Working for Wildflowers

Team Thursday's first task was to move a huge log back into place after it had been 'nudged' by a delivery wagon! Thanks to Ian and his pickup this didn't take long!

The conservation volunteers then headed to the fallen Silver Birch along Risedale Beck which needed to be cleared from the Hazel bank before the Primroses flower. An old Willow had been badly broken by the falling tree and also needed to be removed.

As can be seen from the picture below, the stump wascompletely rotten on the inside.

As there was so much wood, some of the brash was burnt on a fire.

The team worked all day long in the unusually mild weather conditions. It isn't very often that you can work in T-shirts in January in North Yorkshire.

At lunchtime, it was decided to have a picnic by the fire. Freshly cut logs made fantastic seats!

A highlight was Elizabeth T's homemade lemon drizzle cake! It went down a treat! As did the hot potatoes cooked in the ash of yesterday's fire.

After lunch, Peter coppiced a Hazel which had been caught in the path of the falling Birch tree. The Hazel stems were not put on the fire but instead they were woven into a nearby 'dead hedge' to give it a new lease of life. Living Hazel was also 'laid' into the structure to try and make it a more attractive feature in the future. This type of hedge or 'fedge' (a cross between a hedge and a fence) is a great habitat in itself.

By the end of the day the bank was cleared apart from some large pieces of timber that will be removed at a later stage.

Finally, here is the 'after' photo of the newly exposed bank. It will be interesting to revisit this patch of land in the springtime to see which flowers are flourishing. Many thanks to all of the Foxglove volunteers who worked outside today and also to those who worked both inside (stock taking) and outside (marking out the wetland dams and pipes) yesterday, your support is much appreciated.