The workday this Sunday was one of the first scrub clearance tasks of the autumn season. The island areas on Grebe Lake with their extensive reed beds have proved to be valuable habitat for wetland birds such as great and little egrets as well the elusive bittern. The spectacular starling murmurations are also centred along these reed beds. Whisby staff are therefore keen to maintain this habitat but of course willow and alder trees also like wet conditions and had started to take over; so it was our task to help clear them. As the island is home to nesting birds in the spring and summer, and the lake level is allowed to rise and cover the islands in winter for overwintering birds, there is only a narrow window of time in October for the wardens to get the encroaching scrub removed.
Fortunately we had a good turnout of 16 volunteers. Our walk to the site included a brief stop to say 'hello' to the very friendly sheep in the field enclosure we had to go through - apparently including the hand reared sheep several of us had met at Woodhall Spa Airfield earlier in the year! After an introduction to the work from Emily the warden, followed by a tools safety talk on the island (accessible via a short bridge), we set about tackling the thick wall of willow and alder that covered half the island.
Fortunately we had a good turnout of 16 volunteers. Our walk to the site included a brief stop to say 'hello' to the very friendly sheep in the field enclosure we had to go through - apparently including the hand reared sheep several of us had met at Woodhall Spa Airfield earlier in the year! After an introduction to the work from Emily the warden, followed by a tools safety talk on the island (accessible via a short bridge), we set about tackling the thick wall of willow and alder that covered half the island.
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The piles of cut material soon started to build up as we worked, cutting the small stuff close to the ground while leaving the thicker stumps high to reduce trip hazards until Emily could come back with a chain saw, then treat them to prevent regrowth. Nick soon got a bonfire going and we were all kept busy felling, chopping, dragging material to the fire and burning it.
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It was a lovely sunny day and we got plenty done. But there was still a thick wall of willow to go. Fortunately, Emily had a number of other work parties lined up so hopefully they will manage to clear more of the scrub before the water levels rise. If you follow Whisby Nature Park on Facebook you will see Emily's updates on this, and thanks to the various volunteers.
Julian
Julian
