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| a rare view of the reserve from the hide roof |
We try not to hold full work parties at Ballachurry during the bird nesting season in order to avoid disturbance. Committee members keep things ticking over until late August with the odd repair or by cutting back any vegetation impeding the paths. Occasionally however we have to enlist some help to deal with a specific problem which needs urgent attention or particular weather conditions to complete. Such was the case on Thursday when we decided that we really did have to sort out the leaking hide roof. With no nesting birds in the nest box or in the immediate vicinity of the hide, we recruited volunteers Ian and Peter to go up the ladder to find out what exactly was going on up there. Both these volunteers helped install the turf roof in 2017 so were familiar with its construction. With a back-up team of three the turf - or what remained of it - was soon finding its way back to ground level in buckets and trugs via a chain gang. Then the carpet layer likewise. With the leaking butyl layer exposed a plan of action could be devised for a future date and this was discussed over a welcome cuppa and slice of cake back at ground level.
Another problem at the reserve is a local "free-range dog" which has been observed going in and out through the gaps in the gate and which we think is responsible for the recent dog fouling. We hope some plastic netting on the back of the gate may stop it getting through and solve the problem. There was just time to try the netting for size and assess what what was required in the way of timber etc. before we all headed home for a well deserved lunch.
We were not the only people on the reserve that morning. As well as a trickle of visitors, the grass was also cut ( thanks to both Steve and Rushen Commissioners). Now we need a few good days in a row to patch the butyl and deal with the gate. Rain has already caused our preferred date for this to be abandoned but we are not deterred! We shall seize the next opportunity to get these jobs done and I understand some advance carpentry is already underway in the heart of Fistard! My grateful thanks to Ian and Peter for their problem solving ideas on this as well as some hard graft. Not forgetting the back-up team of Janet and Richard who made the job go along a lot quicker with their helping hands.
Janet had also baked a cake and brought along a large flask for hot drinks so was particularly popular around 11.30!
Here are a few photos to give a flavour of the work and a rarely seen view of the reserve.
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| initial inspection from the front |
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| and from the back |
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| much of the turf and soil has gone leaving behind some Sow Thistles |
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| and sparse tufts of grass |
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| Shepherd's Purse, I think, - a new record! |
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| Work begins in earnest to remove the vegetation |
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| Ian with trugs at the ready |
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| a last view of the existing "turf" roof |
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| "Honey, I shrunk Janet !" What an odd picture! It looks as though Janet was lifted up to the roof in the trug |
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| fortunately the spell wore off quickly - Janet back to normal size |
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| Richard taking a turn aloft |
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| while Ian takes down the trugs full of soil |
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| carpet layer also now removed |
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| Ian assesses the butyl |
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| it took cake to lure them down from the roof |
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| friendly chat and a brainstorm of ideas |
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| meanwhile the paths were being cut |
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| last word to the wildlife - spider nest on the noticeboard |
( to be continued )
