Bank Holiday Balsam Bash

After what seems like months of drought here in our neck of the woods, we’ve finally had some rain – right on target for our first Himalayan Balsam elimination working party of the year. A sharp shower left us all a little on the damp side, and judging by the occasional cries of despair, the swelling watercourses were deep enough to fill the unwary welly-wearer’s wellies. A magnificent 13 of us turned up for this session, and there was much excited speculation that this could be a record for a Balsam Bash. Sadly, the records reveal that 13 were also present on 16^th July 2023, so it’s only a joint record – until the next session perhaps? In a July 2022 HB working party 15 hours were recorded, with 14 people attending, but at least one of those was engaged in trimming the sides of the boardwalk: so close- but no cigar.

Nevertheless, at this stage un-troubled by thoughts of statistical glory, after Team Leader Margaret’s briefing on the hazards to avoid, we plunged in. This is what we were looking for:

And this was where we were looking!

Here we see people hard at work:

Some brave souls then forded the beck to get to the other side.

Some lovely (non-invasive!) wildflowers were nestling in the undergrowth

Large bittercress is very prolific at the moment: it’s an ugly name for a pretty plant.

There are also some rotting tree stumps, of great value to many invertebrates and fungi.

Noel being present, there was naturally a tendency to burst into song. The first faltering rendition was Working on a Chain Gang, but we couldn’t remember who sang it. (Sam Cooke, as it turns out.) Pathetic attempts were made by Noel’s accompanists to recreate the canon of Joe Jackson, but to no avail. (Possibly the song on your correspondent’s lips was Is She Really Going Out with Him? but a miserable failure must be recorded.)

The scheduled hour completed, we re-convened at the Information Point in order to dump the spoils. This is the resulting heap – there were a lot of small victims, so probably 1000s of plants have been removed. Note the damp Team Leader.

Sue’s bag didn’t look as full as some, but her excuse was the slight wear and tear evident on the bag. It’s possible that several plants might have fallen out…

Here is Team Leader Margaret’s message of thanks:

Here we go again!

An enormous thank you to the thirteen who braved the very heavy shower (yes we all got thoroughly soaked after such a long dry spell). We did a tremendous clearance pulling several thousand plants. Getting them so early ensured that there was no chance of them setting seed. We will of course need to return later to get the ones we missed.

In two weeks’ time we will be on area  B or as described by Kevin, cross the beck and turn right. We really are making a difference to the amount of Balsam present so thank you for your dedication.

Margaret (for the team leaders).

Since the last blog posting, the Cotton Grass in the central area of the Common has put on a fine show, declared to be the best for many years. Also showing themselves are RaggedRobin, Pignut and MarshValerian. Pendulous sedge is also visible, as are some Southern Marsh Orchids.

A cuckoo was heard calling for a couple of mornings, but it’s likely that it has moved on elsewhere. The first common lizards of the year have been noted on the sightings whiteboard. There are lots of invertebrates active now, but how’s this for a surprising one? Two Sabre Wasps joined Team Leader Margaret in her garden room recently. They look fearsome, but only grubs hiding in rotting wood should be alarmed.

The Common looking at its best right now

Well, the May blossom being well and truly out, and the warm weather having well and truly returned, many clouts have been cast. It seems to me that the warm weather is unusually warm for early May and it feels like Spring has jumped into Summer without waiting the customary period. Bob Dylan’s line “Time is a jet plane, it moves too fast” seems more appropriate than ever, or perhaps it’s just my advancing years…

Here at least, the showers of April were few and far between, and water levels are low; the Pit is already empty, and I imagine the early Moorhen breeding attempt has failed: farmers are already deploying their XXXL size hosepipes.

Having said all that, ill omen though it might be, this weather is undoubtedly pleasant to be out and about in, and the Common looks at its best at this time of year.

One of the iconic plants to be found at this spot now is the Bog Bean. This photo was taken in 2013, but it's gratifying to know that there are still plenty here.

When this place was being managed by the Southrepps Commons Trust, the Bog bean formed the Trust’s logo.

Plants also in evidence at the moment are:

Red Campion

Moschatel

The flower is tiny, and its other name of Town Hall Clock is because on each stalk are four flowers, neatly arranged as though they are the faces of a clock on the tower of, well, a town hall. Once you get your eye in (or are accompanied by an eagle-eyed botanist) you discover it is surprisingly numerous.

Cowslip

Bittercress

The summer migrant birds are mostly all here now, or else they just aren’t coming. Swallows have been with us for a while, and in very recent days swifts and house martins have put in an appearance. Singing in the reedbeds are a couple of reed warblers, but sadly no sedge warbler has been reported. Someone noted a Cetti’s Warbler on the sightings whiteboard, and I have been told that a cuckoo has been heard in the vicinity.

Those tiny scraps of life Goldcrests are very much in evidence, if you can make out their high-pitched song. A recent walk in the company of three attentive ladies provided excellent views for once of this bird, which is so often audible but yet invisible, as well as more plants than a simple birder can remember.

Not on any of the five commons, but not too far off, I happened to spot a group of three Fallow Deer emerging from some woodland bordering a cereal field. I have never seen these here, or indeed anywhere in the wild, so this was a welcome first for me. This species had been noted on the whiteboard once during the winter, and we were surprised by that, but it does appear that they are around after all.

Butterflies are on the wing now, and reported as having been seen on the commons or nearby are:

Brimstone

Comma

Orange Tip

Speckled Wood

Red Admiral

Green-veined white

Peacock

As the season wears on we can expect Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Gatekeepers and hopefully some less common ones!

 

Walking in School Common the other day I was surprised and saddened to discover this road works sign, which had been lugged there from where it was meant to be. It has been reported to NWT and will hopefully be removed soon. 

Last time we mentioned the replacement of the main boardwalk, starting with the sections most urgently in need. At that point a start had been made on the small section leading to our tool store, which had become quite hazardous. Soon after the last posting was published, the job was completed by our NWT warden George and a volunteer from Cley. Here’s how it looks now.

No doubt before long we will hear the call to arms for the first phase of the elimination of this year’s crop of Himalayan Balsam: can’t wait! (ahem).