News Information and Updates

Annual Report 2024/25

183:911954980 (Keith Braithwaite) — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 11:48:43 GMT

What to look for in May

Sat, 24 May 2025 14:17:20 GMT

What to look for in April

Sat, 24 May 2025 14:09:32 GMT

What to look for in March

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:01:17 GMT

What to look for in February

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:00:07 GMT

BWM Management Plan 2025-2030

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:39:21 GMT

What to look for in January

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 14:12:53 GMT

Common Bird Census

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:00:10 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

What to look for in December

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:27:40 GMT

Common Bird Census 2024

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:21:28 GMT

What to look for in November

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:03:23 GMT

What to look for in October

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:52:38 GMT

What to look for in September

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:17:04 GMT

What to look for in August

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:12:03 GMT

What to look for in July

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:50:02 GMT

What to Look for in June

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:29:47 GMT

What to Look for in June at Ballard

What to Look For in May

Tue, 21 May 2024 10:01:18 GMT

What to Look for in April

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:07:35 GMT

What to Look for in March

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:26:19 GMT

What to Look for in February

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:30:29 GMT

Ballard Water Meadow Insect Survey 2022

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:03:11 GMT

Image courtesy of Nel_Botha on Pixabay.com.

What to Look For in December

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:23:35 GMT

Annual Report 2022 - 2023

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 14:06:33 GMT

Proposed Change of Status for Ballard Water Meadow

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:44:54 GMT

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow recently proposed a change in the status of Ballard Water Meadow and War Copse, plus the nearby site of Barton Common, from SINCs ( Sites of Interest to Nature Conservation ) to LNRs ( Local Nature Reserves ).

Sadly, despite assurances that no decision would be made before a consultation process, the proposal was unexpectedly thrown out at the New Milton Town Council's Amenities Committee on September 4th 2023.

The meeting, and the Friends' disappointment, was covered by The New Milton Advertiser and Times.

Curiously, the Town Council then announced a lesser five year commitment to the sites.

A subsequent letter supporting the Friends' proposal written by Keith Metcalf from the excellent Milford Conservation Volunteers was also published by the newspaper.

We publish below the details of the proposed change and responses from the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow.

Newsletter for September 2023

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:25:51 GMT

What to Look for in September

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:18:49 GMT

2023 Common Bird Census

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:34:40 GMT

Image of Owlets in Woar Copse courtesy of Linda Ryan.

Newsletter for June 2023

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:47:23 GMT

National Meadows Day 2023

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:19:56 GMT

Join us on Saturday 24th June for our annual National Meadow Day event and find out more about the area and our work on Ballard Water Meadow

What to See in May

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 13:28:28 GMT

What to Look For in April

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:15:59 GMT

March 2023 Newsletter

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:59:54 GMT

Dear Friend of Ballard Water Meadow,

Welcome to the latest Newsletter from the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow.

Firstly, thank you to all our members who have continued to support us during the year and a big welcome to those recently joining the group. We would not be able to do any of the work we do in Ballard Meadow and Woodland, for both our local communities – wildlife and people, without this support and generosity.

Despite the frosts in December, and heavy and persistent rainfall our volunteer work parties (Fridays and Sundays 09.30-12.30) have achieved an enormous amount of work this autumn and winter. Thanks go to all of you who have braved some (often) inclement weather to cut, stack, drag, burn and plant in the woodland. We’ve also begun the rotational clearing the ever-encroaching bramble and small shrubs for the streamside in the meadow (see below).

The Committee hopes that as many of you as possible will take a few moments this spring to visit the site and see what’s been achieved. It won’t be long before the spring flowers poke their heads through the ground.

Conservation Management Work

Our new coppice compartment (W12) was cleared of bramble and smaller shrubs during December and January. When conditions were right, the material cleared was burnt so we enjoyed a few pow-wows around the bonfires. This area had been marked with stakes to show where we’d be planting around 150 new hazel saplings, which we did during February.

Our last task in this compartment, until we return to do more work here in 10 years’ time, was to have our now traditional breakfast bonfire in early March, marking the end of the conservation management work season.

It is the very nature of meadows that they crave to be woodland. Initially, if left unmanaged or as a legacy of inappropriate management, bramble and small woody shrubs begin to colonise. Before long, scrub and then woodland develops. At Ballard Meadow, the bramble creeps in from the edges and soon, as it becomes too dense, livestock won’t touch it, allowing it to become very well established. So, we have to keep it in check. Each year we intervene by clearing bramble and woody material from the edges of two selected compartments and remove any large obstacles. This takes place in winter and this year we have focused our attention on two compartments next to the stream, compartments M6 and M8.

We have been supported in this clearance work by Paul Brockman BEM and students from Ringwood School. They have helped coppice the hazel growing against the stream as part of their woodland management training. We won’t be touching the small area of ground between the stream and the new fence, so the cut material is stacked here to allow to rot away naturally. These habitat heaps and stacked timber (wood-walls) will provide additional, undisturbed habitat for wildlife.

We do this to allow meadow plants to recolonise the areas cleared. By disturbing the ground, long-lived seed will be exposed and there will be a fresh flush of meadow plants. Our plan is to control any invasive Hemlock Water-dropwort in May and June, then cut and clear all the spring and early summer growth in these two sections sometime in late July.

There is still a large amount of old timber stacked against the edges of the gravel path through the woodland. This is mainly holly, cut a few years ago. We are gradually taking this out, cutting it into shorter lengths and stacking it on our woodland compartment boundaries, providing a more useful habitat for fungi to colonise and invertebrates to overwinter. The path edges will then be mown annually, creating a narrow woodland ride edge and encouraging a variety of wildflowers.

Although not strictly within the boundary of the Ballard Meadow and Woodland site, the small patch of scrub and woody vegetation (Willow, Sycamore and bramble) at the entrance to the wood at the end of Hazelwood Avenue, has been cleared and the arisings burnt or taken away by the Town Council. We are hoping that this area will be cut and cleared annually and we await the spring and summer to see what develops in this location.

