Varied Work!

Wednesday, February 1st 2012

Volunteers and contractors completed a multitude of tasks today. Ann, Elizabeth and Ruth sorted out the photographs for the Field Centre displays.

Light Duties

Mike, Tony and Jack planted some Crack Willow and Black Poplar trees. Black Poplar trees are now considered to be rarer than the Giant Panda! Failing germination conditions are a main reason. Given that its natural habitat is in wet woodland, the tree has struggled to survive through land drainage and woodland clearance. Foxglove, being an extremely boggy site, should be an ideal place for these large, deep, round trees with smokey grey bark, which generally grow to around thirty metres.

Black Poplar

One of the most frequently asked questions asked by visitors is 'What are the strips of tape for on the windows'. The white lines are to prevent the garden birds from flying into the windows! The large panes of glass have a clever 'one way' film which means that the birds are undisturbed by people on the inside of the building. From the outside the glass looks like an extension to the back garden and is a hazard to the song birds. Several materials have been tried in the past from binder twine to landmine tape! Today, John put new white webbing out which will hopefully withstand the windy weather much better.

Windows

Young Gorse was flailed up on the moorland.

Flailer

Here is the 'before' photograph.

Gorse

And here is the 'after' one!

Flailed Gorse

The clear fell area is slowly taking shape. The wire 'gen guards' contain Crack Willow and it is lovely to focus on constructive tasks after all of the felling and burning.

Re-planted area

The big freeze that is forecast nationwide has so far missed Catterick Garrison. The blue sky was very welcome.

Blue Sky

The tops of the Larch trees around the lake were teeming with a huge flock of Goldfinches and several Roe Deer were seen here too.


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