A frosty start on the river

View of some of the obstructions/overshading from a very dodgy bridge

Cleared stretch of water further downstream

Rising temperature provided 'creeping' mist

Second water course forming 'island' on the far bank

Unobstructed view now, looking back at the bridge 

Spent Friday working with the GWT on a stream close to Ablington which flows into the river Coln at Bibury {trout farm}. John led the team on a sunny, frosty morning and the work was pretty similar to that carried out Mareslaid but in a prettier stretch of countryside. On this occasion I donned some waders and spent most of the time in the water removing loose wood debris and cutting back & hinging to the bank the extensive obstructions/overshading of tree branches arching across the water course. There were some heavyweight branches which required John to break the silence with his chainsaw. Once again the solid efforts of the team made quite a difference to a significant stretch of water hopefully helping improve the environment for water voles and fish.

Hare and 'Tortoise'!

Small Tortoiseshell, where have the large ones gone!

Wednesday session with NT was cancelled but on Thursday I did help carry out Sherborne's first ukbms butterfly survey, led by Anna {newly appointed environment ranger for Sherborne}, on a Transect {divided into 5 sections, section 1 Budge Hill Belt to section 5 Windrush camp} in the Budge Hill area. Weather was favourable but it was  clearly too early in the season for any significant butterfly numbers to be seen. As it turns out we spotted in section 2 a Small Tortoiseshell and  two Peacocks  in section 5, but no 'Dukes'!. That was it for this survey,  apart from an appearance of a fine looking hare in section 5. and ~6 roe deer in section 1.

Original Revetment work on Sherborne brook, 2013

Mike's tractor trailer full of fascines & stakes, all used!

River risen higher than original fascines 

Some serious repairs and re-tying of fascines

One of the new compartments taking shape on 'land' side of new bank 

Todays session with The Wildlife Trust, ironically was at Sherborne, down in the water meadows by Sherborne Brook. The task led by John, with Alan and George assisting, was to carry out some repairs and to add additional 'compartments' to the river bank work previously completed on a stretch of the Sherborne Brook. Already the existing river work can be seen to be doing its job nicely with river depth and flow increased {which should please the fishing fraternity}. The increase in depth meant that additional fascines needed adding to increase height of artificial bank and repairs to some existing fascines needed by adding and/or re-tying. I joined one of the teams in creating the new compartments which were to be constructed on the 'land side' of the new bank to stimulate new plant growth and speed up the process of establishing the new river bank. In the fairly warm conditions it was good to be working in the cool water, provided the waders remained watertight and you didn't swallow any of the water.  In addition a water vole survey was carried out and provided good evidence that the habitat improvements in this area is helping to increase vole numbers.

Some more detail from NT director Simon Pryor on a better environment, hope to see this for real in my patch!

Mega Fascines!

Windrush river improvements underway

Super size Fascines, ready to be rolled down to the river 

New river bank creation 

Mega fascine floated into place

Posts driven into place to secure fascine

Out with the Wildlife Trust today, at Lower Slaughter farm by the Windrush, and together with the EA & local Fishing club. This was to continue the good work carried out on this important stretch of the Windrush to improve the habitat for fish , voles and other wildlife. Whilst the EA and Fishing club teams concentrated on building the new river banks to 'narrow the river' to its original width, the rest of us Wildlife trust volunteers, led by John, attacked the various areas of overgrown river bank to reduce  shading and increase growth of sedge/grasses important to wildlife especially water voles.

Earlier on this week I was able to resume work at Sherborne with the NT after my knee injury. This was a welcome change for me but not early enough for the February Bat count. The count of lesser horseshoes was ~156, down on last months January total, with only one bat found outside the 'bat cave'.

In spite of my reduced mobility over the this winter season I have been fortunate enough to see some varied wildlife. This includes  foxes and deer around my local Leckhampton patch together with goldfinch, green & greater spotted woodpeckers, siskin, redwing and green finch. I was also lucky enough to spot a Great Grey Shrike on Cleeve Common this week.

Even more River work!

Frosty start on the Windrush on Slaughter Farm, WA1

Looking down the Windrush to bridge & WAs beyond

Large multi-organisation team near WA2

WA2 stake line set ready for fascines

Fascines in place for new river bank, WA2

WA3, extensive shrub clearance

WA5, EA team setting stake line

Frost gone near area of Windrush I worked, WA1

Today was spent with the WT on the Windrush, near Bourton on the Water at Slaughter  Farm. Will and John led a 30+ strong team which included/had contributions from the usual GWT volunteers, an EA team, Bourtons local fishing club members and Cotswold wardens. Its been a while since I have worked this area of the Windrush and it was a good deal warmer than today. The team were to carry out shrub clearance and river bank narrowing along a long stretch of the Windrush. Earlier stakes and fascines had been placed down by the Windrush where the new river narrowing was to take place. After the introduction of the days task was delivered by John teams were formed to work various sections of the Windrush. My area, as I wasn't wearing waders, was work area 1 where stakes were already in place {circa 10 years ago}. The first task was to coppice the willow which was growing along a ditch which fed into the river. This willow was then used to weave a barrier between the existing stakes, as there were not enough fascines to cover all the sections requiring them. I unfortunately had to leave early but as the pictures above show an impressive amount of work had already been accomplished.

Have been working at Sherborne the past few weeks mainly on adding to the wood service supplies and this Wednesday on helping to clear shrub and trees along 'tight' avenue. This starts by Sherborne school/war memorial and continues up past Hope farm to Vincent Lodge by the A40. Recent growth and fallen yew has began to interfere with traffic using this narrow lane. Needless to say even with Mike using the pole saw, James with chain saw and me with loppers the work was not going to be completed in a single session!

Sadly but not surprisingly the petition I supported to ban Driven Grouse shooting to save the Hen Harrier {plus thousands of other mammals and reptiles} and highlight the damage to unique blanket bog and peat land was 'Shot down" in the parliamentary debate. I received letters from Defra ministers to respond to my questions and transcript/video of the debate which were to say at best embarrassing {not for me and 120,000 + supporters}.  I can't criticise my local Conservative MP who responded helpfully to my concerns on the issues and even showed some sympathy to this conservation issue. Given the wealth of scientific and compelling evidence questioning this Victorian pastime the need to ban this particular form of shooting will become irresistible and the behaviours of certain MPs and Defra be shown to be completely unacceptable. The only hope is this will happen before rare species like the hen harrier become extinct and  the rare upland environments damaged beyond recovery.