Today seven volunteers cleaned out the bomb craters in Savages Wood so they can be pointed out on Local History walks!.
Since we finished early we went on to tackle the micro climate channels at the north east entrance to the wood to such effect that there is only about ten minutes work left of what was to be next weeks task. So next week we will tackle the micro climate channels next to the orchard.
Today we went fishing. Seven volunteers set out to remove the goldfish fry from the new pond. Well we caught and relocated hundreds - that is no exaggeration -but hundreds are left.
We brought pond plants which were added to the pond and tried to dog proof the hole where a gate ought to be.
Today we were supposed to follow up Saturday’s work day on the marsh. But the Saturday team left us nothing to do! It appears they totally misunderstood the brief. They were to dig a new irrigation channel and sump NOT complete a full working model of the Venetian canal system. I swear I saw a gondola at one point. Fantastic job guys. They even had time to attack the Himalayan Balsam.
So instead five volunteers went for what balsam was left and as a result were able to substantially clear the marsh area.
This week six volunteers visited the marsh to make preparations for Saturday’s full workday. We cleared (hacked/beat) a path from the marsh entry point to the existing sump which will be the kicking off point for Saturday avoiding as many irrigation ditches as possible and exposing those we could not avoid. We cleaned out the existing channels leaving a really strong flow into the existing sump. And then we took the slashers to the Himalayan Balsam (there is just too much to deal with by hand and this late in the season regrowth is unlikely).
Next week we will return to the marsh to complete any tasks left outstanding from Saturday. If there are none (as we hope) then it is Himalayan Balsam bashing again.
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