The rush control programme has gone well, with the last areas to be cut now completed, the baling and removal has been following on behind and the cows and calves are enjoying the new grass growth as the showers encourage the fresh green shoots. This has been most helpful in deterring them from breaking out across the now dry ditches in search of greener grass. These are however perfect conditions for the ditching work that needs to be done to re-profile many of the sides so that they are wildlife friendly. A number of the ditches in Powderham were dug from drainage rather than as wet features and changing them to have graded sides makes them a lot more wader friendly This is particularly the case as the water levels start to recede at the beginning of the summer when parents look to feed their chicks on the waters edge on the rich number of insects that can be found there.