Hayfield - 30th June 2013

After a cold and damp week, the weather forecast promised a nice dry day at Hayfield on Sunday. Phone calls and emails from willing volunteers came in right up to the last minute and by Sunday morning we had a baker's dozen assembled at Sett Valley car park ready to take on the bracken on the western slopes of Kinder Reservoir. The Trust are trying to regenerate an area of mixed woodland above the start of the bridleway that leads you towards William Clough and Kinder Scout. Our task was to clear the bracken from around young saplings to allow light to them and stop them from being suffocated.

The large group made light work of the hillside and by late morning we had completed the task!  Not to be defeated, Myles (the ranger) had other tasks up his sleeves: he set us about sweeping the hillside for spare tree guards (imagine a disorganised police line searching the hillside for evidence and you'll get the gist); got us to erect two new Bridleway sign posts and sent us into the more established woodland to do some further bracken control.

 

Apart from nearly loosing a fleece and a small dog amid the bracken, we had a very successful and enjoyable day. I just hope my loud sneezing (hayfever), the tiny insect bites and sunburn (I saw a few red faces!) haven't put anyone off returning to this beautiful worksite for another bash later in July!

Sarah 

Note from Sue: many thanks Sarah for swapping and leading this workday for me - it sounds like you had a great day!