26th april 2011 ... weekly volunteers

Present:
John, Anthony, Ron, Pat, Keith, Katherine and Martin

activities:
- investigated the fire that affected the north-east part of the reserve.  Probably lost an acre of heathland, mostly on the ditch and bank itself.  It will add to the diversity of the reserve in the longer run.  Fences OK, bar one post which is now a bit thin and will need replacing.  Trees look scorched but should survive.
- padlock was smashed by the fire brigade, and has been replaced.  The firemen were told the combination, should they have to come back into the reserve.  Some patches were still smoking.
- the roller stand gate had been left open by the fire brigade
- checked that the ponies and cattle were OK.
- phoned Alice and Monty with the news.
- continued the roadworks along the M1, with a few rocks being used to help fill in the worst of the erosion.   There is still at least a days work to do here
- did a small amount of bracken pulling on the edge of the M1 around marked trees
- did some digging out of small birches alongside the M1 which have regrown after coppicing.

observations:
- 10 crossbills near the fire


martin