Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve - Saturday, 27th June 2026

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Michele and Sally

We returned to BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit Nature Reserve on a sunny morning for our last session of June and we assembled in the car park where Adrian explained what we would be doing as Beth Hall from BBOWT had given him a list of tasks earlier in the week.  Those wishing to pull Himalayan Balsam, an invasive non-native plant, were asked to put on wellington boots and those working on clearing one of the paths from overgrown vegetation were asked to wear sturdy boots.  After gathering our bags and tools, Adrian led the way and we soon came to a gate where the path was barely discernible in places as the nettles, thistles and brambles were so tall!  We weren't surprised when Adrian told the three scythers among us that this was what we would be scything.

We soon came to a little dell in the wood where we made our base near a patch of Dog's Mercury.  The three scythers set up their scythes, whilst Adrian led the rest of the group to the Himalayan Balsam area near the stream.  Himalayan Balsam is an invasive non-native plant which bears seed pods that pop and propel seeds some distance - each plant bearing hundreds of seeds so it spreads very rapidly.  It is often found by streams and the seeds can float downstream.  It is only by constantly pulling it up before it sets seed that we begin to see we are making inroads.  It forms dense stands thereby preventing our native plants from thriving and its shallow root system causes erosion of our river banks.

The notice board on display in the car park

Spot Rosie gathering Himalayan Balsam

Dieuwke searching for Himalayan Balsam

Adrian leading the way

Somewhere here there is Himalayan Balsam and, where there is Himalayan Balsam, there will be a Green Gymmer pulling it up

Meanwhile, back on the pathway, Jim cuts a dash.  The nettles were very tall in places and Jim was brave not to wear long sleeves

We split the path into sections so that we didn't get in each other's way, taking care not to cut the vegetation and let it drop onto the path

There be nettles!

A very welcome break in the dappled shade with lots of Dog's Mercury about.

After break, Adrian and Sally went to the cattle pen as Beth had asked us to scythe this as well.  We had to be careful to negotiate our blades around the metal railings so as not to damage them.  A small herd of Dexter cattle are brought on to graze each year as many of our native grassland plants have adapted over millenia to be grazed.  This improves biodiversity by ensuring that our native plants get enough light to thrive.

The cattle pen before scything

The cattle pen after scything

The cleared path

It soon came to the time when we needed to pack up our tools and make our way back to our cars, where we said our farewells and thanked our leader.  All in all, it was a good morning's work, even if we do say so ourselves.