"Between the Fens", Frilford Heath Golf Course - Thursday, 4 April 2024

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Blog and photos by Sally

JimB and I returned to Frilford Heath Golf Course on 4 April for another midweek special to finish the the cut and rake of the old reed growth in the "Between the Fens" area which links the species rich Two Pines Fen with Boundary House Fen to improve the chances of the rare flora and fauna spreading between these calcareous fens.  We can only safely work in this patch by agreement with the Golf Course who kindly arrange to close off the red 16th tee for us.  We still donned the Green Gym hi-viz jackets.  We were grateful that the terrible deluge that had been forecast in preceding days had not yet materialised and we were grateful for the weather being kind to us. 

The day didn't get off to the best of starts as Jim had left in a rush and forgotten to pack his scythe blades and as I hadn't packed a spare, I went back home to collect my other ditch blade, leaving JimB to start cutting the reed using mine.  It meant that break time came around more quickly for me!  

Jim came across a couple of field vole larders, which we showed Rod d'Ayala, the consultant ecologist who is advising the Golf Course, when he unexpectedly appeared as he was working at Boundary House Fen.  Rod seemed pleased with our progress and we hope at some point to be able to introduce marsh lousewort, an ecosystem engineer, to the wet places in order to suppress future reed growth and allow light for other fen flora to flourish. 

One the reed had been cut, we started raking up taking it to an existing heap and to the bund along the stream.  Rod encouraged us to take it to the edge of the pond to start filling it in - so we picked the nearest place to conserve energy.  Jim managed to scythe some of the old bracken growth as well and raked the cut material to the stream bund.

We left the site just as the afternoon rain started both having felt as though we had done a good day's work and with grateful thanks to all the volunteers who over the past few months have given up their time to help with this terrific team effort - usually battling against the elements.  It is the first time Green Gym has cleared this area.  We look forward to returning to the Golf Course on Tuesday, 9 April to start the spring cut of Two Pines Fen, starting with the "red course" side, which was looking very lush, and we hope to knock back the reed and rush growth and to remove a couple of willows.

Spot Jim!

Sign of spring - a violet by the fairway

Jim scything - the orange glove marking the field vole's larder

Signs of a field vole

Jim raking

Showing the connectivity as we left the site - 
Two Pines Fen to the left of the track and beyond "Between the Fens" is Boundary House Fen


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