Well, I have to say a lot has changed in a relatively short time. It has been four months since I last had the pleasure of taking a walk around Exminster Marsh and I can see that the team have been busy over the winter.
There are the new viewing screens at the end of Turf Path, near the Discovery Area, which look very smart and offer a great vantage point to look across almost the entire length of the reserve. Turf Path itself has been transformed by the hedge laying that the volunteer work party have undertaken, and whereas before it used to feel quite isolated from the rest of the reserve, you are now able to appreciate the site and grassland as you stroll along it. The soil spreading on the marsh has changed the look and feel of the place and will hopefully be appreciated by the birds and wildlife.
It didn’t stop at Exminster Marsh, my first trip over to Labrador Bay revealed the progress that had been made with scrub clearance. We were there to continue treating and pulling ragwort, which is a species listed on the Weeds Act of 1959. This is because it contains toxins which are harmful to horses and grazing animals. As mentioned in a previous blog, we have ponies on Labrador Bay to act as living lawnmowers, so protecting them is a key management priority, but we also have a legal responsibility to prevent the spread of the plant to neighbouring land where it may present a risk to grazing animals.
By Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2471811
Unexpectedly, we nearly acquired a new team member while over at Labrador Bay. Having followed us across most of the reserve, and with no owner in sight, we were considering keeping her as the official reserve dog.
However moral responsibilities prevailed, so with a bit of detective work we managed to deduce whose house she had escaped from and reunite her with her grateful owner.
This Thursday’s work party spent the day sprucing up the Discovery Area ready for spring and summer. This is a great area to relax in as you take a walk around the site and kids can explore the bug hotels, snake sheets and perhaps do a spot of pond dipping. I was surprised and pleased to see a Treecreeper there amongst the willow while I ate my lunch – a species that I haven’t seen on Exminster before.
By Paweł Kuźniar (Jojo_1, Jojo) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=955836
Looking about, you’ll see water levels on the fields are beginning to recede, blackthorn is in flower, blue bells are out, cuckooflower are delicately opening in the meadows and there is a shouting match taking place from trees and hedges as birds advertise their presence and defend their territories, proudly proclaiming that they have survived another day and are still kings of their patches. So, as the days get longer and warmer, it is time to get back out and start enjoying the reserve – although Turf Path is still wet and muddy, so wellies are advised!
Welcome back Phil, see you in May.