Here is Jonathan’s message to the Orchardeers
Greetings All,
There’ll be a volunteer session at Fairfield Orchard, Fauna and Flora
this Saturday morning, July 12th, commencing fragrant and delightful at
10.00am and finishing less so at 1.00pm.
Please come along if you possibly can, for as long as you are able.
Tasks for Saturday include:
1. Mow and strim the grass.
2. Continue clearing the nettles and long grass from around the fruit
trees.
3. Trim the grass around the base of the new saplings in Pony Wood and
the extension. And on the way, cut back any overhanging brambles on the
Pads path.
4. Cut back the nettles and brambles along side the Fauna path.
5. Re-instate the repaired boundary stone.
6. Repair the fence near the cattle crossing of Lucy Brook.
In ragwort news, the Ragwort Working Party will continue work next week
hopefully finishing off in the Big Meadow marshland. All welcome to
enjoy the summer in this unique way! Do dress appropriately with
wellingtons, long sleeves and long trousers. Ragfork and black bags will
be provided. You may wish to bring your own gloves but we do have them
available. The sessions will be:
MONDAY 14th July morning and evening
TUESDAY 15th July morning and evening
WEDNESDAY 16th July morning
Morning sessions start at 9.30, evening at 6.30 but come a little later
if more convenient.
Meet at the Shed.
And finally, on Friday 18th July Richard Storton will be leading a
group trying once again to repair the leak in the bund (small dam)
forming Anna’s Pool. We need people to barrow material across the field.
Time and meeting place are not yet fixed but if you can help, please
let Ian know on or 07811 970595 and he
will give you the details when known.
And that’s your lot for this time,
Best wishes,
Jonathan.
And here’s what we did
The regular Saturday session attracted twenty volunteers, a pleasing turnout for a sunny summer’s day.
• Part of the Orchard was mown including the section we are trying to get back to grass from nettle. This seems to be working well.
• The section of the Orchard strimmed by a contractor during the past week was raked clear of the strimmings and the results carted away to a brash pile. Hopefully our new volunteer mower can get to work on this in the next week or so and see whether this can also be returned to short grass.
• Grass surrounding the fruit tree trunks was cut back with shears.
• Overhanging nettles and other vegetation was strimmed and cut back along the Fauna path.
• A team worked in Pony Wood and the extension clearing grass form the base of new saplings. About half the saplings were done and this needs continuing next time.
• The newly repaired boundary stone (marking the boundary between Lancaster and Aldcliffe parishes), was transported from the shed and reinstated in the extension to Pony Wood.
• The fence near the cattle crossing of Lucy Brook was repaired where the cattle had forced through and into the stream/
• The gates to the Paddock and Lower Sowerholme were opened for firewood collectors but no one came.