These pages provide a photographic
record of activities and events at Thrupp Lake throughout
2011 where development of a new visitor centre and improved
public access to the lake surroundings are being planned
by the Earth Trust in collaboration with the local community.
Today
it rained - the first ever thoroughly wet work day at
the lake! This did not deter the few stalwarts who turned
up to do a bit of work clearing the path around the
lake of intruding vegetation. After the oppressive heat
of the previous few days, a little light work in the
rain was not at all unpleasant, and tea with home-made
sponge cake and shortbread at the mid-morning break
more than made up for any feelings of dampness.
Also
a welcome to Alison, standing in for Loretta as work
leader for the morning.
Jo, with
Alison pushing a barrowload of tools and the mandatory
safety device for use in case someone falls into the
lake!
Lopping overhead
branches in the wet brings a new hazard
- a facefull
of water as the branch comes down!
1st September 2011
Today the tasks
undertaken by a smaller-than-average band of volunteers
were to strim and clear tall and lying vegetation from
the SE corner of the lake so as to encourage orchids,
and to clear the patch of largely dead brambles and Japanese
knotweed (Fallopia japonica) from by the pedestrian
gate at Sandles. Japanese knotweed is a highly undesirable
invasive weed and very difficult to eradicate once established.
This quite large patch of it had been treated with herbicide,
but a few bits seemed to have survived. It was therefore
necessary to clear the patch, so that any remaining growth
could be assessed and treated, and to burn the removed
plant material, which was done on a small bonfire lit
at the edge of the tennis court. The fact that the knotweed
was entangled with vicious dead bramble stems did not
make the job particularly easy.
Clearing
dead brambles and knotweed from by the pedestrian
gate.
Tending
the bonfire at the edge of the tennis court.
Lynda
with a handfull of carefully selected knotweed stems...
...
destined for the flames.
Teabreak.
Meanwhile the fire still needed to be maintained as
the tinder dry stems would burn as fast as they could
be gathered up and put on the fire. By the end of
the day's work there was quite a substantial pile
of smouldering ash as evidence of what had been done.
