Author Archives: National Trust Volunteer Group

About National Trust Volunteer Group

We are a group of National Trust Countryside Wardens and Volunteers who regularly get together to do a number of interesting projects to inhance our countryside and wildlife. We spend most of our time around the internationally important site of Strangford Lough and some near by countryside sites. If you ever fancy joining us for a day out, you will be made most welcome.

Schoolhouse Garden Restoration

Posted on 24/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

On Saturday, the volunteer group met at the Old Schoolhouse on the Portaferry Road. This had originally been built to educate the children of the staff who worked on the Mount Stewart Estate. In more recent years, it had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Schoolhouse | Tagged Gardening, National Trust, National Trust Volunteer Group, national trust volunteers, Old School House, School House, Schoolhouse, Strangford Lough, Volunteers | 1 Comment

Darragh Island

Posted on 16/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

This week, our volunteer group went to Darragh Island. This National Trust owned island is on the western side of Strangford Lough, not far from Killinchy and Whiterock. Darragh is a great example of how the correct management can produce species-rich grassland with … Continue reading →

Posted in Darragh, Habitat Management, History and Archaeology | Tagged archaeology, conservation grazing, Darragh, Grassland management, Kelp house, Kelp industry, Kiln, National Trust, National Trust Volunteer Group, national trust volunteers, Strangford Lough, Wild flowers, Wildflower meadow | Leave a comment

Green-winged Teal

Posted on 12/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

Strangford Lough is one of the best locations in the whole of the UK and Ireland for bird watching. The lough has been designated as a Special Protection Area under the European Birds Directive and also as a Ramsar wetland … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Wildlife | Tagged Bar Hall, Birds, ducks, Green-winged Teal, migration, National Trust, Strangford Lough, Teal | Leave a comment

Nugent’s Wood

Posted on 07/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

Today, our volunteer group went to Nugent’s Wood, on the edge of Portaferry, on the Ards Peninsula. This strip of mixed woodland was once part of the Nugent’s Estate but is now owned by the National Trust and is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Habitat Management, History and Archaeology, Nugent's Wood | Tagged Audley's Castle. Castleward, Bluebells, conservation, fungi, habitat management, National Trust Volunteer Group, Nugent's Wood, Phytophthora ramorum, Portaferry, rhododendron, scarlet elf-cap, Strangford Lough, Wild flowers, woodland management | Leave a comment

Konik Ponies at Ballyquintin

Posted on 04/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

In our article on 26th January, we mentioned the Konik ponies at Horse Island. (See that article for details about these interesting horses). The ponies would normally be grazing the RSPB reserve at Portmore Lough, but during the winter months, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballyquintin, Livestock | Tagged Ballyquintin, conservation grazing, Grassland management, Konik, Konik ponies, National Nature Reserve, Rushes | Leave a comment

Blustery Knockinelder

Posted on 03/02/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

This week’s plans to go to Nugent’s Wood had to be changed, because we didn’t fancy the idea of working under trees during such windy weather. So we went to Knockinelder instead, just south of Kearney Village, near the southern … Continue reading →

Posted in Knockinelder | Tagged Fencing, Grassland management, National Trust, national trust volunteers, Volunteers | Leave a comment

Horse Island

Posted on 26/01/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

About a mile south of Kircubbin, on the Ards Peninsula, the National Trust owns a large area of rugged coastline, some agricultural fields and the adjoining Horse Island. The car park is not signed so it is easily missed but … Continue reading →

Posted in Habitat Management, Horse Island, Livestock | Tagged conservation, conservation grazing, habitat management, Konik ponies, National Trust Volunteer Group, saltmarsh, Scrub removal, Volunteers, Wild flowers | Leave a comment

Red Squirrels at Mount Stewart

Posted on 22/01/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

One of our properties Mount Stewart is a great place to catch a glimpse of the elusive red squirrel. You are most likely to see them hopping across the front lawn of the house or foraging at the bases of … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Stewart, squirrels, Wildlife | Tagged Mount Stewart, red squirrel, squirrel surveys, wildlife | 1 Comment

Mud Island

Posted on 18/01/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

This week, our volunteer group visited Mid Island, in Greyabbey Bay. Mid Island is partially wooded and has an old cottage (the cottage is not open to the public). On a bright day, the island is very picturesque and makes an interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in Habitat Management, Mid Island | Tagged conservation, Greyabbey Bay, habitat management, Mid Island, mud, National Trust Volunteer Group, national trust volunteers, Scrub, Strangford Lough | 2 Comments

Killynether Revisited

Posted on 12/01/2013 by National Trust Volunteer Group

Our volunteer group had another busy and enjoyable day at Killynether today. We finished off coppicing the section of hazel trees that we started in December (see the first article in this blog on 1st December 2012). As passionate conservationists, … Continue reading →

Posted in Killynether | Tagged conservation, coppicing, habitat management, habitat piles, hazel, Killynether, National Trust Volunteer Group, national trust volunteers, wood mice, woodland flowers, woodland management | 2 Comments