27th April 2010 ... Weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Ron, Mike and Martin

activities:
- put up two nest boxes that had been taken down for repair last year.  Numbers 61 and 44.  These were put back in exactly the same positions.  Indeed Number 61 used  the same nails!
- repaired the fence between south heath and OL1 with 4 new fence posts.
- cleaned out both water troughs, bailing them out and cleaning with a sponge.  Then turned on the mains tap.  Note for future reference that by cleaning the south heath one first allowed air into the pipe, and then it appeared as if the water was actually switched on and flowing to the one on the main reserve.  This lasted for about 40 seconds.
- the housing around the inlet pipe on the south heath trough was repaired and reinstated
- Pond thirteen was given a once-over, with weed raked out, the outflow to the side re-dug, and the outflow in the centre of the dam filled in with a log, large slab of stone and mud.  We had lunch there, and everything seemed to be working fine.
- the fire-sites on staples hill were raked over to effectively hide their existence.
- saplings on staples hill were given a coppicing
- logs were removed from Haywards and nearby ponds.
- saplings just up from the high beeches were coppiced.
- extra leaflets were put into the display at the entrance.

observations:
ravens, redstarts, 2 woodlarks on Staples Hill and another at roller stand, heron, swallows near stables, herring gulls calling, bullfinches, Tree pipits.
Peacocks, 3 small whites, Holly Blue, 3+ brimstones.

martin