Keeping Cool

With their roots in the water, the hot sun poses no problem for the recently planted reeds at Spigot Mere. They have grown significantly over the past two weeks.

Further along the moor, the edges of Plover's Pool are looking very healthy and this patch is absolutely teeming with dragonflies and damselflies. This is a sure stop off point for the Dragonfly walk on the 3rd August.

The extreme heat wave conditions have not deterred the hardy group of volunteers from turning up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The more strenuous work around the reserve has been carried out early in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day. A delivery of very large cobbles was moved from the moor to the cascading pools where they will be used for landscaping to prevent the dams from getting washed out in heavy rain.

It is possible to do some tasks in the shade, such as sifting out the chaff for the large bird feeders.

In many areas the trees provide welcome shelter from the sun but suncream and sunhats have still been essential! The hoppers have all been topped up to keep the birds happy over the next few rainy days.

Of course there are always plenty of indoor jobs too such as weighing out seed for the sales table!