"Between the Fens", Frilford Heath Golf Course SSSI - Thursday, 14 March 2024

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Blog"by Sally, photos by Jim and Sally

We enjoyed another mid-week extra session to our programme at Frilford Heath Golf Course to continue with the cut and rake of reed in the "Between the Fens" area, which links Two Pine Fen with Boundary House Fen.  We are trying to restore this area to its former glory as a haven for orchids and other calcareous fen specialist plants.  A team of three Green Gymmers was afforced by Richard.  The four of us set about scything the old, tall reed around the ladies' tee and under the trees, which we managed to achieve by lunchtime.  For a change, we were blessed with fine weather - with only a few spots of rain, but nothing to speak of.  After lunch, we started operation rake up.  The bund of cut reed we had formed by the stream was getting a bit high, so we started to make a heap for the green keepers to remove at a later date.  We also managed to rake up the cut material that we had left when Storm Henk forced us to make a hasty retreat on our visit on 2 January.  We return on 4 April and it remains to be seen whether we continue with the cut and rake of this area or turn our attention to Two Pine Fen to start the spring cut.  We left the site feeling as though we had achieved a good amount.

Richard and Adrian setting off armed with their scythes

Richard and Adrian scything the tall reed behind the ladies' tee

The final breakthrough

Adrian and Richard - nearly there!

Dog's mercury

Richard and Adrian raking the cut reed

The ladies' tee sporting a haul of found golf balls - the newly created heap of cut reed evident

Lovely to see the wet fen area after raking

Richard, Adrian and Jim packing up.  
Frustratingly, the reed in the middle of the stream was a stretch too far to cut!

A panoramic view of the newly cut and raked area

Richard, Jim and Adrian homeward bound













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