The 'band' making the best of a really wet day

Introducing Simon on Kubota cutting tray

A light shower to start the day followed by a mainly dry spell and ending with heavy showers translated to heavy showers for most of the day {you have got to love the met office forecasts}, hence entertainment at Sherborne's workshop. This meant Simon and I on tidying, equipment cleaning duties. But for the Kubota with Mike's encouragement a rather more challenging test leading to a risky removal of the cutting tray to clean and sharpen cutters. Re-assembly took a full team effort with all 4 of us required, cutters still need sharpening though!

Mike our leader on disc & angle grinder

Mike multi-tasked most of day with some office work but still had time to use grinders for sharpening strimmer blades and cutting off a damaged piece of the cutting tray.

Andy on bird boxes

Andy on bird box construction duties, still need to work on retail outlet!

Maddie waiting for some action

Maddie as frustrated as the rest of us with the wet weather, sulking a little before we finally finished up tasks in workshop and set off to do some woodland management at Budgehill belt in spite of the continued rain late afternoon. Tks Simon!

End of day rainbow over water meadows

My last day working with Mike for a while so was relieved to get outside and the sun even made an appearance , although not until we had finished for the day. So last post until October as I will be venturing North to experience the countryside & wildlife of the Scottish Islands.

and in the end? a Dark Knight construction tale

 Maddie paying suitable attention to my safety talk

More Acrow props, poles and timber wedges

Final phase of Dark Knight construction, 'discrete' exposure

Yep today marked final phase of the Bat cave upgrade. Started in the workshop with Mike on 'clamp' duty where this time with the aid of WD40 plus a vice I ensured we had sufficient working swivel and fixed clamps.  Mike meanwhile scavenged around the yard for more timber for ceiling supports. Morris, our Dark Knight, met up with us at the Sherborne offices and we set off once more for the Bat cave.  Usual duties applied leaving me outside on safety and butterfly watch {whites, peacocks and red admiral today}with Mike & Morris continuing construction.

Lunch time review revealed that we were running out of materials and the overall amount of work was exceeding estimates i.e. we wouldn't complete today! Other good news was more scaffolding poles were needed today and the really good news was three 21 foot poles were available in the nursery. They just needed a volunteer to carry them over to the workshop for cutting down to size, good job my mornings work hadn't been too strenuous so problem solved. Still I did manage to observe a kestrel , several swallows , house martins and a fiesty swan chasing off 2 canada geese on Sherborne brook as I slowly carried the poles back to the workshop. 

During the afternoon Morris and Mike carried on with their stirling work with Maddie and me on duty outside. Ended the day with an appraisal of what was left to do, what extra materials needed to be found and when was the next session. Sadly I'll be away for final completion but hopefully Mike will record details I can view on my return. Of course the clock is ticking since the bats will be slowly returning to this roost during September, but by then this upgrade will be done. A good and very cost effective piece of conservation work down to mainly Mike and Morris with a little help from their friends {me, Simon and Maddie} !

Dark Knight exposed?

Entrance to site, linseed oil crop now harvested

Our dark knight with first phase improvements

More substantial construction with long diagonal supports

Earlier in the week Morris {Bat trust} , Mike and Simon began construction in the bat cave in earnest following prep work we initiated last week. This involved more detailed checking of existing roof supports and checking out stability of cave ceiling by appropriate use of hammer. Outside Simon added improvements to the steps I recut last week, a valuable piece of work given the return of some heavy rainfall.

Today started with loading up some suitable hardwood timber and some long scaffolding poles. Morris met up with us at Sherborne and we set off for the bat cave. Humidity at the site was not as high as last week but it was still pretty warm. Initial task was to ship yet more material from the Ford Ranger down to and inside the bat cave. Highlight for me was a close up of several peacock butterflies which can' t resist the abundant teasel growing in the area. While I acted as safety man outside the cave Mike and Morris began the next phase of construction deep in the cave. To keep me occupied I was given a selection of 'clamps' {double, fixed , swivel more learning for me!} to ensure they were in working order. Not as straightforward as it sounds given the 'rusted' condition of some, thanks Mike!

