Britain in Bloom Judging
1st August 2019


Anglia in Bloom Judging
10th July 2019

 

1st June 2021

Meeting Minutes.

 
20th May 2021
 

If you’ve walked along the footpath behind Filby Church recently you will see that our newly planted community trees in Trinity Wood are coming along really well.  At the moment we can see just a couple of trees needing attention, but the rest are looking good.   Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored us, so far.  Of course, there’s lots of maintenance to be done – like virtually non-stop strimming, to keep down this year’s crop; not fat hen this time but sow thistles!  We are keeping a list of all the wildlife we see, it’s going to be such a lovely area for bees and butterflies especially.  Since the land has been unploughed and un-treated, we’ve added a new dragonfly and new solitary bees to our list, and more of just about every insect, including ladybirds: it’s so exciting!

31st March 2021
 
Today Trinity Broads Volunteers have finished planting all the trees you have so generously sponsored for our spring schedule. The ground is already drying out, so we are hoping for rain. (sorry!)
 
We did have to stop work and have a change of plan however, when, from under a pile of last year’s cut and drying herbage, a small creature dashed away and hid under one of our empty flower pots. We could see the flowerpot wobbling about and we spotted a small, fury rear-end through one of the plant-pot holes. It was a harvest mouse! So instead of clearing the pile for burning, we have left it in place, as it will be where the mouse most likely shelters and sleeps.
 
A harvest mouse is tiny – an adult can weigh as little as a 2p piece! It lives in long tussocky grass, hedgerows, farmland and woodland edges. Sometimes you will find its tightly woven spherical nest high-up in tall grasses. It is locally common, but thought to be declining with only a handful reported in Norfolk during 2019, mostly in the Broads and North Norfolk.
 
The harvest mouse has pale, ginger-ish fur, and a white belly. It is the smallest rodent in Europe. Its tail is almost hairless and nearly as long as its body.
27th March 2021
 
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored a tree for Trinity Wood, Filby – we have reached our Spring Target! Sponsoring will be paused until Autumn so that we can take stock of the overall plan and replace any trees that have not survived the summer (a problem if the summer is hot and dry). Thank you all for such a brilliant response. We will keep you informed here.
 
Butterflies are on the wing! Several Brimstone butterflies have been seen around Filby. The males are bright buttercup yellow, females pale, slightly greenish white. Plant an Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) in your garden to attract them. A few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies have been seen, a lovely orangey tortoiseshell pattern; a sunny Common Nettle patch is what they need in your garden. Look out for Peacock butterflies with their spectacular eyespots which they use to startle predators. They often hibernate in garden sheds. Again Common Nettle (Urticaria dioica) is what they need as a food plant for their caterpillars. Find more information on this website. Butterflies (butterfly-conservation.org).
 
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)  are everywhere on the grass verges and hedge bottoms at the moment. A large plant which can grow up to 1.5metres. It has a thick main stem and clusters of little yellow-green umbel flowers. The leaves smell of celery and every part of the plant is edible. Soup called “Lenten potage” was made from Alexanders, watercress and nettles during the 18th. Century. Any other recipes? Make sure you identify it correctly before you try it as some similar plants are extremely poisonous. 

17th March 2021 – Trees to sponsor in Trinity Wood, Filby

We have a number of more established Oak trees, about a metre tall, available for sponsorship at £25 each. This is a good opportunity to help grow our new Community Wood. All our supporters will be named on a “Roll of Supporters” on our new website. Please let us know if you wish to remain anonymous. To sponsor a Tree, contact Filby Trustees (FL&CT) via Facebook Messenger, or email flctrust@yahoo.com for full details.

26th February 2021

We have received notice from our  Solicitors, Norton Peskett, of confirmation of entry on to the Land Registry for Trinity Wood.

8th February 2021

It has been impossible to update our website since 4th January 2021 as a result of a massive service failure on the part of its host, Moonfruit.com. You are reading this complete rewrite of the site on another host site.

4th January 2021

After consultation, Filby Lands & Conservation Trustees have decided that, in the light of current Covid-19 restrictions, we will have to postpone our Annual General Meeting until late Spring 2021 when we can update you on our finances and inform you of our progress and ongoing plans.

16th November 2020

We have started planting trees in “Trinity Wood” our new community wooded area behind Filby Church!  Yesterday we planted 5 hazel saplings, all well-spaced, so that eventually they can be coppiced to form a thicket to be a sanctuary for small singing birds, like garden warblers, blackcaps and other summer warblers.  Lots more work to do, but we are on the way now; please continue to support us.

23rd November 2020

Trinity Wood is taking shape.  With help from Trinity Broads volunteers about 200 trees and hedge plants have now been planted, in this last week. Thank you all for your continuing help and hard work.