(Click on photos to enlarge, then click them again to move on as a slide show)
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| the damp meadow had Docks growing here and there |
A big thank you to the 13 volunteers who joined Saturday's Work Party at Ballachurry. It was a busy week-end with lots going on, including the Royal Show at Knockaloe, so I was very grateful to those who chose to come along to the Reserve to help out with the various tasks. Earlier in the week it looked like heavy rain might cause a cancellation, but as you can see from all the sunhats in the photos below we enjoyed perfect weather.
Left to its own devices our damp meadow would soon be over run with Docks to the detriment of other species. Docks are a good seed source for birds ( I've been watching the sparrows take them recently) but there are plenty elsewhere on the reserve so we didn't feel guilty about taking out those in the meadow. There's also some Hemlock Water Dropwort creeping in - I dead headed it to prevent seeding earlier in the year - but it's hard to spot at the moment so we'll have to wait till it reappears in the spring to dig that out, I think.
Other tasks were to strim alongside the boardwalk ( damp, overhanging vegetation causes the timber to rot) then once that was safely done, move in to weed between the slats for the same reason. Although this is quite a fiddly task it is also very sociable - a chance to sit down and catch up on the conversation! Weeding the ramp to the hide was a similar necessity. The path to the compost heap was also strimmed to make access with barrows easier. Grass was removed from under the main gate so that it can be opened once more to allow access for deliveries/ unloading equipment.
Elsewhere volunteers were using the last of our recycled grids to raise a wet part of the footpath (hard to imagine them wet at the moment but do you remember all that mud?) We didn't quite manage to finish this job but it is almost done and the grids will be filled with pea gravel later in the year.
Others patrolled the paths cutting back brambles which were impeding access and clipping back the willow which was doing likewise. Any brambles or willow straying outside the reserve across the footway by the road were also dealt with.
In other words, plenty to keep everyone busy and we got an enormous amount done. The time always seems to fly by and the refreshment break is a welcome interlude to catch up with everyone's news in the sunshine. Thanks to Margaret Kelly for providing the reviving drinks and to volunteer, Helen Leigh, for a delicious chocolate cake even though she was unable to attend herself that day. It was much appreciated!
During the morning we saw lots of butterflies, a frog, 7-spot Ladybird and the ladies weeding the boardwalk were lucky enough to have a large Dragonfly join them! Sounds like a Common Hawker. (All SC208694)
Wildlife seen certainly brings home what this hard work is all about and gives us a real sense of achievement.
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| strimming each side of the boardwalk |
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| getting out the grass |
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| this has become a regular task |
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one woman work party
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| getting down to work |
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| removing the docks |
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| a few more yet! |
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| this certainly looks like synchronised teamwork! |
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| shears at the ready |
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| these grids were once the car park at the Sound Cafe! |
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| definitely time for coffee and cake |
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| sunhats and sunglasses |
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| some prefer the sun and some the shade |
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| tea break with a fantastic view |
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| " where did you get your hat? " |
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| a great job done |
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| 7-spot spotted on Ian's hat while he was working |
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| a rather tattered Red Admiral |
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| and a rather more pristine one |
Thanks again to everyone who helped in any way - you did a great job!
Next work party will be 1st September .
