Visitors to Saltholme over the winter should have seen our Tern rafts moored on the shore of the Main Lake. We keep them there for two reasons: Firstly, the storms over winter can produce lots of wave action on the lake, which can damage the rafts. Secondly, Black-headed Gulls return to nest in early April, a month before the Common Terns. So we put the Tern rafts out during the first week in May once the Gulls have settled on the islands, leaving more space for the returning Terns.
But this last winter was more windy than most, and Saltholme is already a heftily windy place. We thought the Main Lake rafts were safe and secure, but we were wrong. Two of them are now near the Sheep Shed, and the other two are on the end of the Sand Martin spit. We have secured them, and we’ll move them out when the Terns arrive.
At Cowpen Marsh, two of the rafts broke free and drifted into the bank. They were secured with anchors made of old tyres filled with concrete. We’ve had to release those anchors, move the rafts into position, and then drop new anchors. In an attempt to stop this happening again, Adam has made a mark 2 anchor: a bucket filled with concrete. Moving the rafts into position in deep water meant the use of ropes, a boat and lots of volunteer power.
Adam releases a mark 1 anchor. He's clearly eaten too many Sunday lunches and is in danger of sinking.
Adam and New Dan (we got lots of Dan's) lift a mark 2 anchor onto a raft.
You can clearly see the rippling biceps.