September saw us welcome another three new volunteers to Campfield, taking our tally to six since our recruitment drive started!
The first work party of the month saw a group of us make our way up onto the bog to remove small birch trees (pictured) that are trying to spread out from the adjacent woodland and dry the bog out through the process of succession. Removing the birch halts this process and ensures that the bog remains wet and therefore continues to sequester carbon. Important work! We then transported the birch down to the woods to create brash piles for hibernating adders over this coming winter (pictured). These piles are located nearby to a number of adder refugia (corrugated metal sheets used by adders to warm up during spring and autumn) put out as part of a survey route set up to gain a better understanding of the abundance and distribution of the reptiles on site.
The next task of the month was raking up hay from the Discovery Zone meadow – a physically-demanding job. The effort is certainly not in vain though. Leaving the cut material on the ground would see it enriched by decomposition, which would benefit grasses more than wildflowers. Raking up the hay therefore means that next year a lush wildflower meadow – rather than a thick carpet of grass – will return to be enjoyed by insects, birds, and visitors alike!
The final work party of September took place at Hodbarrow in south-west Cumbria, a site that the team at Campfield Marsh also oversee. A further three new volunteers local to the reserve joined us for this day. There is currently some major contract work taking place on the reserve to clear scrub and dig ponds for natterjack toads. The work party was therefore set up to compliment this with volunteers clearing vegetation from around some of the ponds with hand tools (pictured) to benefit the toads, as well as other wildlife. Whilst natterjack toads have not been seen on site for several years, there is a population nearby so it is hoped that this work will encourage them to move onto the reserve. All-in-all it was great to meet the new volunteers and a lot of progress was made!
We are always on the look-out for new volunteers to join us at Campfield Marsh (and Hodbarrow). We meet on Thursday mornings. If you are interested in helping with the sort of tasks mentioned above, meeting new people, developing new skills, and enjoying the outdoors, click on the following link to find out more and apply: Practical Reserve Work (Campfield Marsh, Bowness On Solway) | RSPB Volunteering.
Great to hear how successful the volunteer recruitment has been.