I think we had all been watching the weather forecasts anxiously this week, knowing there was a work party scheduled for Saturday morning but it went ahead as planned and no one got seriously wet! There was a momentary shower just as the tea break was called but by the time we had reached the hide it had blown over and we were able to enjoy our drinks and cakes outside.
The main task today was to cut back the ever encroaching Blackthorn along the direct path to the hide . Blackthorn spreads by suckers and has spent the past 12 or 13 years or so doing just that! Although the volunteers prune back along all the paths each year, the time had finally come for more drastic action. We piled up the resultant debris in a nearby glade and this will eventually be used to make another dead hedge similar to the one near the new pond. These are fantastic habitats for wildlife, so the cut Blackthorn will continue to be of use for many years to come.
While some volunteers were busy cutting and strimming, others were using the remainder of the wood chip pile from near the gate to counteract the mud along the paths. Some hide maintenance was also undertaken, I believe.
Here are a few photos from the morning.
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| Karen's photo at the start of the morning |
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| Karen's photo shows the muddy area near the hide |
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| and mine shows the same area with the wood chip in place |
everyone getting stuck in
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| loppers at the ready |
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| taking stock |
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| dragging away the cut blackthorn |
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| raking up the inevitable debris |
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| adding wood chip to the paths |
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| an excellent reason for volunteering! ( Karen's photo) |
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| everyone enjoys the rest..... |
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| the cake..... |
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| the catch-up..... |
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| and the camararderie |
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| news ( and cake recipes) get exchanged |
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| a short tea-break then it's back to work |
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| wood chip pile gone |
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| work finished |
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| pile of cut Blackthorn |
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| finished path now much wider |
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| wood chip soaking up the mud |
Many thanks to Karen for organising the work party today, for providing some photos for the Blog, and to all volunteers for working so hard to get the job done before the rain set in. Thanks also due to the baking ladies for providing the delicious cakes - always much appreciated.
Wildlife: I believe Redwings and Long-tailed Tits were seen by those who arrived early. This tiny caterpillar was photographed on a fallen nestbox ( caterpillar relocated, box taken home for repair). There was an old nest in the open fronted box.
please click on photos to enlarge them
