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| Mallards on the water unfazed by our work party |
Easter Saturday - A "Baker's Dozen" volunteers arrived at the Reserve, well wrapped up against the wind, but working in the sunshine we were far from cold. The Baker's Dozen included the Bakers (sorry, that's an in-joke!) Our two priority tasks were demolition of the bridge near the hide and removal of tree guards behind the reed bed. Priority because this was positively our last chance to get these jobs done before the nesting bird season. There were still plenty of other jobs to be done besides: boardwalk maintenance, and laying of plastic grids at the path junction where an enormous muddy hole has been a problem for the last few weeks. A few trees had come adrift from their stakes in the gales, and a delivery of wood chip earlier in the week meant we could spread this along some of the muddiest sections of the path to improve access conditions. We are very grateful to Chris Preston* of RootstoShoots(Tree Surgery and Landscape Gardening) for again letting us have this wood chip free of charge for our work on the reserve.We managed to move most of it in the available time but then, after most people had gone home to a well-deserved lunch, a further and much larger load was delivered. This should keep us busy next Saturday!
* Chris Preston is Insured and Qualified and can be contacted on 07624 434421 or by email on rootstoshootsiom@gmail.com should you ever need a tree surgeon/ landscape gardener.
As usual we enjoyed our half time tea break sitting in the sunshine near the hide. A big thank you to those concerned for the delicious home made fare which revived us no end. This included Simnel Cake and mini chocolate eggs which gave the break a seasonal feel.
We had new volunteers, Holly & Jimmy, with us for the first time and I'd like to thank you all (both rookies and veterans) for all your very hard work on the Reserve. I couldn't believe how much we got done in just 3 hours - really fantastic! Thank you!
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| shearing vegetation back from alongside the boardwalk |
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| removing the last of the grass from under the chicken wire |
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| did Gill have a sense of déjà vu, I wonder? |
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| finshed ,and looking all spruced up |
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| looking as good as new? |
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| meanwhile at the Bridge the chicken wire was coming off |
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| and so were the hand rails |
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| this was a crowbar job |
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| now you see it |
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| now you don't |
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| at the path junction they were having fun.... |
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| ....finding the old grids and lining up the new |
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| grim determination |
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| and eventual triumph! |
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Our tree guard removal expert getting stuck in
( probably quite literally - shall we ever manage to get her out again?) |
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| finally time for the tea break |
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| nice to relax and chat |
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| and sign a "get well" card for a missing volunteer |
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| see all that lovely blue sky? |
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| always good to see smiling faces at a work party! |
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| Last task of the day |
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| not just wood chip but barrowing turf too |
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| what was dug up to put down the grids |
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| came in handy where the bridge used to be |
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| a bit rough and ready |
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| but it will soon green over |
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Just when we thought we'd finished!
A new load of wood chip means a new work party!
Richard is cutting back the brambles to make a way through to the gate. |
Last word goes to the wildlife - reports of weird insects & spiders on the boardwalk, a couple of 7-spot ladybirds ( SC209693 & SC209694) and the Mallards were back on the water before we'd even left the site ( SC209694)
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this 7-spot has probably been hibernating under the carpet square
put down round a tree years ago and now growing moss |
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| looking back at what has been seen over the month of March |
