A Visit To Buckingham Palace

YCV at Buckingham Palace

Yaxley Countryside Volunteers are 40 years old this year. YCV was originally founded by our Chairman Reg Bingham and in recognition of his services to the local community Reg was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May. We will be further celebrating the founding of YCV and contribution of YCV to the village as part of the Apple Day Community Orchard events in October.

It is Swift Awareness Week from 29 June-7 July and one of our ongoing projects is to help the Swift population in Yaxley by erecting nesting boxes on local buildings and homes in the village. In this we are supported by the Parish Council who allowed us to install swift boxes along the wall of the Owen Pooley Hall – you can find a QR code displayed on the wall below the boxes and if you scan the code it will take you to more information about Swifts and why we need to provide boxes for them.

Monitoring and surveying the results of what we do forms an important part of the activities of YCV. From pond dipping at Pound Lane, counting how many types of wild flower are found in the Community Orchard and to tracking nest box activity allows us to see how well local wildlife is doing. We like to think we are having a positive effect and this is born out by our surveys. For example - we now have over sixty types of wild plants growing in the Orchard along with the fruit trees and many species of insects can also be found there as a result.

As a certain supermarket will tell you – every little helps and it is often simple actions as well as grand projects that will make a difference. YCV would encourage everyone to get involved in a little wildlife gardening and please do get in touch if you would like any advice on how to do this.

If you would like to join us in managing the orchard and helping local wildlife please do contact : secretary@ycv.org.uk