Ellington Banks: 08-03-2022

 

Throughout March it’s National Bed Month - apparently time for a lie in before learning about the importance of a good night’s sleep. Well - there was no time at all for the NCVs to have a lie in this Tuesday. Oh dear me no! They all needed to be up with the lark in order to arrive at Ellington Banks before the gate was locked. The rare magnesian limestone grassland SSSI site required a second day of scrub removal so 

 ...UP AND AT 'EM FOLKS!

The NCVs were tasked with getting rid of this little lot that

 surrounds one of the Great Crested Newt ponds.

Hmm, OK. We'll sort this easily.

Won't we????

They spread out along the boundary line and 

got busy with their loppers and saws.

Nice lopping action there Sarah.

Ken!! Look Out!! There's an NCV armed with tools

 and an evil grin on his face - right behind you.

The inevitable fire was lit on the site

 of the one from our last visit.

However, not all of the brash was burnt.

A lot of the alder saplings were nice and straight and, 

with a bit of cleaning up, produced some very useful beanpoles.

 

A huge amount of brash was also put to use to make habitat piles.

The bean poles came in useful for creating brash cages.

That's it. Knock in the uprights to

 stop the brash blowing away.

Right - now stuff the cages fuller than full.

Good idea Karen. A bit of extra weight on top should do the trick.

Now that is one mighty fine habitat pile.

What do you think little fella?

Fancy moving in?

These 'tadpoles to be' preferred to remain 

in the shallow pools around the site.

No brash piles for them - perhaps when they are 

fully grown frogs they will change their minds.

The glorious weather led to a lovely lunchtime break.

As the day drew to an end and the fire was allowed to die down.

Job well done NCVs.

The rest of the scrub will need to wait until another time.