Boundary House Fen, Frilford, Saturday 3rd June

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This weeks blog was written by Eleanor D 


Twelve Green Gymmers  were back at Boundary House Fen, where we had last been in May. Although the day promised to be fine and dry, there was a chilly north easterly wind, so most of us were wearing warm jackets.               

We made our way to the fen, and were surprised to see how much had grown in three weeks. Rod d’Ayala wanted us to move the heaps of cut reeds and grass to the edge of the fen, while the scythers carried on scything, just to make sure the raker uppers and transporters didn’t run out of work! There was also some work to be done digging up hemlock plants at the edge of the fen.

By break time we had moved most of the old heaps. The sun had come out and we were all getting hot and wondering why we had worn so much clothing. Then it was time to get back to work and start raking up the freshly cut reeds and moving them to the piles.

The bees were busy on the comfrey and we saw some damsel flies and brimstone butterflies. We discovered two pale pink orchids in flower and some ragged robin.

We were all pretty tired by this time and some of us decided to relax against the piles of reeds we had moved to the edge. At last it was time to gather up the tools and make our way back to the car park. 


off to work we go!


lots of raking going on

Sally scything 

finished that bit!





tea break time

back to work across the fen

moving the heaps

damsel fly

orchid

all a bit tired and hot - taking a rest!

view over the fen



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