We gathered on a misty, slightly frosty morning, but with the sun starting
to burn through the mist. Two projects – cutting back scrub around an
existing pond in the woods, to open it out, and reprofiling the pond in the
butterfly garden, to make it bigger and with a more gentle slope into it.
Accompanied by our leader, Richard, half the group suddenly headed off,
going to the pond in the woods. Those of us remaining wondered how we had
been selected for the pond reprofiling, and what we would do until our
leader returned with instructions. So we did the only thing we could do –
got out the tea and the chocolate Hobnob biscuits.
Richard returned and we started work, emptying the last bit of water from
the pond, carefully keeping a diving beetle and water boatmen safe in a
bucket. Then we started to dig, cutting out part of the existing pond to
increase its size and create the slope. Then it was time for a tea break and
we realised our group had the best deal that day – Audrey’s homemade cake
and M&S flapjacks!
The new pond liner was delivered, and two tons of sand.
A
bit more digging, then a cushioning layer of old carpet over the old liner
(thanks to Richard, who had a loft clearout) and a covering of sand. Then it
was time for lunch (more cake etc) and finally … the new pond liner was
opened out, put in place and the hosepipe was turned on to fill the pond.
Jude and Shirley paddled – easing the liner as the weight of the water
helped it to settle. And then we all sat and watched –the water level
rising, the reflections of the sun and trees in the water, a dragonfly
checking it out. We added some water and sludge from the old pond, as they
contain lots of little organisms which will colonise the new pond, and put
in the diving beetle and a few pieces of pond plants.
And we realised the pond wasn’t level across the two sides so it looks like
more digging will be necessary to allow it to fill right up into the new
shallow area. Work for someone else!
Jude
Those of us who opted for some good old slash and burn headed off into the woods to find a small, unnamed pond half way down one of the rides. This was barely visible behind a wall of blackthorn and our job was to remove that wall to allow more light to reach the pond, as well as coppicing the blackthorn for butterfly friendly regrowth.
The
main challenge was to get a fire going, with damp materials. Michael & Ian managed
to build a good fire by lunchtime which soon consumed the large piles of cut
material that the team of 6 rapidly generated. The pond gradually began to
appear as the wall of blackthorn was removed. After lunch, we
completed the job by clearing along the adjacent ditch and then burnt up the
remaining material. A thoroughly enjoyable task, even without homemade cake!
Julian
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