All West End: March is our time for managing all the nest boxes and we have well over a 100 that need cleaning and maintenance, renewals etc and then monitoring. We also carry out Refugia tin surveys regularly.
Whillet’s Meadows: (C8 to C11) We had several bonfires to clear from previous work when we were managing Blackthorn & Willow overgrowth and fallen trees within the meadows. We also repaired the anti-slip wire mesh on the two access bridges for safety reasons.
Later month we cleared several unwanted and part fallen Willow trees now growing along the ground from the river line and these were cut and stacked ready for future disposal. We also cleared some access paths and started our breeding bird surveys (BBS).
We planted some native Snakeshead Fritillary bulbs and purchased materials and built a protective cage to protect them from grazing damage by Fallow Deer which are proving to be a problem to our plantlife within the meadows.
In C13: Opposite the Car Pak we built a Sand Martin bank of 11 nest holes to a recommended RSPB design. A video by the RSPB is available on our website showing the construction and giving other info.
More Work Party news is also included in our members Quarterly newsletter.
Study Area: (C2 to C4) Further bonfires and some hazel coppicing was carried out in our Study area C2 to C4 where we also repaired a feed pipe leak at our pondlet.
We cut back some vegetation on C1 Pintail bank to allow better access for our grazing wildfowl and carried out some fence repairs.
Legsheath lane: (C6) We cut and cleared fallen trees that were lying on the reserves boundary fence or infringing the road area.
Hide car park: (C5) We dug out and cleared the Car Park drainage ditches to help reduce the car park flooding and mud problems. We also repaired a broken bench seat at one of the seating areas.
In C18 & C19 The North Bank public footpath – Lecomber seat view area – We cut and cleared internal access paths to allow us to do survey work & monitor these compartments. At the view area we started to clear Willow from the water edge to maintain open views from the public footpath seat view point and encourage more marsh habitat at the water edge. Pics before and after at view point
