• Committee Members: Nicky Geeson, Nic Howes, Jane Denny, Maggie Setterfield
• HWT Liaison: Frances Weeks
Membership
Membership is you! If you are a member of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, and live in the City membership area, you are automatically a member of a Hereford City Branch. You don’t have to apply to be a City Branch member. You should receive our newsletter and you can visit our website at: https://www.herefordshirewt.org/wilderhereford
Aims of the City Branch
• Put nature into recovery
• Empower people to act for nature
• Secure our future
• to work in partnership with groups and organisations to create a joined up nature network to ensure nature's recovery work in the City for wildlife and humans alike
Our activities aim to welcome new people to volunteering & provide a safe, friendly environment where people can enjoy making a contribution to Nature Recovery.
Funding News
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust secured funding from Hereford Council to fund a part-time temporary project manager and the purchase of 1500 wild native bulbs and 3 trees for the Hereford Yazor Brook Restoration Project renewal and creation of wildlife friendly section of the Rose Garden.
We have had various meetings with Frances Weeks, Claire Spicer and Jamie Audsley regarding the Hereford – River City funding bid to the Lottery.
Challenging Times
The threats to our environment are ever increasing: climate change, threats to biodiversity and the acute threat to our watercourses which has special significance in our county and in Hereford City with the deterioration of the River Wye. Within this context the Hereford City Branch works to improve our blue green infrastructure of the City and through our involvement in campaigns we continue to fight for the future of the Wye catchment and threats to our urban wildlife environments.
Hereford Yazor Brook Restoration Project
The HYBRP is our major project. Activities during 2023-2024:
• Brook Restoration winter works programme
• Invertebrate Monitoring
• Citizen science work testing brook under aegis of Friends of the Wye
• Reporting pollution incidents – includes liaising with Environment Agency with regard to various polluting activity.
• Renewal and creation of wildlife area in Rose Gardens
• Campaigning for Essex Arms site to become a Wetland Park
Brook Restoration Winter Works
Pollution…again
Continued pollution spotted by our volunteers’ ‘eyes on the brook’. We report it to the Environment Agency, Welsh Water, and we remove cans, bottles and litter where we can safely access the Brook.
Yazor Road outfall
Brook by KFC
Grey water at Rose Garden
Tree Planting
We continued our tree planting programme along Moor Park, and in the space at Foley Trading Estate.
And three elm trees at Three Elms – restoring its rightful name.
Rose Garden Creation of Space for Wildlife
In 2024 the City Branch negotiated to take over an area of the Rose Garden next to the brook with a view to recreating it and managing it as a wildlife friendly area. Audits of trees, plants, birds and other animals were undertaken.
A planting planting plan was drawn up and work began….
Rose Garden cont’d…
Digging out the dogwood was a major undertaking, alongside cutting back brambles and nettles. Now tree, shrub & wildflower planting to do.
Wetland Park Project – visits from Herefordshire Council and the Chair of the Environment Agency
In our campaign to create a wetland park on the site of the old Essex Arms Sports Ground, we met with Herefordshire Council members earlier in the year. In September, we met with Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, alongside other EA workers and Council members.
Wetland Park Project – Day of Action – Sept 7 2024
As part of HWT’s Day of Action we led a a march to the Essex Arms site where speeches in support of a wetland park were heard and people were invited to sign a pledge to support our campaign.
Event & Outings
Yazor Wildlife Safari
A family friendly afternoon with Tim Kaye & the wildlife found in and around the Yazor Brook
Wheeling With Wildlife
The first of a projected series of Wheeling With Wildlife with Nic Howes on routes that are wheelchair, scooter, tramper, buggy pram & stroller friendly. The first route is in central Hereford,
Volunteers enjoyed an autumn outing to Colwall Community Orchard where we were treated to tours, demonstrations, and sampled the fruits of Colwall groups labours.
Outings: Mowley Wood and Colwall Orchard
A trip to learn about Mowley Wood Project’s creation of a mosaic of meadow, pasture, river and woodland, lrough edges, ponds and scrapes, wood pasture, woodland rides and glades.
Bartonsham Meadows Reserve
City Branch members are involved in turning this wonderful new HWT site and people. opportunities to get involved through 2025.
Educational Outreach
City Branch is working with Bartonsham Meadows’ engagement officer to devise, with schools and colleges, a programme of activities on the meadows. Topics include surveying, species identification, habitats, food chains and food webs, and recording weather.
The City Branch has also been supporting the student group of Our Planet our Future at Whitecross School with a focus on increasing biodiversity at the school with a garden, willow tunnel, native tree wildflower planting, a wildlife pond and a tree nursery.
Bartonsham Meadow – outdoor classroom
Borderlines Film Festival
We brought 3 family friendly workshops to the festival - Wildplay, Teeming with Life mural, and Spiral Nesting
Partnerships & Collaborations
City Branch works closely with the City Tree Wardens who are part of the Hereford Tree Warden Network which is incorporated into the Herfeordshire Tree Forum.
We participate in Save the Wye events, and liaise with various Wye campaigning groups.
We also participate in the River Carnival, held in August.
https:/www.herefordshirewt.org
Strategic Plan for the Yazor Brook in Hereford City
The Pentagon/Prairie in Spring…a proposal for its future is incorporated into a Strategic Plan for the Yazor Brook in the City. The document is now available on our HWT web pages.
The City Branch and the HYBRP rely on an enthusiastic group of volunteers. We welcome new volunteers coming up. If you are interested in joining us, please email us at: hfdcitybranch@herefordshirewt.co.uk
To find out more about the project: https://
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
Hereford City Branch
Grants, donations and expenditures 2024
The City Branch of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is a voluntary group.
