It's only a couple of weeks since our last work party at Ballachurry and we don't often hold them twice in a month. However, we needed to finish off digging out the streams before the DEFA deadline of 30th September so Saturday morning saw a dozen volunteers hard at work on the reserve. In fact the stream work was soon completed,and thereafter we were employed on annual reed bed maintenance, routine boardwalk weeding, and generally cutting back of vegetation and brambles. Our two carpenters also installed a short section of new boardwalk over the stream inlet. Water has been by-passing the large water pipe for some years now and the path was sinking as a result. This was a "stitch in time" job to ensure safe passage along the path should the ground eventually cave in next to the pipe. We were able to use leftover materials from the earlier bridge work to build this boardwalk and very smart it looks too!
Rather worryingly, a single Croc shoe was found in the mud when clearing pond vegetation! No body was attached to it however, so presumably whoever had fancied a paddle returned to shore safely but minus their footwear! There is New Zealand Pygmy Weed in parts of the pond - an alien species which spreads prolifically and is virtually indestructible - so we had to take bio security precautions when clearing a way through for the stream to enter the pond. Tools and wellies had to be washed down before moving to other areas of the site. In fact, no Pygmy Weed was seen in this particular area but better safe than sorry!
Here are a few photos from the morning
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nearly there!
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washing the wellies
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your turn !
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job done
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While we were having our refreshments I noticed a Mallard happily swimming up and down the new channel.
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Croc retrieved from the mud
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Carrie cracking on with the Forth Bridge Job
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The Purple Team busy at work
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reed bed maintenance
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Ian and Peter preparing the new board walk section
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first lot of supporting blocks in
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did you just say it was time for the tea break?
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a job well done
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the tea break is always welcome
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| not just a time to rest |
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but also a time to socialise
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and fortify ourselves with cake!
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Mr. & Mrs. Blogger ( at Carrie's insistence!)
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Twelve people spread round the reserve getting on with various jobs inevitably causes some disturbance to the wildlife, so it was lovely to see a report on Social Media that afternoon that a Water Rail had been seen from the Hide. The birder concerned later got in touch to tell me he had actually seen 21 different species of bird at Ballachurry that afternoon, including 3 Teal, 3 Mallard and an immature Moorhen on the pond as well as the Water Rail. It's always reassuring to receive a report like that straight after a work party and his comment "Your ditching work looks great and will undoubtedly attract snipe too. Well Done" was wonderful encouragement to pass on to the volunteers. It made the aching muscles and muddy clothes worthwhile! I certainly echo the sentiment - well done everyone! Your hard work was much appreciated. Thanks, as usual , to the baking ladies for giving us the energy to get the jobs finished by providing delicious home made cakes in the tea break. And thanks to Ian yet again for use of his trailer and bins and for taking brambles to the tip on his way home.
With the stream job out of the way we can concentrate in earnest on brambles and blackthorn next month. We also have the old bridge and boardwalk to demolish and replace. Something for everyone, I think!
Please click on the photos to enlarge them
Incidental records: SC209694 2 x Mallard; Speckled Wood; Small Copper.
