Our hardworking volunteers were back out with us yesterday continuing with the boardwalk. The usual team was joined by a fresh face - event volunteer Mark G who received a crash course in putting down the frames and using the post basher. Having tempted fate with regards to the weather after our glorious day last Thursday, it was inevitable that we would be greeted by rain yesterday. It’s lucky that we have the hide to shelter in – one of the downpours that delayed our work was pretty spectacular and you did NOT want to be outside in that! Thankfully, the rain clouds cleared just after 10.30 and everyone got straight to work.
The target for the day was to get ten frame sections constructed and despite the rain delay, we managed to get this done which is amazing. Big thanks to volunteers Martin, Mark G and Phil for helping out with the post bashing, particularly Martin who did more than his fair share! Decking board maestros Roger and Karen were joined by volunteer Rob and they continued getting the boards down at a great pace. The wire mesh team of volunteers Robert, Tony and later Phil worked so fast that they caught up with the decking board team, who had reached the tricky passing place. Tony also got a few extra tasks done such as tweaking the windows of the hide itself. They were a bit stiff and sticking in places but now they open and shut freely, as they should! Thanks to everyone for putting up with the weather and working extra hard to make up for the delay it caused. The exciting thing at the end of the day was seeing how close to the end we are – I think it gave everyone a good positive boost to see that the end is in sight, regardless of how enjoyable the work has been!
Photo credit: Ali Blaney - end of a hard day but the target was reached
Dave and I were back down there this morning to finish up the decking boards on the passing place. This required extra long boards which were then cut to shape around the angles. This was a good task to get out of the way today and the decking board team now have a straight run to the finish. Suzanne popped down to take a look at lunchtime and found a lovely pair of stonechats perched on the end of the boardwalk, admiring our work.
Photo credit: Ali Blaney – Dave treating the cut ends of the timber of the passing place
In other news, thoughts are already turning to the nesting season and we are working to ensure the reedbed water levels are where they need to be for species such as bittern. Amazingly, while it’s been so very wet across the country recently, we’ve not been totally inundated here. We’ve again opened up the sluice to the river Little Ouse to let in some water to get our reedbeds topped up. We've also been helping out our neighbours again - Dave and I spent Monday morning at the Ouse Washes. The team there were carrying out an interim WeBS count and needed a few extra pairs of eyes. Despite being very windy, it was interesting to help out and to see just how much water there is there at the moment
Back to the boardwalk (not that we’re obsessed or anything....!) and we’ve got our third work party of 2014 down there again tomorrow. If the rain holds off and all goes according to plan (oops, am I tempting fate again??) we should finish the construction of the boardwalk itself, in terms of getting the frames down. There will still be more to do to finish it off of course but getting the frames completed will be a great milestone for us. I’ll update you next Wednesday!