On the last Monday in September, the Mid Week group spent a second day in Dawsholm Park working with Froglife to build a protective fence around a small pond.
The pond is a favourite spot for a quick dip by the local dog population but it is hoped that protecting the pond will encourage frogs, toads and newts to the area. Sorry dogs.
On the previous day on site the volunteers dug deep holes for the fence uprights and postcreted a lot of the wooden posts in place. Monday’s group fixed the final posts into the ground and put in temporary cross-posts to support the new sycamore fencing; we also started to build the framework for an access gate.
For anyone – like myself – with limited woodworking knowledge, today was also a great opportunity to learn some new skills!
UPDATE 22 APRIL 2014!!! I went for a walk past the pond today and noticed a newt pottering around in the water – so it looks like there is at least one new resident : )