Bonds Meadow
News Posts
Review of the year 2025 featuring members of our volunteer team
Visit from Jess Asato (MP)
During the visit, Jess was given a tour of the site and met volunteers who were laying new pathways, mulching, and planting native species to enhance biodiversity. She also heard about the group’s efforts to maintain the meadow and encourage more local people to get involved.
Jess Asato MP said, “Bonds Meadow is a beautiful natural space and a real haven for wildlife right in the heart of our community. It was wonderful to meet the dedicated volunteers who give up their time to maintain and protect this special place. Their passion for conservation and education is truly inspiring, and I want to thank every one of them for the incredible work they do to keep Bonds Meadow thriving.”
Why Bonds Meadow Bioblitz 2025 Was A Success
How do you measure the success of a community event? Is it the data collected, the number of attendees, or something less tangible? Our recent Bonds Meadow Bioblitz 2025 provided a wonderful answer: it’s all of the above, but so much more.
This event was a key part of the long-term “Identifying Bonds Meadow” project, which aims to map the rich biodiversity of our cherished local meadows, woodland, and wetland. But the true goal was to bring that wonder to life for our community.
Despite a classic British summer morning of drizzle and grey skies, the community spirit shone brightly. Under the shelter of gazebos, volunteers and families attracted by our calls in The Bugle and on social media, gathered with a shared purpose: to discover, identify, and record. >>
The scientific results were pleasing. Our birdwatchers logged an amazing 81 sightings of 21 different species. On the iNaturalist app, participants recorded 104 observations of 76 species, with another 50-plus identifications logged through traditional clipboard spreadsheets.
But the real story wasn’t just the numbers. It was in the buzz of conversation, the shared curiosity over a strange bug, and the excitement of captivated young minds gathered around Lindsey’s Nature Play Centre outreach team, or the captivated faces around Brian’s fascinating insect display. The day’s most unexpected guest was a remarkably tame white cockerel, who appointed himself the official greeter, happily accepting attention from delighted children and adults.
You could interpret that the numbers fall short, but success was measured in the joy of a child petting a chicken, a family learning the name of a new wildflower, and the shared experience of exploring nature together. The Bioblitz proved that a community is built when people come together to share moments of discovery.
As September approaches and children return to school, we hope the memories of bugs, birds, and a friendly cockerel will be stories that the children will share with their friends, and the seeds of a lifelong passion for nature will have been sown.
So, was it a success? The data contributed to “Identifying Bonds Meadow” says yes. However, the laughter, the learning, and the strengthened bonds within our community are unquestionable: Let’s declare job done!
Summary 2024
This year, despite the usual winter grumbles about the cold, and muddy footpaths, we’ve been treated to an extraordinary revival in Bonds Meadow. The relentless rain that once seemed like a nuisance has now revealed its hidden benefits.
As spring unfolded and summer flourished, the landscape underwent a stunning transformation. Trees and plants, emboldened by the moisture, have surged with new life, while a fascinating array of fungi, insects, birds, and amphibians have made their presence known in greater numbers than we’ve seen in years. >>>
One of the most remarkable changes has been the resurgence of the ponds, now brimming with water levels we haven’t witnessed in recent memory. The once-familiar footpaths have become lush tunnels of greenery, where brambles and nettles stretch out as if to reclaim the space. This exuberant growth has kept us volunteers on our toes, constantly trimming back the vegetation to maintain the trails. Yet, this challenge is a welcome one—the woodland has never looked so vibrant and teeming with life.
The surprises aren’t limited to the plant life. Recently, while turning over a section of rotten log, I stumbled upon an entire microcosm. A vole’s nest, clusters of busy insects, a shy common lizard, and even the eerie but fascinating dead man’s fingers fungus all revealed themselves from the hidden world beneath the bark. It was a reminder of the intricate web of life that thrives in the meadow, often just out of sight.
This year’s transformation is a powerful testament to the resilience of nature and the often-unseen work that goes into preserving it. Bonds Meadow, with its newly revived energy, stands as a vivid example of how quickly and beautifully an ecosystem can rebound. As volunteers, we are more motivated than ever, knowing that our efforts are helping to maintain this sanctuary, ensuring it remains a vibrant haven for all who inhabit it.
Sam’s Way Update
Look out for the new Sands Lane and Kissing Gate signage to Sam’s Way an alternative route to Bonds Meadow
Sam’s Way – This has been the main focus of the volunteer team over approx. 6 weeks. Tremendous effort to clear fallen trees and debris, including all manner of fly tipping from sinks, to bicycles and car parts to wood, plastic and bricks. Having cleared a navigable route branches were cut and laid as path edging before filling in with bark chippings. A stepped approach to the walkway was built as well as a small bridge to deal with the waterlogging in the area that will stand us in good stead for when the winter rains come. We completed the project by planting numerous trees, plants as well as Snowdrops, Bluebells, and Daffs that we had recovered from hard to see areas on the Eastern footpath. Finally, why Sam’s Way? Our dedicated Volunteer team leader, Peter’s grandson Sam helped one day when his school was closed, so we decided to christen the new woodland walk Sam’s Way.
Facebook Post 2023-10-29: It’s been an exceptionally wet October, the ponds are full, and meadows and earth footpaths are turning muddy. Despite the rain, our volunteers continue to turn in to maintain Bonds litter-free and cut back path shrub and plant, growth encroachment.
RHS Your Neighbourhood Award Ceremony
This took place at the Waterside complex in Corton and was attended by Margaret, Christine, Peter and Peter’s wife Anita. A packed gathering saw us presented with the prestigious highest level of accomplishment which is a distinction. In the 9 years since we have entered this awards ceremony, we have improved our entry level from 1 each year on 6 separate occasions. An excellent achievement in that time and one that reflects the efforts of the volunteer team.
