19 Volunteers for 2019.
What an excellent turnout for our first work party of the year! A new record for the reserve, I think! Our priority for the morning was to curb the enthusiasm of the brambles where they were threatening to cross the ditch and head for the path. Volunteers were soon spread out along the whole of the boundary and by the tea break the task was pretty much done. "Many hands make light work" indeed.
This meant that after our refreshment break we were able to do a similar job in two other areas of the reserve.
Brambles are excellent for wildlife, providing nectar, berries, cover and nest sites but would soon take over the entire reserve if left to their own devices. We are trying to provide a variety of different habitats at Ballachurry, so in certain areas they are kept in check. Fear not though, they will be back! No doubt we'll be doing exactly the same task this time next year.
Those of you visiting the Hide may also notice that the ramp has been meticulously weeded, as has the boardwalk. This was a one woman job! Thank you Carrie. It's fiddly and hard on the fingers but Carrie did a great job.
Many thanks to all the volunteers for their hard work, to Ian for use of his barrow, trailer and dustbins, Richard for dropping off more stuff at the tip on his way home, and to all our very own Mary Berrys for providing the refreshments at half time.
As usual the last word goes to the wildlife for whom all this effort is made:
SC210694 3 x Goldfinch
SC209694 10 x Mallard on pond
SC208694 Goldcrest; Blue tit; 4 x Chaffinch; Great tit.
SC209693 Water Rail heard from reed bed just as I was leaving the reserve
SC209694 hibernating 7-spot Ladybird found by volunteer, Holly, & relocated to elsewhere on reserve.
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| an annual task |
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| give an inch and brambles will take a yard! |
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| down in the ditch |
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| recharging the batteries for the next onslaught |
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| hot drinks and delicious cakes |
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| our new recruit looks slightly bemused by Ian's headgear well, it is Old Christmas Day insisted Ian! |
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| always good to catch up during the tea break |
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| some liberated willows but plenty of brambles left for the wildlife |
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| 7-spot Lady bird. They hibernate during the winter but on sunny days will reappear to soak up a bit of winter sunshine. This one was fast asleep though. |
