Sustead Cluster work party 1st August

The first session of August was convened at the Common, the Surveyor’s Allotment and Spurrell's Wood in Sustead, where, despite the hot and humid weather, a good deal was accomplished.

Grassland restoration work was carried out by Andrew, Fran, Stu, Carol, Nigel and Brian, using the tried and tested technique of scything, raking and dragging the cuttings (which included a great deal of nettles) off by tarpaulin. This work cleared a path to the bench by the stream on the Common as well as an area by the Scrape.

Trevor, John, David R and Vision cleared the parking spaces to make much needed room for more cars. Vision and David also tidied around the gate into Spurrell's Wood

The ever-energetic Trevor cut overhanging tree branches in the Surveyors' Allotment to provide light for the grassland,

Scything was also carried out in Spurrell's Wood, with John and Nick working on the glades beside the southern path and the area around the bird hide pond.

 Low-lying branches and brambles were cut back on both sides of the road by Val and Peter, who also refilled the bird feeders and re-stocked the bins with bird seed on the Common and in Spurrell's Wood.

Breaktime at 10:15 was very welcome, with Trevor providing a dozen chocolate ring donuts in addition to the usual jam variety. It was worth coming out just for that!

After the break, Andrew carried out a survey for the nationwide Big Butterfly Count. Sadly not many butterflies were about, at least during the survey period. There were just one or two each of Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown, and Ringlet on the Allotment, and one Meadow Brown spotted in Spurrell's Wood. This seems to be the pattern this year, perhaps due to the extremely wet start to the year up to late July. 

Andrew Gorton

August 1st 2024