Recording

December, January and February are quiet months for the recording of wildlife. Casual observations of birds and plants are noted, but most species are dormant until we get to late February. Then things begin to stir, frogspawn is laid in the ditch and a few plants (Lesser Celandine for example) come into flower early. However, the stream survey, looking at the chemicals present in the water and noting any active invertebrates, continues throughout the year, when there is water in the stream. Recently, Caddis Fly larvae have been found still active in their watery and, after all the torrential rain, seemingly hostile home.

We know very little about our nocturnal wildlife in the meadow and woodland. We’re delighted to begin a recording programme using a trail camera, strategically placed, to see if we can capture images of bats, foxes, deer etc, that we don’t normally encounter. Similarly, we have not recorded any moths on the site, but we hope to rectify this by using a moth-trap on occasions during the late evenings in summer. We are in receipt of a grant from the Hampshire Biological Information Centre(HBIC) to purchase a device, so we’ll advertise in advance when we’ll be working. All results will be published in due course.

Liaison

In December the FBWM hosted a visit by members of the Tiptoe Green management committee.

Treasurer and Membership Secretary’s Update

At the AGM I advised members that due to a change in the law our current bank HSBC were now charging for every transaction on our account. To eliminate this expenditure the account has now successfully been changed to a Treasurer’s Account operated by Lloyds Bank. This is specifically for a small “Not for Profit Group” and has no bank charges. The savings will be over £100.00 per year.

New Account details

Lloyds Bank: Sort Code: 30-99-50 Account Number: 49697068

Membership renewal is due from 1st April 2023 , and I will shortly be writing to members. The membership fee is to remain at £5.00 per annum. Lloyds will take over the collection of existing direct debits/standing orders and existing BACs instructions.

I am very pleased to inform members that earlier in the year we received a generous donation from New Milton Friends Group for £200.00 to fund our current Hazel replanting programme.

In February we received an amazing donation from the New Forest Crematorium (Westerleigh Group), for £2,500.00 to fund our tree-planting programmes well into the future.

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow are grateful to all our members for membership subscriptions, renewals, generous donations and to the organizations for their generous donations.

From The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow, a Huge Thank You.

As a “Not for Profit Group” all monies received go towards funding our ongoing work to benefit wildlife.

Any questions/ queries regarding membership please contact me: Pam Petherbridge

pampetherbridge8@gmail.com 07484 830772. Postal address for membership renewal by cheque to: 1 Oakwood Court, Osborne Road, New Milton BH25 6AB.

*Please do not send any cash*

Community Engagement

We’re continuing with our monthly “What to Look For” posters but decided to do something a bit different for February. So, for each of the four weeks, we introduced a different part of the team that work so hard to conserve Ballard: The Recorders, The Management, The Fundraisers and of course The Workers! Who knew there were so many people and hours involved!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram!

Coming-up and Dates for the Diary

For the last few years, we have joined with Plantlife and celebrated our glorious meadows. Meadow Day this year will be Saturday 24 June 2023 and you’re all very welcome to join us. We’ll be serving refreshments, there will be guided walks and other activities. Please keep an eye-out for local advertising and all are welcome.

There will be celebration event at our workbase in Ballard Meadow on Sunday 1 October 2023. All the membership are invited, to say once again a big “thank you” to all the members who support us throughout the year. Refreshments will be provided and further details will follow in due course.

We have an Annual General Meeting in October. The Crematorium has kindly offered us space to hold the meeting there, as in 2022, and will take place on Thursday 26 October 2023 at 6.30pm. This is an open meeting for the local community and all our Friends of Ballard Water Meadow members and their guests are invited

Acknowledgements

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow cannot work in isolation. We are grateful for all the support and the many positive comments from members and the wider local community. In particular, we’d like to thank New Milton Town Council (helping with the physical management, on-site repairs as well as providing our necessary insurance), Paul Brockman BEM and students from Ringwood School. The New Forest Crematorium, New Milton Friends Group, Cllr Geoff Blunden and the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (Hampshire County Council) all gave generous donations for which many thanks.

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

March 2023

What to Look for in March

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:19:52 GMT

Meet the Workers

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:01:31 GMT

Meet the Team: The Fundraisers

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:40:24 GMT

Meet the Team Week 3 and it's time to say a big thank you to everyone who helps raise the much needed funds :)

Meet the Management

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:17:40 GMT

For our second Meet the Team week, we'd like to introduce The Management!

Meet the Team: Recorders

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:56:58 GMT

What to Look For in January

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:21:38 GMT

December 2022 Newsletter

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:41:34 GMT

FRIENDS OF BALLARD WATER MEADOW

NEWSLETTER 9

December 2022

Welcome to the latest Newsletter from the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow (FBWM).

Firstly, a big thank you to all our members who have supported us during the year. We would not be able to do any of the work we do in Ballard Meadow and Woodland, for both our local communities – wildlife and people, without your generosity.

If you recall, I was a little concerned about the effects of the long, dry summer on our newly planted trees in Woar Copse. It is good to be able to let you know that the recent rain (and there’s been a lot of it!) has helped enormously. Many of the tree saplings that appeared to be in difficulty are now in healthy bud ready to burst in the spring, although a few have succumbed. We hope that this prolonged mild autumn does not fool them into leaf too early. This summer has certainly caused strange things to happen to some plants, with reports of Horse Chestnut trees in full flower in October!

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow have been busy, as always, as we implement our autumn and winter work programme.

Conservation Management Work

The FBWM have adopted the small clearing (Green) between Woar Copse and Fawn Gardens in order to increase its value to wildlife. We are implementing a new cutting regime where only half the area is cut each year. All cuttings are removed. By cutting and removing the arisings we will reduce the nutrient input, making it more attractive to the more delicate wild flowers. These in turn will attract more invertebrates and pollinators. By leaving half uncut and long, this allows invertebrates to go through their life-cycle undisturbed; many of which overwinter as eggs or larvae in upright, hollow plant stems and around their bases. This year we cut one half and removed the cuttings in late August which were bagged and removed for composting by the Town Council, for which many thanks.

