Loose Amenities Association

Quiz night

We had great fun and a lovely atmosphere at our first quiz night at the Pavilion on Saturday 20th February. The winners were:

1. Loose Ends
2nd The Northside
3rd George and the Dragon

Raffle winners were
1st Wendy Wilkins
2nd David Priestly
3rd Jim Osborne
4th Janet Fletcher.

A big thanks to everyone who came and supported this event.

Sunday working party

And more thanks to the seventeen hardy volunteers who braved the rain and mud on 21st February for the first Sunday working party in the valley. We cleared a huge number of brambles in Rainbow Meadow in preparation for the arrival of the sheep. To give the land a chance to recover and allow the grass to grow, they will be coming in mid May which will give us a chance to finish the bramble clearance and get the fences around Rainbow Meadow and Bank repaired.

The Sunday working party is on the third Sunday of every month, and the next one will be on 21st March from 10am to 1.30pm. We provide tea, coffee and biscuits (and this time a delicious cake from Dawn). Many hands make light work, so if you have a couple of hours to spare you'll be very welcome.

The pictures are courtesy of Howard Marsh who came along to lend moral support.

Goodbye cows

The last cows will be leaving the valley in early March. At the time of writing there are some packs of beef still available. If you would like to buy some please ring Rita on 01622 743126.

Hello sheep

The committee has decided to trial conservation grazing of Hebridean sheep in part of the valley. The decision was taken mainly on ecological grounds but the financial benefits of marketing the lamb (which is delicious) was taken into account too. The breed is tough, docile and native to the British Isles since the Iron Age. For more on the research we undertook before reaching this decision click on the picture of the sheep.

We realise that there may be some concern over potential sheep worrying by dogs, but the Hebrideans are very different from the sheep commonly seen in this area. They keep themselves to themselves, are docile and shy but if worried by dogs they can and will defend themselves. All the sheep have horns and are very fleet of foot. Most importantly the ewes will return to the owner's farm at Sutton Valence at lambing time, when they are most vulnerable to attack.

During the trial, Rainbow Meadow (the bit near Kirkdale down as far as the metal gate into Limekiln Meadow) will be grazed to encourage wild flowers and to keep the area clear of scrub and brambles. Notices requesting owners to keep their dogs under control from the entrance by the cow pen to the stile at Little Ivy will be erected. In the rest of the valley (footpath, Lime Kiln Meadow, Lime Kiln Shaw, 49 steps etc) there will be no such requirement and dogs can run wherever they and they owners wish. If you have any questions about this trial then please e-mail webmaster@loose-amenities.org.uk.

Loose Leaves

Click below to read all the news in Loose Leaves, the newsletter of LAA.. The newsletter will open in a separate window.

September 2009

January 2010