Ock Valley Walk, Town End, 26th April 2014

By Andrew -
The main activity of the morning was to complete a bit more of the path around the Ock River walk island – shovels and wheelbarrows at the ready.  A team of four got to grips with this, taking woodchips from the pile and spreading them thickly over the muddy path to better the surface for the many walkers that use it.
 
Alongside this, Tanya and Laura cleared a foot of space around our newly planted trees to give them a chance of getting some daylight once the nettles grow up above them.  Robert provided a lesson in tool sharpening along the way. James continued in the mission to clear up driftwood from the recent floods further down the path, where a robin came to join him! Also, as usual a litter pick was conducted – Enid went along the whole length of the path up to Drayton Road and found three bags full of rubbish to collect.
 
After the well earned tea break I found out that our great friend Himalyan Balsam has once again sprouted up - in the tree planted area – there is loads of it here now and it is already six inches tall, some with very thick roots….! So a few of us pulled up as much as we could after tea break while the rest continued with the woodchip path. Quite a good heap of mini plants was present by the end of the session!
- Margaret
 
Tanya amongst the trees and nettles

a robin observing proceedings

Laura and Robert
 
James

Dieuwke with a wheelbarrow of woodchip

Colin and Victor
 

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