We are embarking on a plan to create a more diverse woodland ride through Woar Copse. As we move through the woodland, clearing individual compartments, the edge of the gravel path will be kept clear of bramble and lengths of timber. Eventually, both edges of the gravel path through the woodland will be cut to a metre or so wide. Over time this will encourage grasses and woodland flowers to grow instead of the bramble making it more attractive to invertebrates.

The cattle came back onto the Meadow in early September, only to break-through the fencing and into Ballard School grounds a day or two after. The staff at the school were none too pleased, so the cattle were removed.

The north and east sections of fencing were replaced in October, as well as the kissing-gate framework at the end of Hazelwood Avenue, and the bridge across the north-south ditch. This work was arranged through the Town Council who called-in local fencing contractors to do the work.

Now the fencing work has been completed, 5 Dexter cattle were back on the meadow on Sunday 20 November.

Our two permanent woodland glades (compartments W4 and W11) have been cut and cleared of bramble and last years’ vegetation, ready for a wild flower show in the spring. This work started in autumn 2020 and already there are signs that the woodland ground flora is spreading and becoming more varied. We have also started to clear the bramble and small shrubs from the area of woodland near our workbase. This is the next section on our coppice cycle (W12) and once cleared, we will plant the area with more hazel saplings, probably in late February or early March.

We are fortunate in being able to apply to the Woodland Trust for free native hedgerow shrubs and this year we planted around 50 saplings along the new fence line at the eastern end of the meadow in compartment M12.

During the winter storms last year, a large, old willow collapsed across the ditch in M12 near to the Guide Hut entrance. For the last couple of years, we have been reducing the spread of the willow in this corner of the site, so cutting and clearing this was added to our programme.

Cutting the old timber back, causes the willow to sprout new, fresh growth (like pruning) as well as opening-up ground below to allow meadow plants to spread. If left, it can act as a holdfast for bramble which tends to smother the more delicate meadow flora.

As with any cutting or clearing that we do, it creates material that we have to get rid of. The most efficient way of dealing with this material is to burn it, so we’ve had a few bonfires in the last month to keep on top of things. We are mindful of wind direction and the amount of wood-smoke burning may generate, and each time we burn Hampshire Fire and Rescue are informed. Any material not burnt is stacked into habitat piles in selected locations or piled near the entrance gate, ready for removal and composting by the Town Council.

Recording

The exceptionally hot and dry end to the summer meant that the stream dried-up fairly early-on, so no recording has been possible. It is only now that there is water flowing again, so the monthly chemical analysis and wildlife recording has started again. Caddisfly larvae and a mosquito pupa have already been added to the list of species found.

Plant recording continues throughout the year. This autumn seems to have provided the perfect conditions for fungi with many varieties on show, particularly in the woodland. The Butterfly Transect and Bumblebee Walk concluded for the year in September, as did the Insect Survey. It may be some time before the results of the latter are available, as our surveyor, Bryan, suffered a stroke at the end of September. He’s in hospital, receiving excellent physio and rehab and is, thankfully, recovering.

Results from all our surveys are displayed on our website when they become available.

Membership and Finance

At the time of writing the total membership stands at 59. Grateful thanks to all members for subscription monies and the generous donations. All monies go towards funding our ongoing work to benefit wildlife and we are grateful. Membership forms are available on our website but if anyone wishes to have a paper copy, please let me know and this will be arranged.

We have working parties on at the Meadow and Woodland on Friday and Sunday mornings. Currently we are actively looking for people to join our working party on a Sunday morning 9.30 – 12.30. You do not have to work for the full 3 hours nor commit yourself to working every Sunday. We would love to have you as part of our team. Please contact the Membership Secretary if you are interested or require more information. See below for contact details.

The end of year accounts were verbally presented at the AGM due to technical issues with my Internet provider and subsequent lack of printing facilities. The accounts for the group are available on request.

The Government changed the rules this year regarding bank charges for charitable/nonprofit making groups. HSBC now charge for all activities on our account which is an expenditure we can look to eliminate for the coming year by changing to another Bank. I will contact all members when this is in place to inform of new bank account details.

Lastly, I have pleasing news to announce as I applied for a grant to fund our ongoing hazel replanting in the woodland and am delighted and grateful to New Milton Friends Group who have kindly agreed to fund this project. Planting hazel is planned for February 2023 according to the management plan.

Contact Pam, Treasurer/Membership Secretary: 07484 830772 or pampetherbridge8@gmail.com

Community Engagement

We’ve been using notices, our website and social media to let people know what to look out for at Ballard Meadow and Woodland. There really is so much to see for such a small site.

To keep up with all the news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or here on our website ( www.friendsofballardwatermeadow .co.uk ) .

If you have any pictures taken at Ballard, please feel free to post them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or send them to us and we can post them for you. We’d love to see them!

Meetings are ongoing with New Milton Town Council regarding the new signage around the site and we hope to have further updates by the next newsletter.

And finally, it’s a pleasure to walk round Ballard Meadow and Woodland. The litter pickers and Ballard PUPS (Pick Up Poo Squad) are doing a fantastic job. A huge thank you to everyone who does their bit ��.

Liaison

For the first time, we held a Member’s Day in September at the workbase in Lake Grove Road. This event was arranged to say a big “Thank You” to all our members for their support. It also coincided with our founder-member Enid Knight’s leaving the area for pastures new to be with family in South Wales. Enid, with others, was instrumental in setting-up the Friends of Ballard

Water Meadow in 2005. We said, “Goodbye” to Enid and we hope that she has a long and happy time with her family in new surroundings. Thanks to Pam for all the hard work and organising the lovely food.

At the end of October, we held our Annual General Meeting. This year we were invited to the meeting room at the new Crematorium. Thanks to Graeme, Kyle and Amanda for providing the accommodation and refreshments on the night.

