Here is Jonathan’s message
Hello All,
There’ll be a volunteer session at Fairfield Orchard, Fauna and Flora this
Saturday, February 8th, starting at 10.00am and finishing at 1.00pm or
thereabouts.
The To Do list for this occasion reads a little like this:
* In Flora Field mark out the beetle bank and margin boundaries with stakes.
* Renew the protective fences around the Flora Field manholes.
These jobs are in preparation for the ploughing of Flora Field so that the
tractor driver has clear boundaries. Some margins (the birdseed ones) are
ploughed and re-seeded each year, the bee-friendly margins have perennial
wildflowers and seed themselves; the beetle banks have to be clear; and
the three manholes along the water main which crosses the field need
protective fencing using our hazel and willow rods and withies.
* Coppice the elm forming part of the hedge in Little Wood. You may be
surprised to hear that there are three elms in Little Wood. As two of them
are now getting quite big and more susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease we are
advised to coppice the third to increase its vigour and immunity
* Reinforce one or two weak points in the Flora Field hedge using hazel
rods and hazel / willow withies.
* Block the second drain exit from West Field.
*And that’s it.
Best wishes,
Jonathan.