Hello Conservation Volunteers
A big thank you to everybody who came along to our latest work morning.
Himalayan Balsam pulling was the main task with a second venture of the year into the Wet Woodland, this time into the boggier eastern end, with one group entering on the northern side and the second into the southern side.
Being a difficult area to move around in and avoid the bogs to get to the balsam it is not surprising there are some dense areas of balsam in here, plus they are on the large side with Chris finding some around 9 to 10 feet tall in full flower. The welly sucking bogs were a challenge, especially for Dave who seemed to spend most of his time retrieving a welly or two!
Some large areas have been cleared but again more to be done.
Amazingly, our cake supplier, Mandy, managed to first phone and then find us in the middle of the Wet Woodland to deliver some chocolate krispie cakes, nicely packaged in takeaway cardboard boxes!
Further downstream along the goit to Wire Mill Dam another group was removing debris at the grill and also at the drain with the FoPV plaque which goes underneath the goit. They were a little perplexed as to how a large tree branch had become lodged inside the enclosed drain blocking the flow for which they had to open the cover to remove it, but once removed the flow was restored. A large fallen branch across the goit was also removed before finally moving on to Wire Mill Dam to clear debris before returning to the cafe for a coffee.
We always have trained emergency first aiders on our work mornings, however the training doesn't cover the issue which arose at the end of the morning. A lady had seen the green first aid bag and asked if she could have a bandage for her dog which had cut its paw. Dog was duly bandaged up and trotted away quite happily!
The next work morning is on Tuesday 23rd July. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.
Lyndon
A Selection of photos from the work morning
Chris with some giant balsam
Balsam hung over branches to dry and die...
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Heather with a specimen which doesn't quite match Chris's!
Phil and others working their way through dense undergrowth and balsam
Mandy finding us to deliver chocolate krispie cakes!
Dave retrieving a welly again!
Back at the cafe with chocolate krispie cakes and coffee!
