Monday 19 June 2017

Balsam bashing in the woods at Styal on 18th June 2017

Six of us joined Colin Gorner, Styal's Head Ranger, today to work at Oxbow, in a sunspot, to (we thought) do some woodland clearance where the larch trees had been cut down recently.  Thankfully, on account of the searing heat Colin offered us an alternative of balsam clearing in a nice shaded area.  Guess which we chose?

Before break we were clearing an area on steep banking which had previously been worked on, so it was very patchy.  Over break we were joined by several dogs and one in particular didn't want to leave even coming back after it had been carried away.  After break we moved across the footpath to work by the river in a patch of balsam that was never-ending plus plenty of nettles and lots of stings for everyone. By the end of a very hot day we had cleared a large area but there is plenty more still to do.  


Thanks to Colin for moving the work site and for supplying us with additional water (much appreciated) and also to my fellow volunteers for not getting themselves killed or injured whilst I was stand-in leader. 

Christine

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