Abbey Fishponds, 7th September 2013

By Andrew -
Eleven Green Gymmers met at Abbey Fishponds to join  Marjorie and her helpers for the end of Summer tasks .  The weather was sunny but colder than most of the past week. The tasks were reed raking and stacking, cutting back vegetation overgrowing the footpath on the north eastern side of the reserve, litter picking and seeking out and eradicating remaining Himalayan Balsam. 

We split up into groups and made our way to different areas of the reserve, some of us taking the opportunity to try out new tools that James had acquired for Green Gym, including lighter loppers and smaller pitchforks. There were a lot of reeds to rake and stack as the reed bed on this reserve is quite extensive.

 The Himalayan Balsam was hidden among the reeds and in some hard to reach places. The litter, though not immediately obvious, was enough to fill two sacks. Lesley and Enid worked hard on the footpath and ended up with several piles of brambles and nettles. By coffee break time we were all feeling quite warm.

A few passers by, stopping to enquire about our work and congratulate us or simply to ask directions, were immediately seen by Marjorie as potential recruits for the Abbey Fishponds team. Well, it was worth a try and there is always a lot of work to be done. By the end of the session we felt we had made a useful contribution.
-Eleanor

Himalayan Balsam among the reeds

Margaret with Himalayan Balsam

Dieuwke stacking reeds

Kevin raking reeds

Enid and Lesley cutting back vegetation from the footpath

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