Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve - Saturday, 14th June 2025

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

On Saturday, 14th June, 18 Green Gymmers descended upon BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve for the first Himalayan Balsam pulling session of the year and to cut back some low growing bramble to prevent an area of grassland known as the Paddock from turning to scrub.  A few people also cut back overhanging vegetation from pathways and from around gates, as this is a popular place for people (and their dogs) to walk.  It was a gloriously warm, sunny morning so time for sun hats and sun cream!

BBOWT's information board

As the two areas which we had been asked to focus on - the Himalayan Balsam pulling along the stream and the paddock area are a distance apart - and because only two people wished to scythe the bramble patch, Kevin was asked to jointly lead and look after the HB pulling group.

The briefing in the car park

Allocation of work sites.  

Having shown the group the bramble patch, we set up a mini camp for the two scythers and those wishing to lop the bramble and our trusty rakers and pitchforkers, who collected the cut vegetation and piled it on to an existing heap.

The Balsam pullers were then led to our usual base camp next to the stream and asked to disperse and seek out this invasive non-native plant, whose seed pods pop expelling seeds far and wide.  It can form dense patches and grow very tall, thus shading out native plants.  As it is shallow rooting, it can destabilise river banks causing erosion.  As it was quite early in the season, very few if any plants had flowers but the group soon got their eye in.  Kevin was first to cross the stream closely followed by Michele, who got stuck in the mud, but luckily managed to extricate herself without losing a wellie or getting covered in mud.

Work starts on the low-growing bramble patch in the rough grassland area

The patch was filled with nettles, cleavers and creeping thistle, as well as bramble.  It was tricky trying to save the St John's Wort and other flowering plants growing in the dense vegetation.


Beetle on a Balsam

Rosie managing to find HB among the Dog's Mercury

Susan pondering her next move

Graham, Joan and Kevin on the hunt

Joan getting stuck in

Break time in the shade

Joan, Olivia and Lesley look for more HB along the board walk on their way to the bramble patch

Meanwhile, scything the bramble patch continues.  

Barbara used the brand new AGG bush blade, which she had recently purchased for the scythers' arsenal and was ideal for the task.

All the time we were scything, we did not realise that a pheasant hen was sitting on a clutch of eggs until we finally disturbed her and she took flight.  We left some cover for the nest.

Pheasant's nest

Olivia, Joan and Lesley tackle creeping thistle

The freshly cut material added to the existing heap

The cut bramble patch, with a patch of cover around the pheasant's nest.  We hope she returned.

It was not long before it was time for us to pack up.  We waited for the HB pullers to come through and then made our way to the car park where we said our goodbyes.  Everyone had worked very hard and did a great job.

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