Dear Member

Now that we are all settling back into the routines of school and work after the summer, the Hook can once again get some of our attention and I’d like to update you on some forthcoming events.

We had a successful work party earlier in the summer to attack the balsam and thistles which were taking hold around the silt trap. The balsam along the river bank proved to be difficult to reach and we have referred this to Rushcliffe Borough Council for management but will continue to work toward managing the rest by hand.

We would now like to identify the first Sunday of each month for work parties, with as many people coming as can make it. The next work party, then, will be on Sunday 4th October at 2pm, meeting at the silt trap again. Weather permitting, we aim to:
Strim the area around the reed bed including the remaining thistles, collecting the cuttings to put in an area which will be useful to wildlife. We have one petrol strimmer already. If you have one which you use regularly and would be willing to use on the day, do bring it along.
Map and identify the existing trees on the site to inform future developments and sites for planting.
Remove balsam and general scrub near the allotment area and dyke.

Useful items to bring along might be: garden hand tools (fork, trowel); wheelbarrow; rake; petrol strimmer. And, of course, the usual reminders about wearing long sleeves, gardening gloves and appropriate footwear.

Lady Bay Litter Pickers and Friends of The Hook are joining forces to fight the scourge of litter on Lady Bay’s local nature reserve.

The plan is to set up a rota of volunteers to go out in pairs on a regular basis and clear the area of crisp and sweet packets, drinks bottles, and all the other rubbish that mysteriously drifts down there week after week.

Between us, we hope to have a team going down there every week eventually, but individual volunteers would only be asked to go once every two months, so it won’t be an onerous commitment for anybody.  

For information on volunteering, contact Malcolm on 0115 846 0186, or by email: malcolm.todd@ntlworld.com

Be a Litter Hero – Help keep The Hook beautiful

FrOTH has it’s first major fund raising event coming up on Saturday 14th November. So, banish those early winter blues and join us in All Hallows Hall for an evening of Ferret Racing with pie & peas included in the price of the ticket (vegetarian option available). Check out the event at http://www.falconry-school.co.uk/flatcaps.html . Tickets will be on sale at Pricewise and B&H News or through our web site. The evening will also include a raffle.

Proceeds from the event are earmarked to support development of:
A dipping pond
Bird and Bat boxes
Information boards
Other news: we are back in negotiation about creating a community orchard on the site. More on that as it develops.

I hope to see you at one of the events over the next couple of months.


Linda Adcock
Chair
Friends of the Hook Committee