At a well-attended meeting we reviewed the events, membership, finance and community engagement for the past year, re-elected the Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary/Treasurer and members present elected two new Committee Members: Mandy Hayes (Media/Community Engagement) and Steve Love.

Coming up

Please make a note that the FBWM will have our stall on New Milton market on Wednesday 7 December 2022 . We will once again be selling small packets of wild flower seeds ready for spring sowing. All monies raised at this, and other events, go towards supporting the Group enabling us to promote our cause locally and buy and replace tools and equipment required to manage habitats for wildlife.

We hope that everyone has a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

December 2022

What to Look For in December

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 14:43:25 GMT

What to Look for in November

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 15:54:39 GMT

News Letter 8: September 2022

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 15:39:42 GMT

Dear Friend of Ballard Water Meadow,

Well, we’ve made it through the hottest summer on record (40.3°C in Conningsby, Lincolnshire) and the driest since 1976. We’ve yet to see the full impact on our wildlife, but many of the newly planted trees in the area (including the saplings we planted in Woar Copse) seem to have suffered in the drought conditions.

Thank you all for continuing to support the work of the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow, helping our local community wildlife here in the heart of New Milton.

Conservation Management Work

Since I was last in touch, we’ve successfully attacked the invasive Hemlock Water-dropwort in two meadow compartments (M5 and M11). We cut this in June and we got the timing right as it hadn’t re-grown and seeded by the time Richard Harvey (farmer/cattle owner) came in to cut these sections in July. The friends then collected the arisings, piled them near the gate and these were removed by the Town Council for composting.

Another plant that can become dominant if not kept in-check is Bracken. In our two permanent glades in Woar Copse (compartments W4 and W11) there is Bracken present and we cut/pull this a few times during the main growing period. Over time, this will weaken the underground rootstock and the plant will send-up smaller and weaker stems, thus maintaining a presence, but not being dominant. There is a small section in the Meadow which we also control.

You may have noticed the Bramble has been trimmed-back along the gravel path. Where lengths of cut timber have been laid in the past, we expose this ready for cutting-up into shorter lengths for our “wood-walls”. Elsewhere, we trim the leaders back, so people can walk along without fear of being poked-in-the-eye! Trimming during the breeding season isn’t a problem, as no birds nest in the bramble close to the path edge – there’s too much disturbance from pedestrian traffic (and children looking for Fairy Doors!).

The long-term plan is to have a grassy/wildflower margin between the edge of the gravel path and the first “row” of newly planted hazel saplings. This will only be 1-2m wide, but will give the feel of a woodland ride. It also creates a corridor for butterflies, for example, which can move more freely within the wood looking for nectar sources.

The grazing livestock are now back in the meadow, munching their way through all the taller vegetation. Now that we’ve had a bit or rain, there is a flush of new, sweet grass for them.

Recording Work

During the main period of activity for much of our smallest wildlife species (invertebrates, including butterflies, bumblebees and other insects) we undertake surveys and transects to record their presence (or absence) in both the meadow and woodland. The Friends conduct a monthly stream survey (when there’s water in there, alas not this summer), a butterfly transect, a bumblebee walk and we jointly, with the Town Council, fund an entomologist, Bryan, to survey insects. The results of all this hard work are posted on our website and included in the Annual Report.

Many thanks to Keith for uploading all the information and for repairing and maintaining this facility.

It’s not just the moving animals we record. For a number of years now we have been building-up a long list of plants that grow both in the meadow and woodland. Each time we clear a compartment in the woodland, it gives us an opportunity to record, in detail, the plants growing the following spring, having been covered in impenetrable bramble for a few years! One new discovery is Hemp Agrimony ( Agrimonia eupatoria).

Liaison

In early July we had our event to celebrate Plantlife’s national Meadow Day. Fernhill Friends acquired freely donated cakes and cold drinks from Morrison’s and Tesco, and manned the table selling refreshments on the day. We had our stall, selling wildflower seed packs and we conducted guided walks around the meadow looking at meadow management and butterflies.

Thanks go to The New Milton Men’s Shed for bringing their stall to the event.

As part of our association with Conservation Connection New Forest South, we attended the Bee Fayre in late August. This was held on the Recreation Ground in New Milton, for the second year running.

Membership and Finance

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow are grateful for members’ continued support and we welcome our new members. Money from membership and donations fund our ongoing work to benefit wildlife - thank you. The end of year accounts will be presented at the Annual General Meeting – see below.

Membership currently stands at 58. Membership forms are available on our web site but if anyone would prefer a paper copy, please let Pam know and this will be arranged.

Please contact Pam: Treasurer/Membership Secretary: 07484 830 772 or email: pampetherbridge8@gmail.com

Media and Publicity

The past few months we have been looking at how to improve our communications and messaging with all the organisations and people involved in the project. In particular we have been focusing on the public and users of Ballard.

We are in discussions with New Milton Town Council about updating the signage and information boards at the site. In the meantime, we have erected temporary notice boards and are using these to keep people up to date on what’s happening in the meadow and woodland and ideas of what to look out for each month.

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow has a website. We also use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and regularly post updates on the work of the volunteers, photographs and any new findings on the site.

We have received some lovely feedback recently via social media:

“All those involved have done a wonderful job. It’s such a beautiful place and we must treasure it.”

“Jewel of New Milton.”

“It’s definitely my most favourite place and a beautiful treasure of New Milton”

“It’s good to calm a chattering mind in these uncertain days.”

“It’s extremely peaceful around there!”

We have also been running a Pick-Up the Poo! Campaign which has been hugely successful and popular. The whole area is so much cleaner and smells so much nicer!

For any information on media or publicity items please contact Mandy: 07552-834770 or email: mandyhayes.tiptoe@btinternet.com

Upcoming Events

The Friends would be grateful if you could make a note in your diaries of some up and coming events.

