Maybe it was the glorious weather, or maybe it was the opportunity to help improve the conditions on site for our wildlife, but we had another very well attended volunteer work party yesterday.
The day started very early for a select few hardy souls (namely John Ellis, Julie Straw and Graham Gamage) who carried out the annual water rail survey. The rest of us mere mortals rolled up at about 09.30, prior to getting stuck in to some hard graft at 10.00.
The main task for the day was to construct (and install) as many artificial fish shelters as posiible. These are installed to supplement the underwater topography that was created during last year's landscaping. Three volunteers also spent most of the day raking out a new gravel surface over our new workshop compound.
By the end of the day, the volunteers had made around 20 shelters, nine of which had been taken out on a rowing boat and sunk.
Before finishing, the group watched one of the shelters being installed and then went for a short walk, taking in some of Langford's spring migrants, such as sand martin, ringed plover and white wagtail.
Many thanks to everyone who gave their time yesterday.
.
(Image courtesy of Barrington Randle)