Meet the Cows
Saturday, 24 February 2024 10:30am – 11:30am
Howe’s Retreat, Felden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0BY
Our Belted Galloway cattle would like to invite you to visit them in their winter home, the cattle barns at Howes Retreat. See all the cows up close (including the newest additions), learn all about our living lawnmowers and the important role they play in the management of the Box Moor Trust estate, and ask the Rangers any questions you have about our wonderful four-legged friends. There will be refreshments and some children’s activities as well as information on the Box Moor Trust.
This is a bookable event with four 1-hour timeslots throughout the day. To ensure that everyone can attend, please aim to stick to your timeslot. All are welcome. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian and remain supervised throughout the day.
Book via: https://bookwhen.com/boxmoortrust
75 spaces available. Suggested donation: £5.00 adults, £2.50 child (under 18)
Conservation Volunteers Update
At the end of November, our conservation volunteers were working on Apsley Triangle (a corner of Box Moor Trust land sandwiched between the river and the road at Apsley) to complete the second stage in the creation of a wildflower meadow. They have scattered yellow rattle seed, a semi-parasitic plant that feeds off the nutrients of nearby grasses. This will supress the growth of the more dominant species and make more room for wildflowers to grow and thrive.
To give the wildflower meadow a kickstart, our volunteers have also planted wildflower plugs which should grow and thrive to create a great habitat for pollinators, amphibians, and small mammals. The species that were planted are: Musk mallow, Wild carrot, Selfheal, Salad burnet, Meadow cranesbill, Birds foot trefoil, Yarrow, Betony, Common knapweed, Ribwort Plantain.
In December, the volunteers undertook the spiky job of scrub clearance at Preston Hill Pond, Westbrook Hay. It is important to keep the newly renovated pond edge clear of scrub to protect the new Bentonite liner from any damage, thus keeping the pond full of water.
They also started laying the hedge leading up to the pond and have been creating a viewing area at the end of the newly laid path. This will help provide habitat for wildlife, creating shelter and a corridor for small mammals and birds.
Donating made easy
As a charitable Trust, we are most grateful to our supporters and beneficiaries who kindly make financial donations towards our work. If you would like to donate then please use the button below. Thanks to everyone who has generously donated so far.
www.boxmoortrust.org.uk
01442 253300
