The next litter pick will be on Saturday 4th April 2026 at 10.00 . Meet at Dragonfly Bridge to the rear of Morrisons Supermarket, Woosehill RG41 3SN at 10:00.
Please wear suitable clothing, footwear and gloves.Litter pickers and bags provided. Parking is available at Morrisons.
WOOSEHILL MEADOWS & EMM BROOK WORK PARTY CALENDAR– 2026
The next work party will be on Saturday 11th April 2026 at 10.00 .This session will focus on the next step in our heritage apple tree conservation project.
Back in November we took cuttings from the last remaining Lord Derby apple tree from the historic Emmbrook House orchard. Now it’s time to give them a new life!
Matt Knight from Freely Fruity will join us to demonstrate how to graft the scions onto apple rootstock, helping us preserve this historic variety for the future.
Grafting demonstration: 2:00 pm
Location: Community Orchard, Riverside Walk near Ripple Stream Bridge, Woosehill Meadows
WOOSEHILL MEADOWS & EMM BROOK WORK PARTY CALENDAR– 2026
APRIL
Sat 4th - Litter Pick
Sat 11th - Work Party - see above for details.
MARCH
Sat 7th - FOTEB Litter Pick
Cold and damp and fewer pickers this month. As a result, a total of 8 bags of rubbish were picked in just over an hour ,
along the Emm Brook. A big thanks to all those that attended .
Sat 14th - Work Party -SERT river day event
FEBRUARY
7th - FOTEB Litter Pick
Despite the prospect of more rain and very wet conditions underfoot, the team of pickers this month was into double figures. As a result, a total of 14 bags of rubbish were picked in just over an hour ,
along the Emm Brook. A big thanks to all those that attended . Nice to see new faces.
Sat 14th - Work Party
CANCELLED
Just a quick heads-up to let everyone know that we plan to reschedule our upcoming work party, originally planned for Saturday 14 February.
Due to the ongoing rain — with more forecast for the coming week — ground conditions along the Emm Brook are currently too wet and slippery. High water levels mean it wouldn’t be safe to carry out pollarding, coppicing, or brush removal at the moment. To be rearranged.
Fri 20th - Survey, Walk & Talk
JANUARY
Sat 3rd FOTEB Litter Pick
Despite the cold weather, I was amazed and overwhelmed to have 15 fellow pickers turn up for the FOTEB Monthly litter pick . With the extra attendees we were able to explore many new areas. As a result we managed to fill 22 bags of rubbish,
including 4 wrecked picnic chairs , a club hammer and a section of railings and unfortunately 5 Nitrous Oxide Cannisters.
Fri 09th - Survey, Walk & Talk
Sat 24th - Work Party
AGM 2026
This years AGM will be held on TBA at the Woosehill Community Centre, Emmview Cl, Wokingham RG41 3DA .
BALSAM BASHING 2026
The annual Balsam Bashing will be undertaken on the Emm Brook later in the year. Once the Balsam has come into flower.
The Three Amigos will walk the Emm Brook from Area 2 to Area 8 removing Himalayan Balsam as they go in the summer, a total distance of approximately 3.53 km or for those of us of a certain age 2.19 Miles.
MONTHLY BIRD WALKS AROUND DINTON PASTURES 2026
RSPB
The RSPB group runs “A Date With Nature” walk at Dinton Pastures
Country Park on the first Saturday morning of every month of
the year. These start at 9:00 am in the main car park (postcode
RG10 0TH), and finish by 12:30 pm. A donation of £2 per adult
(children free) is requested.
Car park charges at weekends are currently £2.30/hr
up to a maximum of £9.20 (for 4 hours or over).
This
Month on the Emmbrook
What to look for if you are out and about in
APRIL
General
April is a fabulous month for wildlife, as the trees and shrubs burst into leaf with fresh, vibrant green foliage.Now that the clocks have sprung forward and the sun has come out, it feels like wildlife is springing into action again. The birds are singing with gusto as they gear up for the breeding season, frogspawn is filling up ponds, hedgehogs are emerging and butterflies and bees are busy filling up on nectar. This is a fantastic time of year to get out and about.Spring is usually said to start at the beginning of March and the 21st of March is the Spring Equinox; the date on which day and night are of equal length.
This season is a time of days getting longer and the spring sunshine bringing growth and greenery everywhere with buds bursting and leaves unfolding. Birdsong reaches a peak and many flowers appear, in turn attracting insect-life, including bees and butterflies. Animals that hibernated over winter appear on the first warm days of spring so keep an eye out in early Spring for hedgehogs, newly emerged queen bees, frogs, toads, grass snakes, lizards and adders.
Other animals such as squirrels become more active and are easier to spot. Millions of migrant birds arrive, with chiffchaffs, sand martins and wheatears amongst the first to appear in March and swallows, swifts, cuckoos, nightingales and many warblers in April and May. Nature is at its most busy in Spring, every day brings changes, the sap is rising, and for many species finding a mate and successfully breeding is top priority.
Birds
The overwintering bird visitors such as Redwings and Fieldfares leave in April. The summer visiting birds that arrive to replace them include House Martins and many warblers such a Whitethroats,
Sedge and Willow Warblers.
The three birds that also return, and perhaps most signify summer, are the Swallow, the Nightingale and the Cuckoo.
Insects
Late in April the large black swarming St Mark's fly makes an appearance.
It is a welcome food source for newly arrived migrant birds as well as residents. It is very noticeable as its longish black legs lazily trail below as it flies around.
Some species of damselflies can also be spotted on warm days near the river.
Butterflies
Peacock, Orange Tip and Speckled Wood butterflies appear in April. Brimstone butterflies will already have been on the wing for several weeks, having over wintered amongst ivy as adults.
As the garden comes alive once more as the soil warms up , Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and Peacocks flit between the flowers. They may also be found basking in the sun to absorb its warmth.
Other Wildlife
Frog's spawn has become tadpoles by April. The adults now leave the ponds to live on land until Autumn.
They feed on slugs, snails and insects so avoid putting down slug pellets .
Plants
& Trees
Ash trees come into flower in April, but its leaves are one of the last to emerge (May). The male parts consist of a bundle purple pollen filled clusters and the females parts are dangle in the air to pick up wind borne pollen.
One of the hardy flowers that is first to bloom and can be seen all year round is the Red Dead-nettle. Also the common annual Shepherds Purse quickly flowers and sets seed.
In the meadows the Cuckoo flower, and Cowslip emerge. One of the great Spring wildlife sights! In late April and early May bluebells are usually at their best so make sure you don’t miss this amazing Spring spectacle. A carpet of bluebells transforms woodlands into a place of magic and wonder.
