29th june 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  David, Neil, Ron, John, Keith, Mike and Martin

Activities:
- lookered ponies
- dug out west pond, which is almost dry.  Mostly removing old silt, but lowering the level of the old part a few inches as well.
- clearing bracken and saplings on the plateau above west pond
- clearing ragwort from both sides of the cricket pitch.  Not much , and hidden on OL2 part away from ponies
- odd bits of bracken clearing on route
- newly cut keys given to Neil and Ron, and tested
- technique for opening the tractor shed lock worked out.
- too hot finally and left early

Observations:
- woodlark singing over west pond
- patch of St john's wort on plateau above west pond
- lesser redpolls, tree creepers, nuthatch
- probable barn owl on the Pippingford side, disturbed by cadets
- Raven ( yesterday)
- Bournes have taken one or two loads recently. Finishing the one near the water trough, and starting the first one above sphagnum heath
- a couple of Does and Fawns

Other:
- discussed possible open day to attract new volunteers
- planning nightjar walk this thursday at 9.30



martin