May 22nd 2023

Six Marsh Sow Thistles
were planted put on the Reserve today. The species is very rare in
Essex and we are pleased to be able to help with this re-introduction.
The stock for these originate from the Medway, Kent.

They become very tall plants with yellow dandelion-like flowers so should become visible above the Common Reed in due course.

April 18th 2023

Saturday morning saw several of us take a short canoe trip into the Victorian brick culvert that passes under what is now the Maldon bypass, but was original the railways line. The reason for the visit was to check the culvert for the possible presence of bats and to check depths of water and silt within the tunnel.

The brickwork is in very good condition and the lack of any nooks and crannies for bats means that it is highly unlikely that they have used the tunnel at any time, indeed there were no signs of them, although it is not impossible that the odd bat may pay a visit.

Both silt and water depths were successfully measured. There ws little sign of any other wildlie apart from a few House Spiders and several egg sacs. I am reliably informed that the stirred up silt stank! (I have no sense of smell…sometimes it is an advantage!).

Video and photos attached – thinks Chuckle Brothers but on water!!! I look worried!

 

April 12th 2023

With the spring/summer here and the potential for birds to be breeding, we must stop our full-scale work party meetings. The only works we can carry out during the coming months will be to clear vegetation back from paths, remove suckers and saplings from areas that have been cleared of vegetation and carry out litter picking.
I have been watching the speed of vegetation growth and given that it has been a rather cool spring so far, nothing is really siginficantly advanced to merit any work yet and thankfully litter has so far been minimal.
I therefore propose to start small work parties comprising no more than 3-4 people, on the Wednesday mornings from 09:30 for 2-3 hours with the first three on 3rd, 17th and 31st May.
Please let me know if you would like to help on any of those dates…

April the 8th 2023

Enjoyable morning yesterday with Patrick Ellum and Simon Wood meeting the Essex Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Communities team and taking them round the reserve. And for once the sun shone!

Great to see lots of blossom out. Other signs of spring included a Peacock Butterfly, Common Carder Bees, a Dark-edged Bee-fly and some Spring Fieldcap mushrooms (beside the bridge).

Amongst the birdsong we heard Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler and we also heard the first Blackcap of the year. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were displaying overhead.

With the recent arrival of our Kestrel nest box it was encouraging to see both male and female Kestrels around the reserve. Lets hope they pair up!

November 28th 2022

October 30th 2022

We had a lovely working party along today and did some very good work, clearing the shrub and thorn bushes along the dyke along the side of the reserve.  This will become a wildlife haven.

Video of the wildlife haven clearance https://www.facebook.com/686188071/videos/821952642454309/

Exclusive video of a walk on the new walkway is here https://www.facebook.com/686188071/videos/1312458772926694/

More details on the next working party will follow shortly.

Regards

Ian

October 15th 2022

Dear All,

We are pleased to report that work on the walkways and
bridge is starting next week and is expected to take 2-3 weeks. So don’t be
alarmed to see some heavy machinery at the Tesco end of the Reserve.

 This is a significant step in the plans for the
Reserve and thanks to all for the support we have received to enable us to
achieve this.

Best,

Jonathan Wood

Company Secretary

CBR

October 10th 2022

We have sent out the latest share holders newsletter with all the updates since January, and there have been a lot! Please check your emails for the newsletter.  To become a shareholder, visit this page.

These new signs have also been erected on the site and is shown above – sorry for the low resolution picture, we will update it soon.

We have also posted the newest working party update as well which will be on Sunday 30th October 2022 at 10.00am. More
details will follow in due course.  Watch the facebook page for more information.

January 2022

January 27th 2022

Well, it’s a massive day for the CIC. Today, we finally completed and are now the full custodians of the Chelmer Blackwater Reserve!

This is a massive achievement and I must thank the entire directorship, especially Patrick, for the hard work that has gone on for the last year. Full report to follow.

Regards

Ian

January 8th 2022

We have signed the lease!