20200314 HaseleyWorking Party

A Saturday team comprising Anthony , myself, John, Tina, Chuck, Fiona and Diane met on a morning forecast to be windy but dry. There was a short sharp shower at the start.

We discussed the recent flooding when the Eastern Yar came across briefly on West sweeping debris from the woodland floor near the river and lifting some of the public footpath fencing to block the footpath. The water flow was probably brief but powerful, maybe up to a metre deep. It (presumably) usefully replenished fish and invertebrates in the two lakes but it picked up and widely distributed our pallets. We looked at them without enthusiasm and wondered if they might be a bit lighter in a week or so if they dry out a bit. We don’t need them in position until the CES sessions start from the end of April. We trimmed the far slope net ride to a neat chevron cross-section. The elders are already well into leaf. The main footpath at the bottom of the slope was being over-ridden by sallow growth and Chuck did some professional chain-sawing whilst the rest of us trimmed smller twigs and helped clear brash. Great tits called and the Canada Geese were paired and noisy but it didn’t feel very birdy. Anthony has planted some tree whips, including black poplars, the West end of the far lake.