Follow that rope!

The hot spell two thirds of the way through July saw the long-awaited emergence of invertebrates. Amongst the butterflies finally on view were ringlets, meadow browns, gatekeepers and commas. A few dragonflies were also in evidence, but they’re so hard to identify since they will insist on zooming around the place in a show-offy kind of way. However, I also found this banded demoiselle damselfly dead on the road (surely Britain’s most beautiful insect).

On the 20^th July, so slap-bang in the spell of hot weather, Julie, Margaret and Sue had another go at eliminating the wretched Himalayan Balsam. Here’s what Julie had to say about it:

“Myself, Margaret and Sue did a mini sweep of the area by the car park for HB today.  Please record 3 hours. It was very hot and very tough through the very tall reed!! I couldn’t find my way out at the end!!

We got around 6 bags of HB as some were quite big. Margaret lost one bag full and we couldn’t find it, so that will turn up in the next few years!! Some we left hung over branches to dry out.

I attach some pics (including a raspberry bush I found! Unfortunately, the birds had found it first!)” 

The searing heat of the previous few days having subsided somewhat, 17 grateful volunteers turned up this morning to get the new cutting season under way. Acting under orders from NWT, instead of dealing with the central section (Area G) first, this year we started on the Warren Road side of the Beck; the bit known as Area B – that is the furthest bit from Pit Street. Earlier in the week, while Margaret tackled some reeds by hand, John, Kevin and Brian struggled in the heat cutting some of the lank vegetation in order to provide enough material to clear at the start of today’s session.

More cutting was of course required, to feed the ever-eager pitchfork and drag-sheet crews.

At the winch end Brian was in charge, as he demonstrated by pointing out the winch, Kevin having overlooked it.

After a few months’ break from this work, it can take even (or perhaps especially) the oldest of old hands some time to reacquaint themselves with the various processes, tricks and tips involved. Things like where to stand when a sheet is being tipped out, which end of the pitchfork to hold, and when the tea break is. Nowhere is this better illustrated than when your correspondent, in all innocence, asked where the next sheet was going: “follow that rope!” was the helpful response, which certainly worked, so thanks for that.

The half-time break was as welcome as ever: see the joy on the volunteers’ faces.

After enjoying refreshing beverages and Ginger Nut biscuits, just before springing back to work the vote was put to the assembled company about whether we should begin our work parties at 9 or 10 am (until the clocks go back in October). In this striking vindication of the democratic process, at the first attempt one person voted for 9, and two for 10. The rest either abstained, or just didn’t realise what was happening. Somehow the decision was for 10 but in the event of hot weather we might start at 9 anyway; a Sunday morning hour of which I was previously unaware. Here’s the case being even-handedly put by Team Leader Margaret:

Tipping out the laden sheets can be a tough task, fraught with the risk to unwary sheet tipper-outers of getting buried by the descending material. If you’re going to stumble, the trick is to do it when nobody is lurking nearby in the hope of photographing your misfortune: something your correspondent forgot. To the observant they can be spotted, pretending to look at their phones when really they are poised to snap.

As is clear, it can be a distressing experience, although it has been uncharitably suggested that this looks rather as if I am seated on a toilet. Gentle reader, it is for you to decide!

Here’s a short film clip of the process, with Andrew taking the risk of entombment.

Happily, he remained upright, and was able to escape.

As the session begins to wind down, the sheet folding crew springs into action (actually, they’ve been active all along, just not folding sheets). As can be seen, they can take a bit of subduing (the sheets that is).

When those sheets were being removed from the storage container at the start of the session, one was discovered to have been adopted by a colony of ants as a suitable spot in which to raise their queen's countless children. Sadly, their endeavours will have been in vain, but then again, they didn’t ask permission – just saying.

At the end of the work party (why ‘party’? you might ask), we were heartened to see that a large amount had been achieved. Here’s how the area looks now, with plenty more to do in the following frolicsome events.

Here is Team Leader Margaret’s message of thanks:

Good afternoon to you all.

Wow what a start to the new season! On Tuesday when Kevin, John and Brian came back from the Common exhausted and dripping in sweat, I thought we would never get the job done. John returned to do some more pre-cutting on Saturday and he and Kevin started earlier this morning, thank you to both of them. What a clearance we have achieved today. You really are the most amazing group of volunteers. Thank you. After a rather ragged vote at coffee time we will return to the same area in two weeks at 10.00 as voted. If it is forecast to be exceptionally hot we may start at 9.00 so do check the start time.

Enjoy relaxing in front of the Olympics and we all hope Teddy won a prize at the Trunch dog show.

Margaret for the team leaders.