Some of the hardy band of local practical volunteers braved the slightly dodgy weather forecast and travelled over to Rousay to help Izzy (Onziebust and Trumland warden) today with a spot salmonberry removal.
Salmonberry is a North American plant that seems to have thrived in Orkney (find out more here http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/WOODLAND/index.asp?pageid=2954) and turned into a bit of a monster in places and there is a large stand on the reserve at Trumland. To help make herbicide treatment easier next year, a group of us went over to cut down the standing vegetation and also to help with repairing a stile that had succumbed to the damp Orkney weather.
The weather didn’t live up to the forecast and from our viewpoint up the hill we saw the sun emerge in the morning, clouds moving over the sea and neighbouring islands and eventually the colours of the sunset over Birsay on the Mainland. With the added satisfaction of the visible impact we had, it was a good day to be out on the reserves.