Lashford Lane Nature Reserve - Saturday, 30 November 2024

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Blog by Sally.  Photos by David, Michele, Julio and Sally

The sun shone for the our last session of the autumn programme at Lashford Lane Nature Reserve, which is owned by our local Wildlife Trust, BBOWT.  Thirteen of us assembled in the little car park off Lashford Lane where Adrian, our leader for the session, gave instructions as we gathered up our tools and welcomed new member, Carol, to the group.

We made our way through to the Calcareous Fen area, which makes up the Cothill Fen complex, and set up our base camp, noting the tide mark of leaves and other debris that showed the extent of the recent flooding following heavy rainfall on our way.  We'd been asked by Beth from BBOWT to clear a 3m strip along a runnel for flying insects, possibly including the southern damselfly which is at its northernmost reach here in Oxfordshire, and the adults prefer open runnels.  

Equipped with bowsaws, loppers and scythes, we made our way across the fen area and traversed the stream.  Kevin was quick off the mark to claim a tree which needed to be felled.  The nature writer, Benedict Macdonald, claims that all a fen really wants to do is to grow up to become a wood, but here in Oxfordshire, we are blessed with calcareous (or alkaline) fens - an extremely rare and precious habitat, so we need to keep acting as though we're aurochs keeping the scrub at bay.  Ursula pulled out hawthorn and birch seedlings using a small mattock.  Roger, Barbara and Sally scythed as best they could along the runnel - it was tricky negotiating fallen branches, tree trunks and roots, whilst Adrian led the main group clearing scrub.  We were soon peeling off layers in the mild weather and very relieved when break time was called for refreshments!

A buzzard flew overhead, no doubt watching our progress to see if we disturbed anything edible!  We saw lots of different fungi and noticed that catkins were already beginning to show.  

After break, we returned where we'd left off, but this time the scythers also armed themselves with pitchforks and rakes to rake up the cut material and put it onto an existing heap.  The main team continued with clearing scrub and making habitat piles, which will provide shelter for all sorts of invertebrates and other creatures.  As we reached base camp to gather our tools, we could see the progress we had made.  It is a good start for the regular volunteer group that helps BBOWT on this site.

The welcome board!

Ursula surveys the scene whilst awaiting further instructions from Adrian

Kevin the tree fella (or feller)

Scrub bashers in full flow

A whole lotta lopping and chopping going on!

Turkey tail fungus

Candlesnuff fungus

A welcome break

Michele clearing cut scrub

Adrian clearing cut scrub away from the runnel

Roger scything
 
Barbara clearing away cut reed

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