Two reports for the price of one! First up, a report from Jude, followed by Delphine's take on the day's events.
HEDGE PLANTING AND SCRUB CLEARANCE
A wonderful sunny day encouraged 20 of us to turn out – and we were
delighted to welcome several new members to the Group.
As there were so many of us we were able to do two tasks – planting a new
hedge beside Grebe Lake and clearing scrub trees which were shading out a
sun-loving plant found only in one part of the reserve, the
Ploughman’s spikenard (Inula conyza). It is a member of the
daisy family and, according to one website, it is often overlooked as it
‘looks a bit like a Ragwort that has gone over’. Its presence at Whisby was
unknown until discovered by our very own Richard Davidson!
It was hot working in the sun along the sheltered Pike Drain by Grebe Lake –
making those planting the hedge regret the decision to wear lots of nice
warm clothing, a decision that had seemed sensible in the frosty start to
the morning.
We had 300 whips – young hedge plants – to put in, part of the work to
replace the ancient parish boundary hedges which have disappeared in places,
shaded out by trees planted when the gravel pits were in use. Luckily the
ground was easy to dig, with only the occasional tree or bramble root to
deal with, and so the planting was finished by lunchtime and the hedge
planters joined the scrub-bashers to finish cutting down and burning the
scrub.
The path along the Pike Drain was busy with lots of people interested in
what we were doing, though few people make it as far as the scrub area so it
was much quieter working there. But it was good to see so many people out
walking and enjoying the lovely weather.
We will no doubt return to help maintain the new hedges and continue with
planting next year and will keep an eye on those plants to see if they
increase.
Jude
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