Learning the Ropes

Over twenty volunteers turned out to help with a wide variety of conservation jobs today, most of them helping to clear away the cut reeds in the scrapes area.

This involved raking up cut stems and loading them onto wheelbarrows to be transported to a bonfire.

Two students who are on work experience at Foxglove helped to manage the fire which smouldered rather than burned!

The same students were very interested to watch the team from Lowther Forestry continue with their tree surgery. Large overhanging boughs, which presented a potential hazard to visitors, were removed by chainsaw. They were carefully lowered by rope to avoid any damage to the boardwalk and handrails.

The conditions were perfect today as the wind has dropped and the treetops looked like a fun place to be!

Other volunteers finished tidying in the Hazel coppice and prepared an area behind the lake hide for some landscaping work. This work will create a place for trees to be planted by school children in March. By home time, a huge amount of work had been done, and this is how the reedbed looked at the end of the day. In just six months time the new reeds will have grown and this patch will be rejuvenated.

The disturbance to the ponds was kept to a minimum and the frogs didn't seem to care. Their minds are focused elsewhere!

The pools are alive with the sound of croaking and the frogspawn is growing by the day.

This frog seemed to be too young to breed but was more than happy to pose for photos!