P1170385
Moth of today 5/3/2024
GST Voles Day at Beaumont Farm, Flitton, pulling Himalyan Balsam again 25/7/2017
Hi All,
Thank you for your hard work pulling balsam at Beaumont Farm yesterday; we got further along the river than I had expected and no-one got (too) wet – so a very good day!I do have a growing pile of lost property though! The tally so far:
• A pair of work gloves left after the Sandy Smith balsam task 2 weeks ago
• Two plastic bags following the balsam task at Flitton Moor last week (one containing goggles and another containing socks)
• A flask cup, a posh pair of wellies and a pair of gloves initialled JIM following yesterday’s task
I will bring all of the above to the task next week.
Next week’s task is the annual hay cut at Duck End – so cutting and raking! Meet at the main entrance at 10am (map attached).
Regards,Tim
Tim Spencer
Countryside Ranger
The Greensand Trust
Hi All, Tim et al
Another good day on a new site at Beaumont Farm but same enemy, that beautiful & innocent looking Himalayan Balsam. As Tim said nobody actually drowned (got really really wet) .
First we missed all those Voles not on duty, the Daves Section were severely depleted. Second thank to Malcolm for all his cakes including and upside down gooseberry cake that was delicious but was upside down. I actually got there at about the briefing hour so felt I could indulge when T was called. The weather could not make up it's mind and stayed cloudy until noon when it got nice and humid and brighter.
We had about 4 bands of 4 Voles each, two in waders & int river, two in wellies and nearly always on tbank tidying up the HB into "tidy & neat" piles. Progress was rapid at first as the West end of bank was not too heavily infested but later when the middle section was tackled the HB was prolific and tall so progress was slower. Among my snaps there is a good before and after comparison. Natural history subjects were in quite good numbers, including some interesting plants, loads of Banded Demoiselles, butterflies and bumble bees. Some of these are in my photos. .
The end presented a few problems for some of the wading Voles, the river bank being steep and tall, but eventually everybody got out with a lot of help from Big Jim the Fireman. Malcolm also managed a bit of "Horse Whispering" on the side and we had again the delightful company of Dr Raven, who was again only there for the cake.
I am sure there were more laughs than the above.
Oops snaps start at www.flickr.com/photos/pitzys_pyx/36167489935/ so follow left arrow through the day.
Cheers
Pitzy
P1170385
Moth of today 5/3/2024
GST Voles Day at Beaumont Farm, Flitton, pulling Himalyan Balsam again 25/7/2017
Hi All,
Thank you for your hard work pulling balsam at Beaumont Farm yesterday; we got further along the river than I had expected and no-one got (too) wet – so a very good day!I do have a growing pile of lost property though! The tally so far:
• A pair of work gloves left after the Sandy Smith balsam task 2 weeks ago
• Two plastic bags following the balsam task at Flitton Moor last week (one containing goggles and another containing socks)
• A flask cup, a posh pair of wellies and a pair of gloves initialled JIM following yesterday’s task
I will bring all of the above to the task next week.
Next week’s task is the annual hay cut at Duck End – so cutting and raking! Meet at the main entrance at 10am (map attached).
Regards,Tim
Tim Spencer
Countryside Ranger
The Greensand Trust
Hi All, Tim et al
Another good day on a new site at Beaumont Farm but same enemy, that beautiful & innocent looking Himalayan Balsam. As Tim said nobody actually drowned (got really really wet) .
First we missed all those Voles not on duty, the Daves Section were severely depleted. Second thank to Malcolm for all his cakes including and upside down gooseberry cake that was delicious but was upside down. I actually got there at about the briefing hour so felt I could indulge when T was called. The weather could not make up it's mind and stayed cloudy until noon when it got nice and humid and brighter.
We had about 4 bands of 4 Voles each, two in waders & int river, two in wellies and nearly always on tbank tidying up the HB into "tidy & neat" piles. Progress was rapid at first as the West end of bank was not too heavily infested but later when the middle section was tackled the HB was prolific and tall so progress was slower. Among my snaps there is a good before and after comparison. Natural history subjects were in quite good numbers, including some interesting plants, loads of Banded Demoiselles, butterflies and bumble bees. Some of these are in my photos. .
The end presented a few problems for some of the wading Voles, the river bank being steep and tall, but eventually everybody got out with a lot of help from Big Jim the Fireman. Malcolm also managed a bit of "Horse Whispering" on the side and we had again the delightful company of Dr Raven, who was again only there for the cake.
I am sure there were more laughs than the above.
Oops snaps start at www.flickr.com/photos/pitzys_pyx/36167489935/ so follow left arrow through the day.
Cheers
Pitzy