7th December 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:
John, Ron, Neil, Keith and Martin

Activities:
- we had two gorse fires.
- we burnt the gorse at the triangle near the ride junction, and added a little more that we cut along the boundary ditch.
- we also finished most of the gorse along the road from the five bar gate.  There is now a pretty clear view from the road across the reserve.
- both fires were incredibly difficult to start.  There had been a freezing fog for some time and all the trees and most greenery were covered in the most majestic frost.  This water on the gorse made it difficult to start even with paper and tubes.

Observations:
- mike is still off ill.  Martin is running an errand for him after the close of play.  He is also getting an iron boost, as well as our recommendation of Parsley and watercress  :-)
- Thought we had a Raven calling
- Alice was running a chainsaw refresher course on the reserve, though we did not hear much noise.  Apparently there is now some brash for use to burn up the M1, and logs to pile.
- reed bunting, siskins.
- three xmas trees were thoroughly coppiced and removed.  Some logs were taken as well.

Martin