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AGM and Nature Walk

Sunday, 28 September. It was a big day down by the river. The Friends of the Carrs said hello to some new friends and farewell to an old and dear one.

The Nature Walk lured a select band to the Carrs to hear Ranger Martin James point out all that is weird and wonderful about our park while the AGM that followed welcomed two new members to the committee and said goodbye to its founding chairman, Ian White.

The themes of Ranger Martin James' introduction to the wonders of the Carrs were the variety of habitats packed into that little space and the invaders that threaten it.

The Carrs is unique in its combination of parkland, river, wetland and woods. Yet it is menaced by the non-native species that are wreaking havoc all over England: Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and the American Signal Crayfish.

The balsam we have started to deal with, though it is rampant both up and downriver from the Carrs. Japanese Knotweed, however, as an enemy is in the superpower league. To judge from Martin's description, we'll need the sort of R&D that goes into a missile program in order to deal with it. The American Signal Crayfish is twice the size of our native species, which it is decimating (why are the foreigners always bigger and more efficient killers?).

Our retiring chairman, Ian White, was one of the group that set up the Friends of the Carrs in 2006 to help Macclesfield Borough Council look after and improve the park. Since then, he has never come short in enthusiasm and commitment and has had enough ideas to keep the Council's workers busy until the next decade. He has been a great leader and the Friends will sorely miss him.

Fortunately, the man who will step into his shoes will not disappear inside them. Councillor Colin Shepherd was unanimously elected immediately after the AGM, thus averting the prospect of a power vacuum, the danger of which all of us with experience of superpower, and neighbourhood, politics can attest.

The photo shows Ian (centre) with some people he found in the playground.

News and Events Been and gone

Balsam bashed!

Sunday, 22 June. The roll-call of bashers did not exceed 10, but what they lacked in mass, they made up for in the efficiency of their violence. With two rangers from Macc Council to hand out equipment, advice and leadership, the squads made a beeline to the most succulent clumps of balsam, mostly down near Twinnies Bridge and wreaked havoc for a couple of hours.

It is heartening to report that there was very little to be done in the stretch between the first two bridges thanks to last year's bash. We are making a difference.

In the photograph top-left, 5 friendly bashers. The gentleman second from the left (holding the limp body of a vanquished foe) came all the way from Macclesfield to help out. Big Thanks!

I like the other photograph showing two of the bashers from another angle because it gives the quite mistaken impression of a jungle and of little humanity crawling through its overpowering presence continually at risk of being swallowed up by it. As no doubt shall one day come to pass - if we don't keep the balsam down.

Nature Day a Winner!

It was a great day. Marvellous stalls, fascinating activities with knowledgeable people, and the sun came, too. Have a look at the Nature Day Special.

(The photographer has asked me to pass on his apologies for being so distracted by the river dippers and Professor Handley that he missed all the other activities and didn't get any decent shots of the stalls and their keepers either. Complete lack of professional discipline. The Friends will have words with him!)

River Clean Up

A bright Spring day encouraged a good turn out for the annual clear-up of the River Bollin. The group were kitted out with gloves, tongs and bright yellow tabards and, guided by rangers Emma and Martin, set about tidying up the Carrs with gusto. Those equipped with wellies waded into the river while others braved the brambles to retrieve cans and bottles deposited there. Two skips were filled with rubbish including 5 shopping trolleys, a wheelbarrow and an inflatable boat with a hole in it! Many thanks to everyone who took part.

The photo shows Neil Savage, who brought along some children to pick up after him.

AGM / Bulb planting

Sunday, 14th September 2007. The second Annual General Meeting of the Friends of The Carrs saw the committee re-elected and two new members added. Ratification of the Constitution was postponed so that the MBC might advise on an additional section to deal with the winding up of the FOTC, should it ever arise. There is also the uncertain future of the MBC itself. Consequently, the Constitution remains in draft form until these questions are resolved. The next AGM was scheduled for Sunday, 28th September, 2008.

It should also be added that bulbs were planted before the meeting in order that the day should encompass physical, as well as mental, pleasures. However, the aged members of the committee were not able to sink anywhere near the numbers of daffodils-to-be, and had to call on more youthful energy. So, on the morning of Tuesday, the 14th of November, Gorsey Bank Primary School was call out en masse to lend a hand. The photo above shows three of them with Cllr Colin Shepherd; they consented to smile despite his refusal to share the shovel.

Balsam Bash

Sunday 17th June. Rangers Martin James and Christine Robinson led the bashers on the rampage. Reinforcements were provided by Wilmslow 4th Cubs, 9 of whom earned their lunch with energetic campaigning.

Most of the work was done between the first and second bridges on both sides of the river. The extent of the infestation only becomes obvious as you start clearing it. Some of the patches were enormous and entirely devoid of any other plant save the balsam. Though there is still work to be done on the western bank, next year should prove that our work was effective. More information about Himalayan Balsam.

On the right, happy balsam bashers with ranger Christine Robinson.

River Walk

Sunday 10th June. Rangers Brian Hallworth and Dan Coates accompanied 15 of us along the length of the Bollin as it flows through The Carrs pointing out the features of the river, the life that increasingly flourishes in it and alongside it. We learned about the good done by the streamer weed (no, I'd never heard of it either) to the river and by nettles to the human body (Brian's authority: his Nanna) and the evil wrought by Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.

They confirmed that, yes, the river is getting cleaner, so much so that rainbow trout have been glimpsed in some stretches. (Mind you, there was no mention of which stretches - Dan's fisherman's discretion.) We ended up, definitely better informed, on the new footbridge near Twinnies Bridge where Brian kindly pointed to where the river is.

Clean up on St Olaf's path

On Sunday, 4th of March, the Friends and Macclesfield Borough Council pitched in to clear the path under St Olaf's. Overgrown and crossed by fallen branches, the path has been used less and less recently - it was running the risk of disappearing if neglected any longer.

Despite a reversion to winter bleakness and rain, 15 people lent a hand and in the space of two hours made the path navigable again and signposted it from both ends. Even two children were persuaded to turned up, though it is not known if by means of coercion or reward.

From The Press