Four Seasons in One Day

With 50 mile an hour winds forecast today the plan of raking up the cut vegetation from the moor and wetland was quickly revised as we didn’t want any of the volunteers blowing away! The day started in glorious spring sunshine and we re-instated the snake head perch beside the lake.

We then moved into this year’s coppice block to tidy up the site. There was a summery feel to the air, jackets came off as it started to warm up and everyone got stuck into the job.

Any remaining brash in the block was transported to the central fire site and any stumps that had been left were cut down and burnt as well.

Then the fatal words ‘it’s always such nice weather at Foxglove on a Tuesday’ were uttered and the rain came. Jackets went quickly back on but everyone continued working, building log piles over the old fire sites in the coppice block. Slight breaks in the cloud with the sun shining through gave the reserve an autumnal feel.

By lunch time the work in the coppice block was complete with the area looking great. Everyone headed back into the visitors centre for a well-deserved break.  After lunch we completed a number of jobs; building log piles and continuing some of the repair work on the track. We weren’t out long before winter arrived; the snow fell and quickly covered the ground and the hard working volunteers!

We would like to thank everyone who helped out today; you did a really good job in what were at times challenging conditions!