On Sunday 25 September we’ll have a small celebration at our workbase/shed at the main entrance to Ballard Meadow on Lake Grove Road (BH25 5LA) at 11.00am. This is to say a big “THANK YOU” to all the volunteers who help on Friday and Sunday mornings, and at other times during the week and to all our membership who support us so well throughout the year. Everyone is welcome, so please come along and meet your committee and other like-minded members. We will have our gazebo set up and some light refreshments will be provided.

We will be having our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 October at 7pm. This will be at the new Crematorium site on Stem Lane. The venue has a meeting room and the director, Graeme has kindly offered this for the Friends Group to use. To get an idea of numbers, please RSVP to Pam (contact above) by Friday 21 October 2022.

We had a successful day on New Milton market in December 2021, so we’ll be repeating the event to fund-raise for the Friends. This will be in Station Road on Wednesday 7 December .

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

September 2022

Longmeadow: A Conservation Connection Project

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 12:34:59 GMT

As a member of Conservation Connection, New Forest South, we have been involved in the creation of a wildflower meadow at Longmeadow, New Milton.

CONSERVATION CONNECTION

NEW FOREST SOUTH

DEMONSTRATION WILDFLOWER MEADOW No 2

LONG MEADOW VILLAGE GREEN

BARTON ON SEA

NEW MILTON

INTRODUCTION

For a number of years New Milton Town Council have been managing small areas of former grassland as wildflower plots, in a number of locations around the town. Three small areas were set-aside on Long Meadow in 2018. These were rotovated and sown with a seed-mix which established over a couple of years. In 2021, the Town Council approached Conservation Connection New Forest South with a view to the group taking on the re-establishment and future management of these plots on Long Meadow. As this was to be volunteer effort, it was agreed that only one plot to the north of the stream, would be re-established, but made larger in size.

The small area to the north of the stream was rotovated by New Milton Town Council during the first week of April 2022. Seed was purchased along with some fine, kiln-dried sand and, on 9 April armed with buckets, a group of volunteers assembled on-site to sow the sand/seed mix across the wildflower plot.

Wildflower Plot - before rotovating.

ESTABLISHMENT

Native wildflower seed sourced in the UK was used, comprising around 75% grass species and 25% native wildflowers. This mix emulates a wildflower meadow, which is grass dominant. The seed is mixed in a ratio of about 1:2 with fine, kiln-dried sand. For broadcasting, this gives bulk to a handful and also shows on the ground where the mix has been sown. String lines at 2m spacing were laid to assist in spreading the seed/sand mix evenly. Each person then started at the furthest point and grabbing handfuls of mix from the bucket, worked slowly backwards between the string-lines, distributing seed/sand as they moved.

All equipment was cleared away and it was now in the “lap-of-the-Gods” to provide rain and warmth to allow the seeds to establish and germinate.

Wildflower Plot - sown 9 April.

RESULTS

The plot established during the spring. There was a much higher proportion of Corn Marigold than would normally be the case. This is an annual with long-lived seed and rotovating the soil after a couple of years rest, exposed a mass of this seed. Other annuals like Cornflower, Corn Cockle and Corn Chamomile were sparse. We may have been provided with a poor seed batch, or the sowing rate (grams per square metre) may have been too low. However, a number of perennial species like Cat’s-ear, Oxeye Daisy, Pignut, Knapweed, Fodder Burnett and Bird’s-foot Trefoil have established well. These species, along with the grasses like Smooth Meadow-grass, Sweet Vernal-grass, Yorkshire Fog and Red Fescue will become dominant over the next few years.

A sea of yellow Corn Marigold - July 2022.

Perennials take time to bulk-up in the soil and it is rare they flower in their first year.

2022 was an exceptional year; the hottest on record (40.3°C recorded in Lincolnshire) and the driest since 1976. The wildflower plot flowered early and set-seed early. Some rain at the end of July didn’t soak-in too far, but the shallower-rooting grasses took advantage of this and the brown, scorched-earth began to green-over. By the time the plot was due for cutting, a few Cornflowers had germinated – a second chance.

Wildflower Plot - prior to cutting - September 2022.

MANAGEMENT

The wildflower plot is an embryo meadow. It takes a number of years to be fully established with a broad range and diversity of perennials. Grasses will always dominate, but there will be a balance struck over time.

Initially (in a normal year) growth will be lush, as nutrients in the soil are high, giving plants a boost. Many of our more delicate wildflowers do best on nutrient-poor soil. One way of reducing the nutrients is to allow the plants to grow, then cut them down when tall and clear away the cut material (the arisings). Cutting tall vegetation requires specialist mowers or powered brushcutters/clearing saws as normal mowers won’t cope. By cutting tall, then clearing-up, this distributes seed and any small crack or patch of bare ground will allow new plants to get a foothold and with the right conditions, germinate. It also allows invertebrates to scuttle away as they are dislodged from stems during the cutting/clearing-up.

Wildflower Plot - cut and cleared.

In 2022 the whole plot was cut on 1 and 3 September and cleared-up on the second visit. The arisings were placed on habitat piles; sacrificial areas strategically located on the edge of the plot. These gradually rot-down over the autumn and winter, but in doing so, retain a small amount of warmth relative to the more open areas. This is ideal for a whole range of wildlife species from invertebrates, reptiles, frogs and newts, to small mammals, to stay safe and undisturbed throughout the winter period as they become less active or go into hibernation.

Once cut and cleared the plot will stay undisturbed until it is cut and cleared in late summer 2023.

A narrow 1-2 metre margin of Long Meadow grassland and wildflowers, has been left uncut by New Milton Town Council adjacent to the plot. It is hoped that the wildflowers here (particularly Pignut and Knapweed) will disperse seed into the plot if this continues to be left to grow during the spring and summer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Conservation Connection would like to thank New Milton Town Council for initially offering this plot to the group. Thanks also go to the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow for loan of equipment and volunteer help during sowing and harvesting, and to other, local Barton on Sea residents who came along to sow the seed in April and to help clear-up in early September.

