although in small quantities, it is said to be beneficial to the body.

Many foods contain small traces of hydrogen cyanide, as do some harmful species, so do your homework!

7) M oderation is the key

Most foods with a long history of use by humans are safe (with the exception of a few), but are best used in moderation, as with most foods.

8) Leave some for us!

Never take the seeds of annuals, and never take more of any wild food than you actually need.

9) Still in doubt?

Then leave it out. It’s critical to identify any wild food with certainty. If you are not sure about how accurate your identification is, then don’t use/eat your find. Instead, keep reading and find an expert.

Buchan Country Park has regular events from looking at fungi to family bushcraft, visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/ places-to-visit-and-explore/countryside-events/ Page 5 Join us and help the park, find out more: fobcp.org.uk

Rangers Report 2016 Tom Burns Countryside Ranger In the Woods Middle Covert and Spruce Hill Coppice are the two most wooded areas of Buchan Country Park. Since the spring, both Roe and Fallow Deer have been investigating these areas for young trees to feast on. You’re most likely to see Deer in the Country Park in the evenings or early mornings when the Park is at its quietest. Deer browsing can be a problem, particularly in areas where the regeneration of coppiced trees would provide habitat for a wide range of invertebrates including butterflies and moths. These species are important not just because they are interesting to watch but also as a vital food source for birds. This is why in some areas you will see fenced off enclosures to keep deer (and rabbits!) out in order to protect the next generation of trees that are starting to grow.

On the Heathlands There are two areas of heathland at Buchan Country Park; Target Hill and the Plantation.

Target Hill is the larger of the two, facing south-west and with no canopy layer the heathland there sees a lot of sun and therefore can get very warm, this is ideal for cold-blooded reptiles. Basking in the sunlight on areas of bare ground is where you are most likely to encounter Slow Worms, Common Lizards and (one of my favourites) Adders! Surveying for reptiles can be tricky, the weather has to be warm for them to be out in the open and you, the surveyor, have Page 6 Join us and help the park, find out more: fobcp.org.uk

to be light on your toes as the reptiles feel the vibrations you make with every footstep through the earth. Common Lizards have been easy to find this year, lots have been seen but you do not get long to admire them, they are exceptionally fast and once they have spotted you they disappear into the undergrowth. Adders have also been seen regularly on Target Hill heathland (pictured above). Britain’s only native venomous snake, they have had a bad run in the press recently but the truth is they are a shy snake that will not attack or bite unless it is a last resort. If you are lucky enough to spot one then please be respectful and let it slither away.

On the Waters Douster and Island Pond have been treated to some extra wildlife conservation work lately. Namely the installation of several ‘freshwater reefs’ The reefs are made with Silver Birch cuttings that we generate every winter through our heathland management work. A number of branches or saplings are tied together with natural string and held in place in the water by stakes made from coppiced trees in the park.

This creates a small area where the water is still and vegetation can grow easier making it a

fantastic habitat for a wide array of creatures including Dragonflies and Damselflies (for which we are a Site of Special Scientific Interest).

In the air •A male Sparrowhawk was seen performing a dramatic display flight last month. Hopefully this means they are/will be breeding successfully again this year.

•G reen Woodpecker numbers seem to be rising, the amount of sightings has risen this year and if you take a stroll in the Plantation on a dry day you are almost guaranteed to hear or see one.

•G rey Wagtails are very active near the Boat House on Douster Pond and around Island Pond. If you sit quietly you are able to watch them hunting for insects over the water.

On the WildCam I have been fortunate this year as I stumbled upon a Fox den in Spring and quickly got a wildlife camera rigged up on a nearby tree.

Some of the footage of the cubs has been amazing to watch and over the days and weeks I’ve been able to see the cubs grow larger and become more boisterous! I’ve uploaded some videos on our Facebook page so do take a look www.facebook.com/BuchanCountryPark As usual the WildCam has caught plenty of footage of Roe Deer. It seems wherever I put the cameras, the deer come and find them! Mostly the clips are of legs though so it doesn’t make for a too interesting a movie!

•K ingfisher sightings are up again this year, early morning seems to be the best time to spot one flying on the perimeter of Douster Pond (pictured above left). You do have to be lucky though, they don’t sit still for long!

• I t has been a successful breeding season already for Great Spotted Woodpeckers (pictured above right), I know of four nests in the park that have successfully produced fledged chicks. One family are regulars to the bird feeders that you can watch from inside the Countryside Centre on a Sunday afternoon.

There is a map of the park just as you enter next to the Countryside Centre and leaflets are also available so you can easily find these areas to see Buchan Country Park wildlife!

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Friends of Buchan Country Park Photography Competition 2016 If you are a visitor to the park with a keen eye for photography then why not enter our competition for your chance to win a £40 cash prize. We also have a junior class for under 16’s, with the chance to win our young photographer trophy.

All that you need to do is submit your photo(s) in print to the Countryside Centre or post them to Buchan Country Park, Crawley, RH11 9HQ. With each photography please include your name and contact number, and also if you are entering the adult or junior competition.

Each photograph you enter will cost £1, with all profits going towards the Friends of Buchan Park.

Your photos can be of anything that you see around the park, from plants or animals, to the weather or the stars!

All pictures submitted will be judged by the Buchan Country Park Volunteers and the best photos will go on display in the Countryside Centre. We are also looking at the possibility of including these in a 2017 calender.

2016 Future Events: All About Apples day on Sunday October 16th.

Plus our Christmas Carols on Sunday 18th December.

A Bit About Us Friends of Buchan Country Park are a group of people who very much enjoy Buchan Country Park and who feel that we would like to promote its use as a beautiful public space.

As an independent self-funding body, we aim to promote and support the Environment and Education Service based at Buchan Park in addition to the management of the Park.

This is done through annual activities including Art in the Park, Easter Egg hunt, Fun Dog Show, All About Apples and Christmas Carols which all raise funds for the park.

Why not become a member?

Closing Date: Photos to be entered by Friday 30th of September 2016

Membership is only £2 per year and the committee is always looking for new members to join, donate a few hours help at events and contribute to our meetings.

Where we spend the money raised

www.fobcp.org.uk

As part our next newsletter we will be unveiling some of the big plans we have for the money we have raised. The team of volunteers and the Country Park Rangers have been busy obtaining extra funding and ensuring relevant permissions and purchases are in place for some exciting ideas for the future!

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www.facebook.com/friendsbuchancountrypark

Finally... A Big Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who donated money or their time to the Friends of Buchan Country Park. If you would like to get involved or can spare an hour please get in touch: info@fobcp.org.uk