Today we split into 2 groups.
5 on the car park and 9 on the feeding station channel
At the car park, our aim is to improve the quality of the western border hedgerow. Today we coppiced the sycamore thicket (some at least 30 foot high). This will remove the shading effect and encourage thorn bushes , elder and bramble to proliferate. The 'brash' was used to fill the gap in the border fence and also (the majority) was used to create a 'dead hedge' along the trail just behind the hide. This will hopefully provide scrub habitat (bramble thicket) and a future breeding area, for amongst other species the Cettis warbler.
The other group today cleared the vegetation around the silted channel in front of the feeding station hide. Once that was done, the back breaking work began on digging out the channel roots and all. This area now looks great for crakes and Bittern ( both large and small - hopefully 8-P).
Many thanks on behalf of Paul M (the boss) to everyone, for an excellent day's work. Also special thanks to Ferg for his chainsaw skills and knowledge.
The first 2 pics show the west car park hedge 1.before March 2011.
2. After today's work
3. the feeding station channel before todays work
4. After the work
5. A caterpillar found today - anyone got any ideas what species.
B
John
bird sightings later