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

and Conservation Connection New Forest South (rep)

The Fawn Gardens Meadow So Far

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 13:04:17 GMT

FRIENDS OF BALLARD WATER MEADOW

NEW MILTON TOWN COUNCIL

BALLARD MEADOW AND WOODLAND

THE CLEARING

(Between Fawn Gardens and Woar Copse)

INTRODUCTION

The small clearing measuring approximately 1700sq m is located between Fawn Gardens and Woar Copse. It is the eastern most part of the Crest Estate constructed between 1989 and 1993. This relict grassland and rich wildflower patch is one of a number on the estate that were given over by the building developers as a planning condition, and are designated public open space. A short section between Fawn Gardens and the edge of the Copse had been timber-edged and gravelled originally, but has since grow-in. Other pedestrian created paths connect the Green Way to Fawn Gardens and to Woar Copse in a triangular pattern (see Sketch 1). It serves as a walk-through to the Copse, Ballard Meadow and New Milton town centre from the houses.

MANAGEMENT

1. Previously

As a public open space, the responsibility for management following occupation of properties by residents, sometimes falls to a local residents’ group, a parish/town council or the District Council. It was taken on by NFDC. At some point, as part of the Service Level Agreement with NFDC, New Milton Town Council became the managing body responsible for its maintenance, along with several other small open spaces and a play-area within the estate.

Management comprised repeated cutting throughout the year using ride-on mowers. All the growth was macerated and left in-situ. In 2020 it was suggested to the Town Council that leaving a 2m margin uncut against the boundaries would provide a tall-herb zone for overwintering invertebrates. At one point this was cut and didn’t fulfil the objective. However, in 2021, a much wider margin was left uncut. This was trimmed in late autumn by the FBWM and the cut material raked-off and stacked in heaps in the corner of the clearing to rot down.

In early 2021 a native oak tree was planted by New Milton Town Council in the centre of the plot as part of their locally advertised sponsored tree-planting initiative. Also in 2021, it was rumoured that this clearing was being put forward as a possible location for a new Community Garden planned for the town, promoted by the New Milton Residents’ Association. Thankfully, a more suitable location has been agreed.

2. Future

In 2022, apart from the triangular pattern of paths through the plot, no cutting has been undertaken by the Town Council. The onus for its management now lies with FBWM.

The new cutting regime (shown in Sketch 1) will comprise regular mowing of the pedestrian routes through the Clearing by the Town Council using the traditional ride-on mowers. Material will be macerated and left in situ. The rest of the plot will be managed by hand cutting the vegetation tall, using a clearing saw/brushcutter, then raking-up the arisings (usually the following day). This short delay allows invertebrates and seeds to drop from the vegetation. The arisings are collected in bulk-bags and taken away for composting by the Town Council. Taking away the arisings will help lower the nutrients being fed back into the soil, which is important for wild flowers as they prefer nutrient-poor soil types.

Only half the area of vegetation will be cut and cleared in any one year, usually in late August or early September (in 2022, 18-19 August), alternating each year. The reason for this is that the uncut half provides benefits for overwintering invertebrates. Many species overwinter in hollow plant-stems for example. Some invertebrates overwinter as eggs or pupae attached to tall stems. By cutting only half each year, this allows these invertebrates to develop undisturbed and emerge in spring as a new generation. Any woody vegetation or bramble that grows in the wildflower areas, will only be allowed to develop for a maximum of two years and will be controlled each time the sections are cut.

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

September 2022

What to Look Out for in September

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:49:28 GMT

The month of September brings more to look for in Ballard Water Meadow and Woar Copse.

Arrival of the Cattle

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:09:39 GMT

Tomorrow, 30 August 2022, we are expecting the arrival of the annual architects of Ballard Water Meadow, the Dexter cows.

We know both residents and visitors have questions regarding why grazing is necessary, so we have put together the following infographic to help.

New Wildlife Meadow in Fawn Gardens

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:25:42 GMT

You may have noticed the green area at the end of Fawn Gardens, New Milton has only been half cut recently. This is deliberate as the area, backing on to Woar Copse, is now managed as a wildlife-rich grassland by the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow and New Milton Town Council to benefit pollinators and the many other species to be found in such an area.

The following graphic explains more:

What to Look For in August on Ballard Water Meadow.

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 16:35:04 GMT

Common Bird Census 2022

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 16:29:21 GMT

This image of a robin helping one of our working party is courtesy of Mandy Hayes.

Annual Report April to March 2022

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:06:03 GMT

BALLARD MEADOW AND WOODLAND

ANNUAL REPORT

FOR

APRIL 2021 – MARCH 2022

Bluebells, Woar Copse

INTRODUCTION

This is the second annual report provided by The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow. Our work on the site is directed by the Management Plan (2020-2024) where we follow the Work Programme from which our Annual Work Plan is derived. Like many plans, and our work plan is no different, the majority of work has been achieved whilst some tasks, often outside our control, remain wanting.

1. RECORDING

Two types of records are kept; events which occur on-site that have a bearing on management or wildlife including volunteer effort (see below), and wildlife recording that is more structured taking the form of a detailed survey, census or transect.

There are plants which are associated with particular habitats and are known as Indicator Species. These are recorded annually, by individual compartment. Each of the meadow indicator species is assessed more closely in terms of either counts or the percentage cover over the ground (where individuals are too numerous to count easily), whereas the woodland element is recorded, simply as presence or absence. Results from the meadow in 2021 are shown in APPENDIX 1. All plants recorded to date by year, across the whole site (our Master List) is shown in APPENDIX 6.

The plant list is by no means complete and new species are recorded each year. In 2021 there were six new species found in the meadow (Sneezewort, Wavy Bitter-cress, Water Horsetail, Butterbur, Hairy Tare and Early Dog-violet) and four in the woodland (Pill Sedge, Rosebay Willowherb, Yellow Archangel and Wood Sage).

Heath Spotted-orchid, Ballard Meadow.

assessing those birds which establish territories and may use the site for breeding. A bird seen in April for example, does not mean it is breeding but if recorded singing, or carrying nesting material, then it probably means it is establishing, or has, a territory. Full details of the census done for 2021, is available on the Friends of Ballard Water Meadows website and a summary is shown in APPENDIX 2.

