I am sure there must be many people who like me are thinking blimey where has the summer gone. As the days start to draw in and the mornings get darker the dew on the ground is heavy and wellingtons are a must for walking across the marsh. However it is not just the dew, the effects of the heavy summer rainfall are still taking their toll. The marshes are particularly wet, and whilst that will help with bringing the water levels up for the winter it really hinders the management work that we look undertake at this time of year.
We are still to complete our cutting and removal of vegetation, which is normally done and dusted by the end of July. We are praying for a September heat wave which will enable us to undertake these works so that the ground is in the necessary condition for both our wintering birds and the breeding species the following spring. Without the removal of vegetation birds will potentially find the site less inviting with the taller vegetation plenty providing of places for predators to lie up in. For many of the birds which use the marsh they are attracted to the open landscape and clear views, so tall vegetation is not favourable as we approach the autumn and winter months
Optimistically we are looking to undertake the second phase of ditch improvement works over in the area we know as Powderham Marshes. Once again like last year this will grade the currently steep sided ditches to a shallower profile, better for waders and their chicks. But once again we hope for drier weather as the moment of material will rely on favourable ground conditions.