I keep repeating myself each time I do a task report but what a good task
this was!
A good turnout of 17 enabled us to divide into two groups, inside bods and
outside bods. The inside gang ably led by Jonathan set to putting together
dormouse nesting boxes from the already cut components - sides, lids, etc,
and staining them with preservative. Young Chloe was in charge of numbering
them and of quality control. This turned into quite a production line, some
of the work being done on tables moved outside for the purpose and some
inside in the volunteers building.
The outside gang, led by myself, went and made informal paths into a nearby
area of undergrowth to where the nesting boxes could be located on the sides
of trees and bushes at chest height. We were cutting through mainly brambles
and nettles, disturbing the odd grass snake in the process, but a little
network of suitable paths was completed by lunchtime. Weather wasn't too
bad, quite sunny if a little cool and showery at times, and we were
serenaded in our work by a nearby cuckoo.
Lunchtime saw us sheltering from a heavy shower under the extension on the
front of the Education Centre. In the afternoon some of us were able to
start putting up the newly created boxes, securing them to their locations
with wire, whilst the production line continued manufacturing even more
boxes. However, following afternoon tea break the inside gang were able to
join in with putting the remaining completed boxes up and so have a go at
that part of the process as well. All in all we made and installed 28
nestboxes, and also made a few basic shells of others that will be fully
completed and put into place on another occasion.
Anne, who was overseeing us on behalf of the Limewoods Dormouse Project, was
very pleased with our work, which is a big help to them and moves the
project forward. Since the initial release of dormice in 2002 they have
started to spread through Chambers Farm Wood. It was very satisfying for us
to do something a little more focused and to start and complete the whole
process within a day. The intention is to also introduce dormice into
Southrey Wood in 2011 so our group may well help with that as well.
Richard