The Last Winter Worky Day

Yesterday, 45 volunteers turned out to help us complete vital habitat work on the reserve before spring arrives and the breeding season begins. 

Richard, Tony, David and Andrew formed the Treecreeper team and rebuilt a set of steps along the woodland walk.

The scouts were out in force as the Grey Squirrels.  They worked clearing brash from along Risedale Beck where tree surgeons had been working to make safe some old Ash trees.

They were in their element building up a rather large bonfire and one was even heard saying 'This is the best day in the scouts ever!'

The Badgers could be found up in the top end of the woodland, clearing an area of diseased Sycamore in preparation for replanting as a Jubilee Wood with local school children later this month.  Even Noil the Lion, from Masham Primary School, came along to lend a hand.

Louis found this frog as we walked along a path, and was fascinated by the frogspawn in the nearby ponds.  We even spotted the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year as we walked back for lunch.

The Pied Flycatchers found themselves coppicing, pollarding and clearing an area of the woodland.

And no Worky Day blog would be complete without a picture of Colin!

We must extend a massive thank you to everyone who has given up their time to help us out today to complete such a terrific amount of work.

If you are visiting Foxglove please take care on the access track as the Toads are out of hibernation and making their way back to the ponds.