Stow Bedon Conservation Weekend 7-8 September 2019

Following in from the work carried out over the last four years at Stow Bedon Common, one of our Flagship Pond sites in Norfolk, we have received further funding from Anglian Water to continue the good work. We are keen to help establish a volunteer group on the site and have organised a ‘Conservation Weekend’ on Saturday 7^th & Sunday 8^th September to engage with the local community.

There will be a range of activities including an introduction to the site at a local Village Hall, with Phil Childs, Chair of Trustees– Stow Bedon Fuel Allotment Charity, as well as a ‘Getting to know Pond Mud Snail’ Session and an introduction to Clean Water Testing. Pond Mud Snail are distinctively elongate pond snails, closely associated with old ponds in unimproved habitats like heaths and commons. Sadly the UK population has declined by up to 50% in the last 30 years and Stow Bedon Common probably supports the most important population of in Norfolk. We are keep therefore to keep a close eye on it.

There will also be an opportunity to get involved on the site with a Pond Mud Snail survey and a Clean Water Blitz to find out the extent of clean water in the ponds on the common. We’ll be using Quick kits to detect nitrate and phosphate giving us instant results. We’ll also be carrying out some practical management work around the ponds so a good opportunity to roll your sleeves up and get stuck into some scrub clearance.

We’ll also be unveiling a brand new interpretation board for the site, funded by HLF, Anglian Water, Biffa Awards and Natural England.

For more information about the event and to book your place, contact Project Officer Anne Carter acarter@freshwaterhabitats.org.uk

To find out more click on the image in the gallery below