Delayed update from 10th December

Rush seed head

It turned out that on the 8^th when i slipped on the old railway embankment we were working on, i managed to sustain a injury to my ribs.  As the days went on and the pain grew I decided it was time to find out what I had done.  After a visit to the doctor on the 11^th it turned out I had sustained bad bruising to my ribs and it was going to take some time to heal.  For the day or so after the fall there was nothing, then suddenly the pain started and as it turns out with rib trauma the pain continued to get worse for a number of days.

Before the reeds were cleared      

 After clearing

The day was spent cutting back the phragmites reed beds that lined two channel in front of a hide.  The idea is to cut back a margin, so as to improve the habitat for bitterns.   Any regeneration of willow that could be observed was cut back to ground level with loppers and the phragmites reeds cut with a strimmer.  The cut reed was discreetly pilled up out of sight in a number of heaps to rot down.

Oak tree

Tractor school

The day started off very wet with heavy rain, by the time the days volunteers had gathered at the mess room it was decided that we would carry out the monthly hide inspection and tidy up.

A Robin

All the hides on the reserve had to be checked for the correct signage, any vandalism and any rubbish removed.

Web in a hide

After lunch when the volunteers had left it was time for me to undergo some tractor training.  This involved learning how to carry out the pre checks, basic maintenance and then onto the driving. 

The tractor

Once the basic operating the thing forwards and backwards at the various speeds had been carried out it was time to hook up a trailer and learn to trailer reverse.  The lesson ended by learning how to operate the front bucket and load and then tip the trailer.

Sundown over the reeds