Dry Sandford Pit and Christmas lunch - Saturday 16th December 2023

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 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Sally

Only six of us turned up for a 10 a.m. start at Dry Sandford Pit. The other Green Gymmers, we assumed, were resting and preparing themselves for the Christmas lunch later in the day.

Our task was to clear scrub and sprouting willow and alder from the fen if it was not too wet, or to clear scrub from in front of the cliff faces. We found that the fen was not too wet so we decided to work there. On our way, we saw that quite a bit of the first cliff had crumbled.

When we got down into the fen, having made a gap in the dead hedge barrier, it looked at first as if there wasn't much to do, but once we were among the reeds, we saw that there was plenty to cut back. We piled it up near the dead hedge ready to mend the gap when we had finished. Sally pointed out some " cigar galls" on some reeds. This is where a gall wasp has laid its eggs inside the reed, causing a cigar shaped swelling. Adrian also saw signs of the presence of water voles.

We carried on working without a break as it was a shorter session. Susan arrived later and some of us left at midday to go home and get ready for the lunch.

When everyone was out, Adrian repaired the dead hedge barrier, which is there to discourage people and dogs from going on to the fen.

Our Christmas lunch was at the Dog House, Frilford, attended by seventeen people. The earliest we were able to book was 2p.m. so everyone was hungry. The service was quite slow, and the people who hadn't ordered starters got even hungrier. The food, when it arrived, was good, though there are always some people who grumble. However, it was great to meet for a convivial, social occasion, and, wishing each other a Merry Christmas, we made our way home.

The crumbling cliff





   
Interpretion Board





Lesley lopping





Jan with novel Christmas tree





Marsh helleborine seedpods





Cigar gall






Gap in dead hedge with "No Access" sign






Susan among the reeds






Adrian repairing the dead hedge.







Christmas lunch at the Dog House.

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