27th March 2012 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present :

John, Jonathan, Keith, Alan, Neil, David, Rob, and Martin

Activities :

- checked and mended all fencing on perimeter.  Posts to be added on fire damaged area and cricket field
- made safe bit of old rusty iron fencing that injured David previously
- filled box with last of the brochures .  Need another print run.
- reinstalled most of taken down nestboxes. Putting in low to reduce ladder work. Collected another 2 for Keith.  I think there are 3 to go
- cleaned the troughs, and switched on the water
- cleared some weed and rush from cuckoo pond
- ring barked a pine shading the pond
- re-pollarded a couple of birch that were getting too leggy
- took out a birch threatening to damage ditch and bank

Observations:

- cuckoo
- 3 buzzards mobbed by the two ravens
- crossbills, redpolls, linnets
- pair of reed buntings by high beeches
- dead badger near ne corner
- fence barbed wire cut near refurbished house, possibly to ease access.
- chiffchaffs , woodlarks
- new bird box on south heath
- could only find one pair of fencing pliers
- noted David's friend had taken some of the older wood. He may volunteer in future
- fire on forest at weekend did not touch ol.

Martin