Reevy Mill Dam

Proud bench installersWe have installed two new benches at the site. We chose to use recycled plastic and they feel very appropriate. We placed one at the head of the pond in a space that once housed a bench, but it disappeared long ago. We also replaced the rotten bench near the park. The final bench will be replaced later in the spring.

We also began to repair the path around the mill pond. This involved slicing the turf off the path surface to widen the path to about 1.2m. It had become so overgrown that it restricted anybody with limited mobility from using the footpath safely. We were joined by students from Buttershaw School, who worked hard to clear the path and to help with the bench installation.

There were six volunteers today. We started off in thick fog but by the end of the day we were in lovely sunshine, reflecting our satisfaction with the completed task.

View more photos in the gallery

Reevy Mill DamThe day was spent cutting the grass and nettle areas and continuing to clear the path. We also had to remove some damaged tree branches.

Eleven volunteers worked today with a mixture of traditional hand tools - the scythes, sickles and hay rakes - and the auto-scythe with allows efficient cutting at the base of the vegetation.

We normally take our boat to the dam at this time of year to collect litter in the reeds, however today we focused on the waters edge and grassland. Several passers-by commented on the reduction for litter for the site.We appreciate the support of the Clean Team who collected the bulky waste.

Canada Geese with goslingsToday’s visit concentrated on meadow management, this involved cutting some of the grass areas that are likely to be used by the public to keep the site accessible, while leaving other areas to grow long and allow the wildflowers to bloom. This will provide nectar for insects including butterflies during the summer. The site has benefited from regular litter collections but we still managed to collect a number of fly tipped items and general litter. After some further general maintenance we found ourselves in the unusaul position of completing our work. This gave us the opportunity to split into two groups one to visit Brackenhill to check the bridge and the other to visit BEES UNR to check on and remove the giant hogweed.

Today we worked with 12 volunteers

Click here and here to other photos of the day

Using the boat to collect litter We took the boat to the site today so that we were able to collect litter that has accumulated in amongst the reeds. This is the least intrusive time of year for this as moorhens have successfully nested there for a number of years now. It proved very successful and with this and the other litter collected around the site we collected some 15 bags, a shopping trolley, 5 footballs and various bits of plastic toys. Other members of the team were able to make a start on the cutting and raking of the meadow areas. We worked using both the autoscythe on the large flat areas and the hand scythes on the smaller areas and around the borders. This work benefits not only the appearance of the site but will allow the ground flora to develop in particular the meadow cranesbill and vetch which make a good display of colour in the summer.

Today there were 15 volunteers.

Click here to see other photos of the day.