What a dreary day it is outside! Putting our trust in the weather forecast (something I like to do, even though sometimes the best option is just to look out of the window....), we’d already planned an office day for today and a good job too. I got a little damp doing my morning reserve checks but now I’m drying nicely in the office, writing this blog and getting on with data entry (a never-ending task).
So what are we planning to attack you might ask?? This time of year, we focus much of our efforts on willow removal from the reedbeds. If we didn’t remove the willows, the litter layer would build up and the reedbed would eventually dry out. We don’t remove all the scrub and willows however, as they do provide homes and food for invertebrates, nesting and feeding sites for birds such as Cetti’s warbler and our marsh harriers utilise them as perching places - it's all about getting the balance right.
Spotting the willows in the reedbed is much easier when they still have leaves on, but we won’t be able to do all the planned willow removal while they are still in leaf. So we’ve started mapping out where the willows are that we want to take out and we can then come up with the plan of attack for us and our volunteers. Even then, the job is never as easy as you might think - pinpointing the exact location of the trees isn’t particularly easy and when you plunge into the depths of the reedbed to find it, you discover it’s actually on the other side of a ditch and you need the boat to get to it. Quite often, when you do reach the tree in amongst the reeds, you then realise that it’s not just one tree but in fact, on looking around, there are numerous smaller ones coming up that also need tackling.
The long and short of it is, it’s better to know where you’re headed and roughly what to expect when you get there! Last year we were tracking down leafless willows in the middle of the reedbeds with quite a lot of snow underfoot - this was not an easy task. So, to our trusty band of practical volunteers, rest assured we’re trying to make it a slightly easier undertaking this year! We’re heading out into New Fen North reedbed tomorrow for our first session of willow removal, I’m sure it’ll go as planned.....(I’ve got my change of clothes ready and waiting - after my watery episode last week I’m determined not to get caught out again should any mishap befall me!).
Yesterday Katherine and volunteer Robert tackled the reeds at the back of the visitor centre pool, which needed a final strim and a good raking. It looks great out there now and the water level has come up nicely. The final task will involve getting the boat out and cutting the reeds in the middle. Apologies for the rather bleak photo - I took it this morning in the rain!
Photo credit: Ali Blaney – visitor centre pool looking a lot clearer at the back
Fingers crossed, next week we start work on the boardwalk up to the new hide. We’re not going to finish it in one day so the hide won’t be accessible just yet, you’ll have to continue to bear with us and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s open.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that it brightens up later - we can try and spot the peregrine that's been seen recently near West Wood. If I put my trust in the Met Office then it looks like we'll definitely be heading outside....we shall see!