Ballachurry Reserve, 26th February 2022. Work Party.

 For our February Work Party it was a case of "third time lucky" as we had had to cancel on both the 5th and 19th because of bad weather & other issues.  Saturday wasn't a sunny day by any means but at least it was dry and reasonably mild, despite the blustery wind, so finally 12 volunteers were able to tackle a variety of tasks which were long overdue. 

First up was to mulch round our 5 new Oak saplings with newspaper and wood chip. The volunteers had been hoarding newspaper for some weeks now in anticipation of this task and were able to put the requisite 3 layers round each tree to help suppress the grass while each sapling becomes established. A 10cm ( that's about 4" to my generation!) mulch of wood chip went on top to weigh down the paper, retain moisture and eventually condition the soil round the tree as it breaks down. This job took virtually no time at all and we quickly moved on to disposing of the rest of the large pile of chip kindly donated by the Roots to Shoots company.  This wood chip is a godsend each winter as it helps soak up the mud along the paths. They were becoming quite slippery in places and the barrow loads of chip have now greatly improved the current ground conditions.  A welcome spin-off from putting down wood chip each year has been the increase in bio diversity it has brought with it. There are several species of fungi which grow on wood chip and the reserve has gone from having hardly any species anywhere on the reserve, to now having quite a variety appearing year on year.

Because we had to cancel the work parties the chip had started to decompose in its pile and was positively steaming in the middle! 

Not everyone was working on the wood chip however. Some volunteers were dealing with recent storm damage, while another cut back brambles from around the Hazel bushes; another was laying the willow hedge beside the hide and yet another removing several protective tully tubes from around trees which had been overlooked on a previous occasion.  As one task finished another began. Some assisted Ian to move paving slabs from the entrance to the boardwalk area and others were pollarding willows to stop them becoming too leggy. Spiky Blackthorn also received a trim alongside some of the paths.

Everyone was working very hard and was glad to stop for drinks and cake just after 11. Many thanks to  Sheila S. and Margaret for tempting us with these. Ian had kindly loaned us his bins as usual and these were invaluable for carrying the chip to where it was required. Originally they had been intended to transport bramble roots to the tip but a sterling effort by one volunteer quickly showed that the roots were pretty much impossible to dig out near the new pond and that we must find other means of keeping them in check. 

barrow and bin at the ready, waiting for wood chip

digging out the wood chip

slabs waiting to be moved as well as the wood chip

heading for the muddy section of the path

heading back for a refill, mulched Oak in the foreground

a Charlie Chaplin walk quickly spreads the chip!

Margaret trims, Peter rakes.

dealing with storm damaged Blackthorn

 eventually it was sawn off at ground level

the wattle fence is slowly deteriorating

but the willow hedge will eventually take its place.

 a reviving cuppa and delicious  cake

appreciated by all

good to rest

and catch up with news

then back to work - slabs this time

pollarding the leggy willows

should make them thicken up, and prunings left at the base

the willow hedge should sprout again in a week or so

chip along the paths soaks up the mud

and looks very smart

one of the freshly mulched trees

and another

 If you have spotted these water butts at the reserve recently, we are saving some of the recent rainwater to go back in the pond once the liner is in place.

a couple of temporary water butts by the new pond

rainwater from the pond being kept for when the liner is in place.

Finally we reached the end of the tasks and drifted home for lunch one by one; tired, but  feeling better for the fresh air and exercise and very satisfied with what had been achieved at the Reserve during the morning.  A big thank you to all concerned.

 please click on photos to enlarge them