Wet Wet Wet

Good grief what a wet week!

On Tuesday we were at Blackford Hill, pulling up Himalayan Balsam. The weather started nice, but by the time tea and biscuits came out, it had started bucketing. So there was a mad rush to get waterproofs on and discover if we actually had brought enough wellies (hopefully matching ones as well).

Of course, as soon as that was sorted out, the rain stopped. Or at least slowed down.Or it seemed that way anyhow.

No matter. After a short and sweet “all you need is a pair of gloves” tool talk. We headed off to a ‘spring’ -cum-bog-cum-mud hole. They say that pulling up balsam is easy. Well it probably is if its a nice dry day, bit of sun here and there, dry gloves etc. If not, (Tuesday was in this category), then be prepared to get exceptionally wet, because not only is the vegetation wet on the outside, but also on the inside.If you happen to snap off the stem (not managing to get up the roots) water shoots down and soaks your gloves. Therefore – learn early on how to take the plant out by the roots!

Lunch was an outside-sitting on benchs-at picnic tables affair -despite the rain.

A great area was cleared during the day. Some people showed some imagination when it came to hanging the plants – including hanging it over a tree creating a sort of teepee/tent effect.

At the end of the day – when it had finally stopped raining (for real) and the sun had come out – the frisbee finally got some activity.

On Wednesday, there was a new location: Corstorphine Hill. The task for the day was to pull balsam and dig out/cut salmonberry (sounds familiar). And, although the weather forecast promised a nice day, it rained.

It didn’t damped any spirits however! All balsam was removed from the main path/tracks -although I think we left a little bit for next week.

In the afternoon, the group split – half doing another successful ‘wildflower walk’ and the other digging up salmonberry.

Good work done by all and well done for correctly identifying the common knapweed, wall speedwell and the ragwort!!!

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