Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve - Saturday, 2nd August 2025

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Blog by Sally.  Photos by Julio, Margaret and Sally

We returned to Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve, which is looked after by BBOWT, our local Wildlife Trust, on 2nd August.   Kevin was our leader for the session and had been given instructions by BBOWT for us to work in two principal areas - the first near the entrance gate to remove scrub and invasive Virginia creeper, which was escaping from someone's garden, and the second was to cut and rake an area of the alkaline fen.

The new Fen Notice Board

Kevin shows there is a plan, as he points to the areas we'll be working in on the map, on our arrival in the car park.

It was just as well we car-shared and some came by bike, as there were 17 of us and we filled the car park!

Kevin giving the briefing.  The grass looks very brown as we have not had any decent rain for a while.

We split into two groups - those working on the grassland opted for loppers and the tree popper, whilst the fen group took scythes, rakes and pitchforks and made our way to the fen area.  A couple of people also walked along the paths to remove overhanging bramble etc.

The area of grassland to be "de-scrubbed" before work started

At first we found it difficult to find the Virginia creeper, but we soon spotted it!

Clearance work begins

It was soon time to start peeling off the layers

Lesley and Carolyn tackle the Virginia creeper.  It may look glorious in a garden in the autumn, when its leaves turn bright red, but it is smothering everything here, and is what is called "an invasive non-native".

Meanwhile, work started on the fen area to be cleared.  

Roger surveying the scene before work gets going - the pink flowers are hemp agrimony

"They must be Quackers", said Mrs Mallard, as we disturbed a couple of ducks.

Work in progress to cut the reeds and rush, which then need to be raked and cleared off the fen area to prevent nutrient build-up and to allow light for seeds to germinate and other plants to flourish.

Marsh Helleborine - unripe seedpods

A wasp spider making a nest.  It's always exciting to see these.

Break time!

Rosie could not stop herself, as there were a couple of annoying little hawthorns that needed to be "popped" with the tree popper, which pulls the small trees out, roots and all.

Returning to the fen, Roger found this baby newt

Rake's progress - Simon in the forefront and Julio and Rhian near the heap, as Roger and Jim scythe

The Fen Volunteers - minus Kevin, who also gave a hand with the clearing.  From left to right, Julio, Rhian, Roger, Barbara with Simon behind, Jim and Sally

The "after" photo of the fen area, with a few tufts left to give the marsh helleborine seed pods a chance to ripen.  The alder was much reduced by Simon, who used some loppers to remove its sprouting growth.

Carol on scrub clearance duties in the grassland area

The "Virginians" - Eleanor, Lesley, Susan, Carolyn and Dieuwke (not forgetting Margaret, who took the photo!) with a pile of Virginia Creeper

It was soon time for us to pack up the tools and return to our cars and bikes.  A good morning's work done by all!

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