Today we visited the northern plantations. Seven volunteers cut up logs felled in previous seasons and built animal shelters. we also took down the semi fallen willow we left a few weeks ago because at the time a pigeon was nesting nearby.
Next week we are repairing/re-weaving the willow seat at the lower newt pond. We will also repair the broken wire fence and do some general tidying up around the pond. We will not, of course, be carrying out any work on the pond itself. In the winter we will live hedge a willow of two to further protect the wire fence.
Today we wandered like lost souls around the reserve cleaning the tops of the orienteering marker posts. Seven volunteers also cleared some Himalayan Balsam and checked a few sites of GG work coming up.
Today we had an easy day. Five volunteers and two potential recruits stayed at the tool store. The team cleaned, sharpened, oiled (linseed and veggy) all the tools. I made amendments to the tool rack as recommended by Paul Humphreys to make tools safer and reduce their inbuilt tendency to become entangled at a moments notice.
The gazebo borrowed by me for my wife’s WI stand at the Filton Festival is back in the store with all tube segments seperated. A number four foot section is still missing (come on you know who you are). In the meantime I have a section of fishing net pole that exactly replaces the missing section and it’s neighbour. It is available should anyone need the gazebo.
Next weeks GG will be spent cleaning the orienteering posts which are evidentally a favourite perch for local birds with the inevitable by-product. Meet at the tool store at ten or try to guess which marker we will be at when you arrive.