Finally, the rain caught up with us!
After several Tuesdays of pretty good weather, the waterproofs were definitely required today.
The brave (foolish?) NCVs gather ready for the off (and the wet).
Seven of us made our way down to Fountain Pond, stopping en route for some culvert clearing, to remove the young willow trees growing on the far side of the pond (which was a beautiful blue colour). Paul spotted a kingfisher perching on one of the overhanging saplings so we made sure not to remove that one.
coppicing at the top of the vista line?
Meanwhile down below Jan decides to coppice on the island.
Or is he just playing hide and seek with Will?
Or is he just playing hide and seek with Will?
(Editor's note: It's amazing what conservation volunteers are willing to do to improve the environment.)
the less adventurous NCVs.
The route round the pond was almost welly high with mud but willow clearing was completed with a neat little brash pile to the side.
It is there. Just behind the island.
We enjoyed a damp lunch 'inside' the Rustic Temple beside the pond discussing how useful for the volunteers it would be if these follies had roofs!
"Let's imagine we are in the dry.Where's Jan?"
"Probably still on the island."
Ready, steady, go..... Reluctant to get on with the next job the NCVs
considered having a mud race around the tree island.
Onwards, along to the Grotto and Fisher's Hall to the rocky overhangs to clear more culverts and also attempt to dig some ditches beside the muddier patches of path to take some of the water coming down the slope. The ditch making was becoming somewhat futile - as soon as dug out, the ditches filled in with mud again!
I think you've missed a bit there Ros.
Mud loving NCVs happy in their work.
It wouldn't do to go home clean.
By now the rain had almost stopped but we decided to head back up with some litter collecting on the way and enjoy the waterfalls and torrents of water in the river below.
Our efforts of the day were rewarded with good views of the kingfisher, flitting from perch to perch beside the pond.
There he is - what a clear picture.
That day's photography training really paid off!
Not to be outdone, a dipper perched proudly for us right on top of the island (fountain not on!).
The dipper posed for a lengthy photo shoot.
Laura
Great day. Plenty of work completed despite the poor weather.
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