Hi all
Today seven volunteers walked the reserve from Sherbourne’s Brake to the tool store looking for work tasks in the southern section of the reserve.
Next week we should be HB bashing once again but the troops are looking mutinous after quite a few weeks spent at this task and since I will be absent in tropical climes (Edinburgh) they are free to follow their hearts’ desire.
Which may be cutting firewood in Savages wood (to prevent it becoming second hand firewood i.e. ash).
Or clearing overgrown paths.
Or maybe even HB bashing who knows.
Anyways all meet at the tool store (Big Dave has my key) at ten and democracy will rule the day.
That’s right a coalition will be formed and David Cameron will decide.
regards
Today seven Green Gym volunteers took a walk around the northern section of the reserve. We cleaned orienteering markers where we found them but mostly we look out for tasks for the future.
We found quite a few, mostly of the path clearing or tree surgery type but the fenced newt pond requires clearing (of concrete blocks), the willow bench newt pond wire gate has been totally trashed and some form of replacement is required.
And so on.
Fallen branches etc. are becoming a problem in Savages wood. Since the school ran riot in there playing soldiers a few weeks ago the local lads have taken to amassing the logs etc. not for building shelters as with the school but for building bonfires. Sooner or later there is going to be a major fire in the wood.
Green Gym is going to try to turn these branches into firewood and take them off the reserve but we may need council help for the larger tree trunks.
Next week we do the southern and middle sections. We will combine that day’s list with today’s list, a list from Rupert the ecologist and a list submitted by Steve and Rachel earlier in the year and produce a list of tasks to be discussed at the next committee meeting whenever that occurs.
We welcome Mary back to Green Gym after her job training and we congratulate Greg on also getting a part time job. That’s now at least five Green Gymers who have gained employment this year alone.
Job Centres who needs ‘em :).
Yesterday seven volunteers visited the Community Orchard to follow up Saturdays haymaking by the main conservation group. The grass having stood up in the intervening period it was easy to spot the bits missed. The weather was even hotter than Saturday and Greg felt the heat a bit and he and his carer left early (after the biscuits had been broken out). Several passers by stopped and admired the work, and the new seat. If you haven’t seen it it is the entire base of a 300 year old chestnut carved into the shape of a cut apple and is surprisingly comfortable to sit on. Lots of butterflies around, mostly Meadow Browns but there were Cabbage Whites and Painted Ladies around and Demoiselle damselflies by the brook.
Today eight volunteers (including Greg’s helper) went Himalayan Balsam hunting in an little explored area near, and connected to, the marsh.
This is a major HB area totally mixed in with Stinging Nettles and Willow-herb. So we resorted to cutting the HB and the nettles/willow-herb) rather than attempting to pull by hand. We cut a huge amount of HB right across the area and into the northern half of the marsh right up to the main irrigation channel. The reed bed is so high it felt like a scene from The African Queen.
We even took advantage of the dry weather and waded up the stream (well I did) to attack growth along the stream bank. That felt like the African Queen as well.