So what happened last week?
On Tuesday we were at Polkemmet Country Park, this time burning rhododendron – previously cut and placed in ‘habitat piles’. There was a fair trek from the car park to the location of the fire (although I’m told it was not as long a trek as Thursday’s group had).It started fine just going down a track, which then descended into a path, which went over a ditch, round a log pile, through a wood, over another ditch, up and down a steep slope and then left, past a dead sheep…
Unfortunately the fire site was small, thus the fire had to be small too 🙁
The large ‘habitat’ piles were soon cut up and placed in the fire – keeping us warm!
A good area was re-cut and burned, only leaving the larger logs (piled respectively to create insect habitat piles)
Much fun was had by those who got to try out the new camera – a great improvement on the last one.
On returning to the van – it was subsequently discovered that it is not a great idea to park under (sit in (the van) and leave the doors/windows open) lime trees. One word: Wasps.
Wednesday saw us at Corstorphine Hill doing further invasive species removal – this time in the form of Spiraea (?!). Again another trek between van and actual invasive species – this time there was a proper path (for most of the way).
So, this spiraea stuff….how to tackle it? Well the roots are ‘unrolled, like a carpet’ apparently.
Right. OK. Whatever. It was attacked with a variety of tools, namely loppers and mattocks and forks. It was quite interesting peeling the roots back from the rocks – and seeing what was underneath.
It was at this point when we were mistaken for archaeologists by a member of public. I’m sure there was nothing we were doing that the Time Team could not handle.
Anyway we made great progress today – the difference is really noticeable!
After we had finished the main task of the day (well…I say finished…) some of us took a short trip up Corstorphine Tower. There were lovely views and flying ants.
Thursday saw us back at Polkemmet Country Park, and yet more Rhoddodendron bashing. However it was more burning than bashing as we had a load of previously cut Rhoddi to contend with. Having made our way through the wood to the spot we’d be having the fire, the Volunteer team broke into a couple of teams and set about the task at hand. Some went further into the wood to hunt out more Rhoddi, some stayed to cut down Rhoddi branches into more manageable piles for burning. Whilst I (Myke), got out my bush-mans kit and lit the fire with a flint and tempered steel. Practice makes perfect as they say, well I need the practice. But even although the grass was mildly damp I got there and much Rhoddi was burnt. Yeay!