Took my lunch break checking out the bird life in the vicinity of the weir on Sherborne brook. Swans, Coots with young , heron, ducks and buzzards on show, using my new binos.

After lunch Mike with trailer met me at Sherborne NT offices to gather yet more hardwood and even more scaffolding poles for the afternoon construction. We met up with Morris at the bat site where the transport of the latest material to the bat cave was the first task, this time with the added challenge of not tripping over the enthusiastic Maddie. As before I remained outside the cave entertaining Maddie while the dynamic duo continued with the impressive construction as shown by pics  above. Amazingly most of the wood, poles and supports were pretty much used up by the days work but more still remained outstanding deeper in the cave.  Yes, inspite of another good days work it would take another day to finish the remaining work needed to ensure this habitat will continue to support the healthy bat community for many years to come. Here's hoping the lesser horseshoes and maybe other bat species appreciate the upgrade work carried out on their behalf.  Only small disappointment for me was that the lesser horseshoe bat flying around on Tuesday was not to be seen today. Still I am sure it will have reported back to its mates of the activity and we may see even more hibernating in this winter roost.  

Dark Knight stalled!

Path to bat cave

Red Admiral liking the teasel 

Construction work in the bat cave was the order of this hot day. Plant growth as pictures indicate still vigorous but the good news was that the butterflies absent for most of this wet year were making an appearance in what promises to be a warm spell. In this area alone spotted Red Admiral, Cabbage White, Heath, and Painted Lady. I'd also spotted out in the countryside Marble white, Wood White and the Meadow Brown. Saw others but I need them to settle to id them, eyesight not as sharp as used to be, using UK butterfly guide.

Due to meet Morris of the Bat Trust , who was to lead the building work , but unfortunately car problems were to prevent his appearance. All was not lost as Mike and I had to carry out some prep work prior to the serious building construction. First some fallen Eldar trees needed to be cleared and then I had to re-cut some steps down to the cave entrance as this years rain had made the steep slope down into a 'muddy slide '. This proved a good move since a lot of roof supports and other materials had to be carried from the Ford Ranger  down the slope and into the Bat cave. The humidity must have been in the high 90s because even the slightest physical work had us soaked in sweat.

Having finished the prep work we moved onto Budgehill Belt to continue some woodland management and ride clearance. Sharp eyed Mike spotted a Grey Partridge but the real surprise was the drop in humidity in the Belt thank goodness.  So a comfortable end to the day and a rest from watching the Olympics which I have done to much of this past week!

Olympic effort at Sherborne

West Horsley, no win for Wiggo or Cav but great atmosphere!

Clarkes Close, site of new guide post 

Well, caught up with the emotions from the 2012 Olympics it felt like an Olympic effort {new event for Rio?} as we dug for GB at Clarks Close and nearby Windrush.  Unfortunately no tv coverage and my camera not available so took some liberties with this weeks photos. Day started with Mike jet washing the red tractor and the 4x4 Ford Ranger, they needed it. We set off in the morning to Clarks Close the site for last weeks den building.  It was a little warmer than the photo suggests and fortunately the ground wasn't too rocky for digging the hole for the first guide post. Interestingly what was left of the old one was still around although somewhat mangled by badgers rooting for grubs. Took a bit longer than usual since some woodwork was required to chisel out the circles for the NT direction discs. I won't be giving up my day job to take up woodwork!

After lunch we had to first deliver the red tractor to a local 'juice' business which was holding a special event and it was to be one of the attractions. We then  headed off to a site near to Windrush to replace another guide post. Maddie was along for support but didn't help when she ran off with one of the stones I hoped to use to bed in the sweet chestnut post. Still we did manage to finish the job relatively quickly and just before some friendly group of walkers were to pass by. They were pleased to see the new post which set them off in the right direction back to Sherborne and Ewe Pen Barn. Our day was not yet finished as we then moved on to Budgehill Belt  to do some woodland clearing and wood collection. We finished the day by collecting the red tractor and received our days award, not a gold medal but a much appreciated hot dog and blackcurrant juice!