Boardwalk Work

On a previous visit it was looking like the boardwalk was becoming a little overgrown with the reeds collapsing over it making it difficult to negotiate especially if it rains (!) or if it’s a dewy morning.

Before

I decided that it would be possible to restore access simply by trimming the vegetation and pushing the tall reeds backwards.  I took a selection of tools with me including a long handled slasher, a slashing hook and bass broom.  Slashing didn’t really work as the vegetation was too thick but using the broom head to bend the stems back worked much better than I expected!  Although the photos don’t do it justice, the completed job is a great improvement than before. 

After

I used my shears to cut back a lot of brambles and nettles that were growing near the path entrance, as there is nothing worse than being scratched and stung before you start your walk.

I also took the opportunity to cut down a couple of young willows growing at the edge of the boardwalk in the reed bed and trimmed a few others that were encroaching.  I’ll check it again next week but think it will be fine until we organise a proper work party once autumn is here, maybe in October.

For nature notes there wasn’t much to report.  A few robins and blackbirds and an Emperor dragonfly that buzzed up and down as I hacked at the reeds was about all.  The brambles are full of fruit and will attract interest soon I’m sure.

A feast for something

I talked to a few visitors who were grateful for the work I was doing and the ratio of dogs to humans was about 3:1