Replanting the Osier Bed.

 In October 2019 a Friends Work Party cleared and area in the Osier Bed to plant Osier Willow. The last time this type of Willow was grown here would have been back in the days of Thomas Rivers and it would have been in the early part of the 20th century. The Osiers came from Sawbridgeworth Marsh Nature Reserve where they had been harvested and stood in water to keep them fresh.

.The planting took place towards the end of November 2019.

Litter collection from the backwater. Jan 2018.

6 sacks of assorted, mostly plastic, rubbish collected from the backwater by the Buffalo Field(aka Plovers Mead).

Path clearing. October 2017.

In response to a request from members of the public we cleared a route which had become blocked by brambles.

Work Party 15th March 2018.

This morning five Friends spent the morning collecting litter/rubbish from the woodland belt alongside the main road. We collected 6+ sacks plus a few odds and ends including a toaster. Most was plastic rubbish with crisp packets and plastic bottles figuring most highly.

It has been some time since this blog was updated so here are some of the activities undertaken on the third Thursday in each month. The Activity Area had become badly overgrown here is a before and after.

Here we are removing poisonous Ragwort from the dry meadow.

We dug out the old spring to reveal a brick-lined basin, presumably for cattle drinking.

This was a non-runner! We were asked to protect the young fir trees from cattle rubbing. Everything was provided but conifers have shallow roots and we simply could not put the posts in!

The sledging slope was getting encroached on by hawthorn scrub which we removed.

Here we are putting in the enclosure for Margaret's memorial tree and also erecting the bench.

Park bird photographs.

We are very fortunate to have "Yorkie" as a bird photographer on the Park. "Yorkie" has put some bird feeders up in the trees around the car park and it uses his car as a hide. He has got some really great photographs which you can look at below.

 

"Yorkie" calls the Long-tailed tit by the country name of Bush Tit.

 

 

 

 

Mistle thrush.

 

 

 

 

"Yorkie" is not so keen on this on as it wrecks his feeders!

 

 

We are grateful to"Yorkie" for allowing us the use of his photographs so that he can show us some of the birdlife on the Park

Work Party 21st May 2015.

The task today was to clear the Activity Area of weeds in preparation for our proposed event in August.

 

When we arrived we were presented with large areas of Stinging Nettles, Thistles, Docks and clumps of grass.

 

 

 

Volunteers worked hard and well clearing the area as well as the weeds which were threatening to smother the newly planted hedge along the road section.

 

It was a great morning working under a blue sky with a Chaffinch singing incessantly nearby.

 

Some of the volunteers took the opportunity to take a well earned break!

 

The final task was to hang the “rescued kissing gate” and give it a coat of black paint to make it look smart!