We might have returned to working on the Commons, but we must still observe social distancing rules, and strict restrictions over the number of people working at any one time. Unless we can arrange for each working party to double as a wedding reception, we must still restrict our numbers at each session to rather less than the usual average of attendees. In order to continue providing people with the opportunity to volunteer here, when we have more people than permitted willing to attend a session, some of us are dropping out from some sessions. In a typical act of self-sacrifice, your usual correspondent was the first to do so, and accordingly this account of the latest session is clearer, better illustrated and makes far more sense. Have no fear, in order to try to meet Natural England’s exacting timescale for the completion of the work for maximum environmental benefit, there is a scheme afoot to possibly run sessions each weekend, allowing people to still turn out fortnightly.
The Commons are of course a Local Nature Reserve, so included today are a couple of pictures of wildlife from them. First up is a Stock Dove, very recently deceased on School Common. There was no sign of it having been predated, so perhaps it was a victim of the previous day’s gales.
Team Leader Julie co-led today’s session:
Margaret and I arrived on Saturday planning to tree pop Alders...only to be faced with dozens of Himalayan Balsam flowers waving to us!! So we dealt with as many if those as we could before Grizzly munched them.... then progressed to the Alders. Over the last few weeks loads have been removed...
There are still plenty to be popped before next time though!!
However, HB and Alders removed, Grizzly managed to clear a good area for tomorrow’s work party.
Happily Mr Toad was unharmed by the work done:
I went home happy with my mornings work and sat having a cuppa...I ran my hand through my hair and out popped a very unwelcome guest:
I hate spiders 🙈 and screamed like a girl!!! Now I know why I normally wear a tight fitting hat - yuk urgh !!
We had a really good morning for the main event on Sunday. It went very well and everyone was very happy to be back on the Common. We met at the site as agreed and stood in a distanced circle while I explained how it would all work. A jogger went past and said we looked like we were just about to start a Tai Chi class! “Cloud Hands” everyone..
The sheets were filled and guided to the dump site where the winch was used to pull the sheet over. Luckily the reed, cut yesterday, was dry and relatively light - it was all very effective and efficient.
The atmosphere was very relaxed and there was the familiar chatter and laughter across the site. At half time we all had a break - unfortunately with our own refreshments as we are not allowed to provide tea and coffee - and everyone sat or stood and had a drink. It was noted with the ‘couples’ sat together and ‘singles’ separate that it resembled a strange speed dating game!
We hadn’t tipped Noel out of his wheelbarrow - honest!
Then it was back to work - everyone reunited successfully with their own numbered pitch forks!
A very successful session leaves half of area B looking very smart.
Hopefully we will tackle more of this area in two weeks’ time.
To all volunteers,
We hope that you are all keeping safe and well.
Following on from a 'trial' work party with six people last
weekend, we have today held a hugely successful work party involving 11
volunteers in total.
Over the two weekends we have cleared half of the reed from Area B on the Warren Road end of the site (and a large number of small alders and more Himalayan Balsam!).
A massive thank you goes to the Volunteers who attended today for their help and enthusiasm and we are pleased that you felt safe and happy with the procedures now in place for our work parties.
Take Care,
Regards, Julie, Margaret, John, Kevin, Denise and Sue
It was a very enjoyable working party despite numbers having to be lower than previously (and the traditional Custard Creams not on offer for obvious reasons).
ReplyDeleteI hope the stowaway spider was returned to the Common.......