A Visit by BEES

WIth the thunderstorms and very heavy rain late yesterday evening being followed by another downpour early this morning, there was hope that the water levels around Foxglove would have risen.  And indeed they had, given the flood of water rushing through Risedale Beck.  

Obviously, it will take time for water to work its way through the system off the surrounding moorland.  We should see some rise in levels over the next few days which will be particularly welcome on the Wetland wher the flow into the ponds has been significantly reduced recently.

There were four volunteers in today, carrying out some of the tasks associated with recent rain where vegetation has fallen in to the pathways.  This, and recent growth, has been cut back around the Yellow and Red Trails.  Thanks to both Johns and Peter for doing this, with further work on clearing invading Ash and Birch on the Scrapes also taking place.  Meanwhile Colin was continuing his one man Mink raft production line, getting things ready for assembly on Friday.

We have had a visit for most of the day from the BEES, the Bradford Environmental Education Society.  After a short introduction to the reserve and a walk to view the Wetland from the hide, they went their separate ways to follow their own interests, with flowering plants, butterflies and moths, grasses and birds being among the specialist interests.

They left to return to West Yorkshire late this afternoon with all of them saying how much they had enjoyed their visit, and seemed almost reluctant to head off.  They are already planning a return visit.