New Milton Town Council and the Group jointly employed a local entomologist, Bryan Pinchen to undertake the second annual insect survey. The results have been posted both on the Town Council’s and the Group’s websites. A total of 338 species were recorded in 2021 (compared to 314 in 2020), 65 of which were new to the site this year. A summary of Bryan’s work is shown in APPENDIX 3.

The Butterfly Transect undertaken on the site is registered as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Butterflies are counted along a fixed route and the results feed into national records via local or County recorders. This way, across the country, the status of individual species is known year by year. This year, Ann Gorman, Pam Petherbridge, Rhona Copp, Mandy Hayes and Rosemary Deveraux-Jones contributed, and the 2021 transect summary is shown in APPENDIX 4.

New for 2021, is a stream survey, sampling water chemistry and macro-invertebrates, in association with the Freshwater Habitats Trust. It was intended to run from March to August, but this has been extended, sampling monthly throughout the year when there is a flow. Elsewhere in the New Forest, streams are sampled for their water chemistry, but as far as the Group can tell, macro-invertebrates are not sampled on a regular basis. Of particular note a juvenile newt (eft) was found in May, so we know they are breeding either on-site or close-by. The result of this work is shown in APPENDIX 5.

2. MANAGEMENT

2.1 Wildlife and Conservation Management

The water in the main north-south ditch running through Ballard Meadow attracts frogs to spawn each year. The developing tadpoles face many problems, the biggest threat being a dry spring and the ditches drying-out. Despite placing sandbags to hold water back, the ditch did dry-up in April. We have no idea if any tadpoles reached maturity.

Despite the fact that we had a dry April, the moist ground is particularly suitable for Hemlock Water-dropwort. This is a native wet meadow and streamside species, but in many places, it can become dominant over more delicate, wet meadow plants. We aim to control its spread as much as possible by cutting a proportion of the flowering heads in the spring, before it sets seed. We don’t cut it across the whole site, as the flowers are attractive to a wide range of invertebrates. In April and May we were joined by the Fernhill Friends on a couple of occasions who helped to cut and remove a large proportion of this invasive species. The group had a final attempt to cut and remove more plants in a few selected locations during June.

In the woodland, where we have a proliferation of another invasive species, the non-native Three-cornered Garlic, we managed to cut as many flower-heads as possible. Like the Hemlock Water-dropwort, the aim is to prevent the plant seeding and spreading. We’re hopeful that, over time, we will have removed the majority of plants. The tree guards put around the recently planted hazel saplings were removed in June, we cut-back Bramble from the path edges and cut Bracken to reduce its vigour, in the two glades.

From time to time there is a build-up of leaf litter and fallen branches in places along the stream. The Town Council is obliged to maintain a flow so group members keep vigilant on their behalf, removing any build-up of debris.

We aim to keep the most disruptive habitat management work to a minimum during the April to September period. Some habitat management does inevitably have to take place. Each year at the end of July or beginning of August we cut sections (compartments) of the Meadow. This removes the year’s growth after the majority of plants have set seed, helps de-nutrify the ground and allows a fresh-flush of growth before the livestock are re-introduced in September. We only managed to cut and clear a small area (M9) in early August due to equipment failure, but we hope to be back on track in 2022. We are grateful to the Town Council for taking away the piled-up cut material from all our vegetation clearance work.

The cattle arrived back on the Meadow in September. A local farmer has Dexters, a small and docile breed, ideally suited for our meadow and the number of people with dogs it attracts. On only very few occasions were dogs a nuisance, chasing the livestock.

There are a number of stakeholders in Ballard Meadow and Woodland and sometimes communication between the groups is challenging. In August contractors were engaged to fell trees, in the compartment where the Friends had recently planted some Hazel saplings. A few of these were destroyed in the process and all the material from the work was left on the ground and not cleared away; some actually left blocking a ditch. Then we had storms in October and November which caused a number of the older trees to become unsafe. In removing limbs and clearing fallen branches contractors once again destroyed a number of the newly planted Hazel saplings. A couple of large Oak trees adjacent to the stream also were felled to ground level. It is entirely possible to leave the bole(trunk) of the tree standing in these situations. It is perfectly safe and will provide a holdfast for Ivy and good wildlife habitat for countless generations of invertebrates.

A second compartment (W7) was cut and cleared of Bramble and some fallen timber, ready for restocking with Hazel saplings. This compartment had no old Hazel, only young trees so none was coppiced this time around. The Group was helped by Paul Brockman BEM and his school students. We also returned to the compartment cut in 2020/21 (W1) and coppiced some older hazel stools that were not attended to at that time. All work was completed by the end of February.

In the glades (W4 and W11), the vegetation was cut and cleared in October. One glade is rich in Bluebells, Red Campion and Foxglove whereas the other comprises deep leaf litter and remains fairly species-poor regarding woodland ground flora. As we continue the annual cutting regime, we’re recording the flora and already a few new species are being seen, so it’s only a matter of time before this glade also becomes rich in woodland wildflowers.

Each spring we apply for native hedgerow species for planting along the site boundary. These are supplied free of charge by the Woodland Trust and each year we receive either 30 or 60 plants, depending on the length we need to plant. In February we planted 60 saplings. We also planted around 200 Hazel saplings to fill the gaps in the newly cleared compartment as well as replacing those damaged by contractors in our first coppice compartment. These compartments will now be left to develop for 10 years and then cut again. At the time of writing the vast majority of saplings have taken well, despite April 2022 being one of the driest on record.

Hazel saplings planted in Cpt W7, Woar Copse.

We took a couple of weeks off over the New Year and came back refreshed, cutting and pollarding willows in the Meadow, removing some of the non-native Evergreen Oak trees, clearing the brash (small branches and twigs) and making bonfires to get rid of it all. All of the larger pieces of timber are stacked in the woodland, to make wood walls. These provide habitat for invertebrates and fungi, as well as demarcating our compartments.

