This week we were at Donkey Field Orchard and Blackford Pond.
At Donkey Field we spent most of our time shovelling hardcore, raking it and stamping it down. On the Wednesday we briefly had a chance to see two rare sights, a heron and Chris. We also got plenty of views on Tuesday and Wednesday of the not so rare sight, lots of cake. We also got to see the loss of a valuable team member, David’s hair. The site has managed (if it’s possible) to get even more slippery and so it was common to see people sliding off down the hill, coating themselves in mud on the way.
The path is coming along nicely, with nearly all of the first 20 tonnes of hardcore laid, all but the last few boards down, and the lining done up to the end of the boards. There was also time for playing in the wheelbarrow queue, and for Kate to show us how to weave by splitting brambles, scraping out the pith, and weaving them together. Next week we have the compactor to look forward to, so don’t forget to wear your steel toecaps.
Thursday we were at Blackford Pond, cutting elm. The elm is being used to rebuild the banks of Blackford Pond because over the years the passage of ducks, rain and small children have worn away the bank until it is encroaching on the path. The method they are using to build up the bank is to build a retaining fence from a pile of elm branches and then fill behind with stones, soil and aquatic plants, like the Flag Iris. Elm was chosen as it is the wood that lasts the longest underwater without rotting, giving the plant roots time to grow down into the soil and bind it together. Elm can last up to 100 years if it is not exposed to the air. The elm came from the area surrounding the pond, and was a good use of the wood from the elms that had contracted dutch elm disease. The disease cannot survive in water, and therefore once cut the branches can be placed in the pond without any further problems. The enthusiasm was really high all day and an entire pickup truck full of elm branches were cut ready for use. We are really proud of all the volunteers as they managed to get it done quickly, but also done safely and done right. We also got to see the ducks at lunchtime.
This week has been full of laughs and learning new things, and was a week that really makes you look forward to coming back.
To view photos of past and present project and our volunteers in action please click here