Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio and David
Hitchcopse Pit was a new site for us to work on. It is a former sand quarry and now is a habitat for flora and fauna that like this environment. Some of us had visited in the Summer, when it is very popular with walkers and families. It is in the Cothill area, but a long trek from where we usually park for Cothill Fen, so Adrian, our leader, had obtained permission to park at Hitchcopse Farm. From there we set off across the fields (some very waterlogged) to the site.
We were very pleased to welcome two new members, Scarlet and Izaak, who brought the average age of the group down by some years!
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Briefing in the farm car park
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Walking across the fields
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Heading towards the dead oak
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| Crossing the electric fence |
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Climbing over the barbed wire
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First view of the area adjacent to the pit
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Our task was to cut back the silver birch growing on the slopes and in the pit itself and to use the cut material to make a dead hedge barrier to prevent people from climbing down the slopes and encourage them to use the footpath. If the silver birch were left to grow, it would take over the whole pit and revert to woodland, changing the insects it supports.
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Showing what we need to clear
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Setting to work clearing the birch
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Starting work on the dead hedge
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Kevin and Rhian knocking in a stake
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The dead hedge progresses
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Despite the wet start, the rain stopped, so we were able to have our break in relative comfort.
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Tea break
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After photo, showing the dead hedge in the background
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The group, pleased with their achievements
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| Heading home |
David took photos of some interesting fungi
Can anyone identify them?
I am looking forward to returning to Hitchcopse Pit on a glorious Summer Day!
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