Bonfire, Cpt W4, Woar Copse.

Storm Eunice toppled one of the larger Beech trees in February and in March contractors took out the crowns of two Oak trees to allow in more light to the glades. They also cleared-away the brash from the felled Oak trees beside the stream. Thankfully, the ground was really dry and little damage through ground compaction was evident.

Wood wall, Woar Copse.

2.2 Infrastructure

The Group checks the infrastructure (gates, fences, bridges etc) on a regular basis. Small repairs we can do ourselves but the larger jobs require assistance and when anything fails, we inform the Town Council. This year new fencing was installed at the south-east corner access point and against the south-west corner main gate near our workbase.

Under the terms of the grazing licence, the grazier has to check and repair any failure in the fencing, ahead of the livestock being re-introduced. This year a couple of the larger corner/strainer posts were replaced.

2.3 Volunteer work effort

During the period 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow volunteers, the Fernhill Friends and the school students’ working parties clocked-up a total of 1522 man hours. We continue to meet twice weekly, Friday and Sunday mornings at 09.30 at our workbase on Lake Grove Road.

3. LIAISON AND ADMINISTRATION

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow are grateful for the help and support from officers and members of New Milton Town Council and in particular, the Estates and Facilities Management Team.

Throughout the year the Group has worked closely with Fernhill Friends, who not only helped clear Hemlock Water-dropwort from the Meadow, but held a fund-raising quiz night, the proceeds of which were donated to the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow, for which we are grateful.

In order to increase our profile, as one of a number local community groups, we held an event in July to celebrate National Meadow Day and were joined by the New Forest Beekeepers. Also to do with bees, we received financial help from the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (Hampshire County Council) to hold a workshop to train a number of the group in bumblebee identification.

Through our membership of Conservation Connection New Forest South, a small piece of ground was donated by the Town Council at the entrance to Fawcett’s Field, where we sowed native wildflower seed in May which took well, and by July was blooming marvellous! We also joined-in with their celebrations at the Bee Fayre in September. Our own final fund-raising event was on New Milton market in December, selling gift packs of native wildflower seed.

We had three trips to visit other wildlife sites – a butterfly meadow in North Baddesley in July, then in early September, Studland Common, the Pleasure grounds and Sturt Pond with Milford Conservation Volunteers and later in the month, North Solent National Nature Reserve.

Members and officers of the Town Council, along with the New Forest Land Advice Service and the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow, were invited to support Ballard School in their project to plant trees and re-wild a small area of land in the school grounds, adjacent to Ballard Meadow. A plan was drawn-up and the locations for new trees was highlighted.

As part of our Community Involvement, the Chairman was invited to attend the Remembrance Day commemoration at the War Memorial in New Milton and a Christmas Carol service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

The Committee of the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow meet regularly every couple of months and before any event. Our Annual General Meeting was held at the Guide Hut in October. Two committee members resigned, but others were re-elected and we shall be recruiting one or two more to join us during 2022/23.

The Committee now comprises:

Chairman: Bob Lord

Secretary: Ann Gorman

Treasurer/Membership Secretary: Pam Petherbridge

Town Council Representative: Steve Clarke

4. MEMBERSHIP

The friends of Ballard Water meadow are grateful to all those who have renewed their membership for the year. As with all membership groups, there is a turnover and this year we welcomed several new members. Our membership for 2021/22 stands at 51.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As mentioned above, the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow cannot operate in isolation. As a not-for-profit group, we rely heavily on membership subscriptions and donations to keep us running. We have been more fortunate this year in being able to once again, generate some income from fund-raising events.

Many of the members have made donations, for which many thanks and this is gratefully received.

The Committee would particularly like to thank: Fernhill Friends, New Milton Residents’ Association, New Milton Town Council, Paul Brockman and Priestlands School and last, but not least all the willing volunteers who help, come rain or shine.

Bob Lord

Chairman

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow

6. APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 – MEADOW INDICATOR SPECIES 2021

APPENDIX 2 – COMMON BIRD CENSUS 2021

APPENDIX 3 – INSECT SURVEY 2021

APPENDIX 4 – BUTTERFLY TRANSECT 2021

APPENDIX 5 – STREAM SURVEY 2021

APPENDIX 6 – UPDATED PLANT LIST (1998-2021)

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow Newsletter June 2022

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:45:08 GMT

Image courtesy of Mandy Hayes.

Stream Survey 2021

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 17:31:35 GMT

Image by wa at pIxabay.com.

Please Clean Up After Your Dog

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 15:41:36 GMT

The 'Pick Up The Poo!' campaign at Ballard Water Meadow has started in earnest this week. Dog walkers are being asked to pick up their dog's poo and are being offered offered free poo bags for the purpose.

Volunteers picked up 172 'deposits' from the site on 25th June and hope that the site will remain safe and clean for the Meadow Day on Saturday 2nd July.

The campaign launch received coverage with an article in the New Milton Advertiser .

National Meadow Day 2 July 2022

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:39:29 GMT

Friends of Ballard Water Meadow Newsletter March 2022

Fri, 27 May 2022 16:09:08 GMT

Image courtesy of Mandy Hayes.

Chairman's Report To AGM 2021

Fri, 27 May 2022 15:57:53 GMT

Image courtesy of alandsmann at Pixabay.com.

Common Bird Census 2021

Fri, 27 May 2022 15:40:50 GMT

Image courtesy of kathy2408 on Pixabay.com.

Ballard Water Meadow Insect Survey 2021

Fri, 27 May 2022 15:33:45 GMT

A summary of the results of the insect survey held on Ballard Water Meadow during 2021.

Image courtesy of katja at Pixabay.com.

Ballard Water Meadow Butterfly Survey Results 2020

Fri, 27 May 2022 15:24:46 GMT

Image courtesy of Couleur at Pixabay.com.

2020 Common Bird Census

Fri, 27 May 2022 15:18:00 GMT

Image courtesy of TomaszProszek at Pixabay.com.