Diary Reports - 2009
15 February 2009
The repaired bird boxes were put back in position.
Brambles and other vegetation was cleared along a metre-wide strip working inside the otter enclosure along the length of the path, to avoid encroachment over the path once the growing season starts.
The otter holt was inspected, some evidence of other creatures around. It was agreed that expert advice was needed about otter activity, and whether the holt needs any work. The structure appears to be in good condition.
21 March 2009
On a beautiful Spring day, there was plenty of work to do.
We moved frogspawn from the shallow pools to deeper water. Many tadpoles were already hatched and were wriggling black masses in the sunshine
We cleared the vegetation around the noticeboards, the dog and rubbish bins, and the two existing seats.
We carried out a litter pick over the whole site, but this year only collected 7 sacks of rubbish. Last year it was 21 sacks, so we seem to be educating our visitors.
16 May 2009
We worked from the corner of the playing fields near the stone bridge - Jamie had borrowed some wooden pallets which were laid over the mud and enabled us to wheel barrows across the Tilmore Meadow.
We laid gravel on the path from the Western Meadow into the Tilmore woodland, extended the path up the slope onto the Mount, and resurfaced/repaired the existing path to the right of the concrete bridge.
8 tonnes gravel were used and all the work was finished by 1pm. A successful morning.
21 June 2009
Julian strimmed back the encroaching brambles etc along the path throughout the site (from the pumping station to the wooden sleeper bridge) including round one of the bench seats, the path to the pond and both sides of the boardwalk. Everyone else pulled Himalayan Balsam on various areas of the site including the Mount and pond area in the Eastern Meadow. We made an initial attempt to pull Balsam in the Otter Holt area but as the undergrowth included nettles and brambles it was difficult, and when a bird's nest was discovered no further pulling was done in the area.
The majority of volunteers packed up about 12.20pm as several had other commitments. Julian continued strimming and Lindsey continued raking with the hay rake until 1.10 pm.
July 2009
This month was a dual purpose one with the ‘Family Fun Day’ combined with a pond surveyed performed by Julian and Lindsey. The survey produced dragonfly larva, immature newts or efts, mayfly nymphs, waterboatman and other aquatic invertebrates. The Family Day was unfortunately poorly attended but hope for more next July! Workparty members took the opportunity to pull some Himalayan balsam around the pond area.
August 2009
No actual workparty this month but the management team took the opportunity to walk round the site accompanied by Ron Allen whose invaluable knowledge and support will help us construct a new management plan for the site – Watch this space for updates.
19 September 2009
We worked on the EHDC end of the site where Himalayan balsam was cleared earlier in the year in 2 adjoining areas. We gathered all the vegetation together and formed 2 big heaps which have been covered with black polythene. We also pulled a lot more balsam plants as the very wet areas were fairly accessible due to the prolonged dry period. The heaps were covered with tree branches to weigh down the covering and also disguise them. We know that the heaps will create shelter for many creatures, and hope that the grass snakes will also adopt them.
17 October 2009
The weather was pleasantly dry. A successful path laying workparty took place. We laid 5 tonnes of gravel to further improve the path in the woodland alongside Tilmore Brook. Ben Spraggon provided his mini excavator to load the gravel into barrows, but we did not have a mechanical wheelbarrow this time, so the 5 tonnes was all hand barrowed!
12 December 2009
Another great turnout with 12 bodies. We dug out sediment and willows saplings from the 3 scrapes in the Central meadow, which are used by frogs and toads in the Spring. We tidied up large crack willow from November work party and moved that brash down to block off a dog access area into the Rother behind one of oak trees. We also cleared out a lot of willow saplings and brambles from the Central Meadow. Many, many thanks to everyone who has helped out on work parties this year.
