Defying the ire of the security services, which seem to
think caring for the planet equates to an act of terrorism, a hard-core corps
of environmental volunteers emerged from their cosy homes on a chilly-starting
but eventually sunny day to frolic in the mud on Southrepps Common. The day
before, Radio 4’s ‘Saturday Live’ programme had extolled the delights of
working in and/or playing around in mud, which might perhaps have partially
explained the excellent turnout of 24 volunteers, including the splendid Ken, another
volunteer for NWT, but usually to be found at Cley marshes.
The last working party had left a lot of cut material that
there had not been enough time to clear, so those super-keen volunteers had
plenty to work on whilst the crack winching and dragsheet team worked out what
to do with the long bit of string.
Speaking of the crack team, here they are, hard at it...
Guest starring this time was George, the NWT warden given
the task of keeping us in order and up to the mark. He’s already the warden at
Cley marshes, which should have stood him in good stead for the challenges
posed here. Some 13 of us are looking forward to being given a guided tour of
Cley by George in a few weeks’ time. (Incidentally, the visitor for the
previous working party was Adam, an academic studying how commons fit into
their communities across the world, including some here in Norfolk such as our
very own little treasure.) Who might visit us next time?
Anyway, in addition to casting an approving eye over our
merry band, George put his chainsaw to good effect, further cutting back the
scrub from the edge of the boardwalk. He was assisted in this by some of us:
one of the benefits of having so many people is that we can divide our forces.
George’s other splendid contribution was his flapjacks, pounced
upon at the break. He looks concerned, as they were his lunch!
Much as we all enjoy pitchforking heavy material onto dragsheets,
hauling those dragsheets through cloying mud, and falling over (Julie’s turn
this time, sadly no photographic evidence exists), we do enjoy our tea breaks,
and come gleefully when the whistle is expertly blown.
By the tea break, the view had opened up considerably, but
there was plenty more to do.
After the break, one of the old yellow sheets was broken
out, so that a small party led by Julie could drag some of the stuff into the
scrub on the other side of the boardwalk.
We noticed several shrews (common shrews we assumed, but now believe to be water shrews)
scuttling off to look for somewhere less open to live. They were shrewdly not
keen on publicity, but I did manage to get this:
Before we all trudged off home to hot baths, showers and
Ibuprofen, we worked on for a few minutes overtime, but decided we could leave
the last remnants of cut material for the next session. We felt pretty
satisfied with the result, and several people walking the boardwalk agreed.
This section is only cut every four years, so enjoy it before it all grows
back!
--------------------
We used to work for Southrepps Commons Trust of course, when the Parish
Council owned these commons, but now happily do it for Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Since NWT took on the ownership and management of the site last February:
32 individual volunteers turned up for working parties
627.41 volunteer hours were logged in from February to the
end of December 2019, including 367.25 on the SSSI; 41.25 at The Pit; 43.25
repairing the boardwalk and 81 keeping Himalayan Balsam under control.
Alan Marchbank, NWT Volunteer Coordinator has said,
“627 hours is a significant amount of support to the Trust,
representing 90 working days. A huge thank you to you and all the volunteers
for all you have done and continue to do at Southrepps Commons, it really is
hugely appreciated.”
We also record sightings of plants and wildlife in various
ways, the latest method being the whiteboard at the Lower Street information
point. Since its installation in May 2019, 278 sightings comprising 119
different species were added to the board by anyone visiting who cared to do
so.
So far this year, perhaps the most unusual is the Witch’s
Butter jelly fungus I found growing on a fallen twig on School Common.
Well, the blast from the past wasn't too bad, I hope. Since the
move to NWT we continue to break records and set precedents, both of which I am
proud to have been part of today. So thank you very much for your
contribution, which helped bring the cutting programme to within a whisker of
completion in record time. Margaret will be calling the shots in two weeks
time, 2nd February when, barring unforeseen mishaps or calamities, a relatively
light session will wrap up this season's work. Not bad considering the
published schedule runs into March.
Thanks again
Kind Regards, John
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