Hello Conservation Volunteers
Yet another fantastic sunny late Autumn morning, no wind and just perfect for our latest session around Forge Dam, especially after Storm Bert had altered our plans slightly but there was plenty for our volunteers to get stuck into!
The new protective grill which is in front of the opening to the millrace which goes behind the cafe had served its purpose and had trapped a mass of branches and leaf debris and this was the starting point for the Storm Bert Task Force to go and clear out first. After clearing the millrace, the team moved onto the goit. As can be seen from the photo this was badly blocked with debris which has been cleared by the team and the goit is now flowing fully once again to Wire Mill Dam.
The path which goes up to the old Health Authority always suffers with a thick layer of slippery leaves at this time of year and needs clearing to make it safe for everybody who uses it, especially Linda who uses it for her running regime! Linda led a team of Hugh, Mandy and Claire, this time starting from the very top, working their way down to the lower level. Although much of it has been cleared including the bottom entrance another session is required to fully clear it.
Near the old Health Authority path there is a large area of snowberry which is non-native and very invasive. We had cleared a patch last year and were back once again to clear some more. Pleasingly, the area cleared last year has not regrown. It's one of the tougher jobs and best done in the winter when the soil is soft, (although very claggy!), but with the use of mattocks, forks, and brute strength to dig them out by their roots we have cleared another patch. With a large patch in the private land bordering onto this area we can at least keep it from taking over any further on the public side to allow other plants to grow. Another ongoing job......!
Being close to the HA path where our very own FoPV caterer, Mandy, was busy clearing the path meant the snowberry diggers were fortunate to have first dibs on her special bake i.e. mince pie tiffin, made from 7 actual mince pies with milk and dark chocolate! Definitely her best bake to date. Absolutely delicious and very welcome after some hard digging!
To complete the tasks for the morning another group went on a foliage gathering walk to collect for the FoPV wreath making.
Thank you to everybody who came along to help on all the morning's tasks.
The final work morning of 2024 is on Thursday 12th December where we are planning to be at Shepherd Wheel. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.
Lyndon
A Selection of photos from the work morning
Dave M and Simon looking at the blockage at the goit grill prior to clearing...
...and after clearing
The Health Authority lower path before clearing...
...and the upper path
The bottom entrance before clearing
Mandy in the midst of clearing holly
Linda doing some clearing
Hugh sweeping up...
..with Claire in the background
Lower and upper paths after being cleared
Bottom entrance after being cleared
Starting work on the snowberry patch at the top left
Mandy bringing the mince pie tiffin surrounded by Peter, Linda and Claire
Snowberry team stopping for the mince pie tiffin!
Another snowberry patch cleared
