Rain didn’t stop the (working) party

 

The small grassy patch of common between Bradfield Road and the main boardwalk is a joy to behold each early spring, when it is smothered in snowdrops. That’s no accident; without annual attention it would be overgrown and the pretty flowers nowhere to be seen. Cutting and clearing that bit was today’s task, along with more boardwalk edge tidying and scrub being kept in its place. Your usual correspondent was unsurprisingly absent from today’s soggy working party, meaning that the usual level of gentle ribbing/blatant abuse of my fellow volunteers is missing from this blog posting. Even so, grizzled Grizzly driver John gave me licence to abuse him anyway, but as any Norwich City striker will tell you, it’s not easy scoring in an open goal.

Team leader and deputy blogger Julie takes up the story…

I think our regular correspondent obviously saw the correct forecast today - mine had said light cloud and a moderate breeze....hmm, not quite what we got!

The Grizzly team set to work a wet hour before anyone else to cut the mix of reed, grass and nettles on the target area.

We were not sure how many volunteers we would get in the rain, but 12 hardy souls braved the weather to take up pitchforks, loppers, saws, brushcutters and brushes to clear the cuttings on the Bradfield Road spur of the boardwalk, clear overhanging scrub and branches and to clear the boardwalk edges from the spur to the Car Park. 

'One man and his mower'.....Not long after the volunteers arrived, Grizzly was taken home to be cleaned up - its work done for today. 

Pitchforks were wielded to manually clear the cuttings from the area to clear the way for the snowdrops to make their dazzling appearance. Despite the rain it was a warm day and layers were soon coming off!

Scrub and overhanging branches were cleared along the edges - though I am not sure this photo really depicts this activity to its best - maybe a lesson in setting up action shots is in order...this looks more like our volunteer is verbally persuading the scrub to retreat - now there is an idea we could get used to!

The lower reed and grassy edges along the boardwalk were soon seen off by our brushcutters - now that is more like an action shot!

                 

At last half time arrived and we decamped under the oak tree for our usual coffee break - and some very nice choccie biscuits today! I had thought the oak tree would offer shelter initially, but it soon became clear that the water dripping from its branches was probably heavier than the rain in the open! Apologies to Margaret for filling her provisions bag with water! 

The second half of our session continued much along the lines of the first half, but the results of today's efforts are spectacular…

 The Bradfield Road side of the main common is cut and cleared, ready to welcome the snowdrops.

The Bradfield Road spur boardwalk is clear on both sides ready to welcome visitors to the site.

The entrance from the car park is equally clear and inviting.

As is the boardwalk in between the two points.

We hope you all enjoy visiting our lovely common!

Here is Team Leader Kevin's message of thanks:

Hello all

A big thankyou to the 12 hardy souls who turned out this morning to clear the area along the Bradfield Road spur and boardwalk. Despite the steady drizzle the group wielded their pitchforks, loppers, saws and brushcutters to great effect, not forgetting Grizzly and his driver who started early in order to get a head start on the group as there was no pre-cut this week. 

Hopefully we will see you all again in two weeks' time when we will be on School Common.

Thanks,

Kevin