ICKWELL NEWS
SUMMER 2015
News & Activity Reports | Volume 1 - Edition 2
The conservation meadow in full flower
Walkway up to the viewing platform. We have dug down to try to find the path surface
The lake in all its glory
The restored paths on the western side
New hedge laying carried out by the IB boys
Summer 2015 During the spring term the work on site included pond and ditch clearance, and as the bird nesting season advanced some work in the tree nursery and charcoal making. Various visitors enjoyed the site and some more investigations were carried out into our history. The Master in charge, Chris Jones, and warden,Tony Young, have been here as usual and Chris has been away on some more INSET, planned to help with knowledge transfer to user groups of boys. We continue with outreach work among other users or potential users. Chris is now a member of the Beds Environmental Education Forum, which is a county wide group dedicated to increasing the uptake of environmental education among school children
History Works Two items have interested us this summer. The pots by the lake steps and uncovering historical architecture. There were once two pots on plinths by the lake steps called “tazzas”.The one remaining sits on a base and it bears a stamp “Blanchard and Sons”. We understand that these pots were very popular in Regency and Victorian gardens. Our site dates from about 1880 to 1890 so straddles the period. The missing pot may be in the lake so we might find it one day, in the meantime we are trying to source a replacement.
Near the back of the lake is a rising path ending in a flat plateau about 8m above ground level. Excavations have revealed some steps leading up to the plateau at the top. It has been suggested that there might have been a swivelling seat here for C19 visitors to sit on and enjoy the view. We hope to carry out further excavations in 2016.
Conservation Tasks We have been clearing invasive vegetation on the far western end of the site. The Wednesday afternoon IB group, who come out from the school, have been clearing scrub and planting a new hedge. They also built a sediment trap in the brook that runs in from the fields bordering the site. We are already seeing an improvement in the ground flora here. Butterflies are also active along the line of the laid hedge alongside the path, as light levels have gone up due to the removal of tall scrub. Nearby we constructed a new field pond where springs are located. These feed the lake and our new pond will provide a habitat for aquatic invertebrates that like clean water with a high oxygen level. The local Brownie group have been invited to help with the conservation of this area and have been for their first visit. A hibernaculum will be constructed and places set aside so that we can increase opportunities for grass snakes which are already active on the reserve.
The boys have been making charcoal in our three kilns. Woodland here has probably been managed for charcoal for centuries, this was the practice that gave many woodlands their character. Here we try to maintain the character of our woodland by coppicing and charcoal making. We are not experts yet but we manage to make some good charcoal most of the time. Time has also been spent opening up other parts to the light and this has involved clearing and burning dead elms We are always available to inform other user groups of our woodland practices and a woodland session for small groups is excellent for geography, history and science lessons. Do please get in touch - ickwell@bedfordschool.org.uk.
Teaching & Learning Changing practices and new ways of working need to be kept up with. I have been away on a short course to study mosses, lichens and liverworts. We have examples of all of these on our site so I can now spend more time on biological recording of these species. The courses are run by a University Department Of Continual Learning and are extremely good value as well as qualifying me for an eventual certificate in Field Ecology. Standards are high so it’s hard work for three days.
The boys have been trying to dig out this old animal drinking trough from a ditch. It’s rather long and they have not reached the end yet.
The Head Master on a visit stands by the C17 dovecote
Conserving The Meadow Our conservation meadow is located at the side of the lake and is maintained to encourage species diversity. Random quadrat tests carried out by The Study Centre showed up to 17 species of grasses and flowering plants to be present. The meadow is cut and cleared in the late summer to replicate a grass meadow situation. In September our IB boys will clear the grass.
Photography: Chris Stokey, OB
There is a good species count of invertebrates seen in the meadow and some examples are in the photographs. There are also reptiles and amphibians.
Gatekeeper Butterfly
Photography: Chris Stokey, OB
Grass Snake
Pygmy Shrew
Blue Darter Dragonfly
Opportunities We are open all the year round and welcome visits from school groups. Small groups work best and we can offer the following or similar tasks. We have a small lab and a certain amount of equipment. • • • • • • • •
Charcoal making Coppicing and pollarding Indicator species investigations Tree and hedge planting Tree seed collecting Pond invertebrate investigations Practical ecology in the pond, woods or meadows A Bedford School Independent Project
All these activities depend on the season but do get in touch to discuss your ideas. More news next term! A big thank you to all those who have worked hard on site this summer and to our other regular users and visitors.
Cleaning out the small pond - note the corporate jackets!
Where Are We? Ickwell is only 25 minutes drive from the centre of Bedford. There are no resident staff at the reserve and very few facilities, however visitors are able to experience living and working in a conservation and historic area. Activities are very much to suit visitors and are always of a nature sympathetic to the site. Mr Chris Jones, the Master in Charge, can help with planning and approves all activities. Please book well in advance of your trip. This is best done by email: ickwell@bedfordschool.org.uk Local Map (SG18 9EF)
Regional Map
Bedford School, De Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TU Tel:+44 (0)1234 362200 Email: info@bedfordschool.org.uk www.bedfordschool.org.uk Bedford School is part of The Harpur Trust: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: Company No. 3475202. Registered Office: Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7PZ. Registered Charity No. 1066861.