Fences, families and footpaths



Working hard, chaps?!



The week kicked off with a VERY wet bank holiday (hurrah for the the garden/crops!) which I managed to avoid by spending a day in the office with a computer and well over 100 job applications to read - but thankfully the sun is back out now and we have had a great week. Our hardworking volunteers have been down on Tern meadow once more under the watchful eye of warden Richard, removing the old and broken fenceline in preparation for a new one and cutting back the willow and hawthorn that had overgrown it. It's a fiddly job separating the wire and staples from the old posts but these guys are becoming pros at it and cracking on in record speed - despite the photographic evidence to the contrary!



On Thursday I worked alongside Susie Jones on a family activity day. Two local families joined us and a few of the regular warden volunteers to help us to resurface a path in the deer park woodland. It was hard work for all involved as they shovelled stone into wheelbarrows and spread it along the path but copious amounts of tea from the storm kettle and a good supply of biscuits and mini doughnuts (nice one Susie!) kept everyone in good spirits. We had a picnic lunch, admired Dougal the dog's biscuit-eating tricks and then rounded the day off with a tractor and trailer ride home via the deer park. While most of the deer were hiding away at the far end of the deer sanctuary (the fawns are due to be born at this time of year) there was a gang of bucks enjoying the sunshine near the Little Egg plantation and everyone had a good view of them. Thanks to everyone that came along and helped to make the path, hopefully we will see you again later in the year for apple picking!