Friday 3rd Oct: Reevy Mill Dam, Reevy Avenue, Buttershaw

thanks to Tim Speed for photo Photo: T.Speed 3 Oct 08 Reevy Mill Dam 1 2 3 4 5

This is the annual cut of the grassland, plus clean out of the pond using the BEES boat in the pond to reach the parts of the pond that we cannot reach from the banks and general path maintenance.

Reevy Mill Dam is a former mill pond located in Buttershaw where Reevy Road and Reevy Avenue meet. It is now owned by the Council and managed for the benefit of people and wildlife by BEES.

6 volunteers and 2 members of staff were involved in todays task and we carried out the annual cut of the meadow area. The grass and wildflowers are allowed to grow throughout the year to provide a habitat for animals like frogs and provide food for insects like butterflies. The grass is then cut and raked in a similar method to hay meadow management the same plants will grow again because they have sown seed and the soil fertility kept as they require:

Plus litter picking over the whole site and excitingly we sailed the BEES rowing boat (named HMS Litter Picker) and collected refuse that had been stuck in the reeds for a long time.

The site looked much improved at the end of the task and this was commented on by one of the neighbours. We are grateful to the Council's Clean Team who took away all the refuse we collected namely 15 bin bags of litter, various road signs, a chair, fire extinguishers and road barriers.

Thanks to everyone that took part.