Wood Norton – Pond Dipping with a Difference

A group of 10 of us gathered at the Wood Norton site at 9am on Thursday November 21st hoping desperately that the sun would hurry up, get up, and combat the sub-zero overnight temperatures. Trevor and Ed the tree surgeon were already bounding energetically around the site planning the downfall of various trees (actually they were already down in the natural way, lest you worry that the Felbeck Trust would unnecessarily down anything). The rest of us discussed whether it would be reasonable to bring the coffee and doughnut break forward to 09:15am….

On his return Trevor set out the tasks for the day, winning our undying love by suggesting that the fore-mentioned coffee break would be at 10:15am, 15 minutes earlier than usual, due to the freezing temperatures. There were three main tasks: one for a group to work with Ed at the pond edge helping to clear and remove the cuttings; a second for a small group to tackle the brambles in the somewhat hopefully named ‘meadow’, otherwise identifiable as the bramble and nettle jungle; and a third for Nick S to work at dead-hedging an open corner of the site adjacent to the road, while David H worked on improving the flow of the ditch that exits the site.

Val, with her trusty team of Peter and Elizabeth, gamely tackled the ‘meadow’, being required to dig out the roots of the brambles; not an easy task, due to both the frozen ground and the fiercely interwoven matt of nettle roots. However, nothing bar a brief sojourn with a doughnut, was going to stop them, fueled as they were by the motivational dream of gently swaying grasses and wildflowers in the heat of coming summers.

Meanwhile over by the ponds, Team Two gathered in the central ‘island’ area, which is now easily accessed around the perimeter of the pond via an excellent raised walkway, steps and planked crossings, created by a work party earlier in the summer. Large trees have fallen into the water over the years, clogging up the ponds, and the aim is to improve the water quality for the benefit of wildlife, by removing some of these trees and allowing more sunlight and air in. Ed set about chain-sawing and the rest of the team dragged the branches to shore up the dead hedges lining the route through the site, helping to create more sheltering habitat for wildlife. The tangled nature of the fallen trees and branches in the water involved clambering and shuffling along the trunks hanging over the water in order to loop the winch strap over the furthest point possible to get the optimum angle for the winch to work. More on this delicate balancing act to come later….

Blissfully unaware of all this sweaty heaving and ho-ing in the nearby swamp, Nick was peacefully creating an artfully woven dead-hedge to form the corner boundary of the site.

By this the time the sun had come out and feeling was returning to many fingers, and coffee and doughnut time had arrived! Early! Wonderful! After the break everyone returned to their tasks energised and enthusiastic, and gentle sounds wafted over Wood Norton: spades hitting ice and rubble in the meadow, whittled hedge stakes thudding into the ground in the far corner, the clattering of the winch ratchet on the island and the swishing of dragged branches… and the world seemed a good and a kind place.

SPLASH! From the island. Sharp SHRIEK! (albeit a manly one). Man (no naming and shaming) overboard! Poor brave Trevor (oops named him) had slipped and lost his balance whilst out on a limb over the water. Up to his neck in it! Eyes like saucers. Those nearest rapidly swooped in to extract him, as this was no laughing (until later) matter as that water was FREEZING, and it was important to get out of wet clothes ASAP. Various items of spare clothing were donated by some compatriots, although the gift of Sean’s dog towel was firmly eschewed, and Trevor set off home in a warm car, for a hot bath and full recovery! Well done to him for making little fuss after what must have been quite a shock to the system.

After that, all else seemed to pale into insignificance, but the tasks were finished off, with everyone admiring what the others had been doing, and, to be honest, re-telling in minute detail the misfortune of A.N. Other, as is only human. A good, productive and exciting morning’s work at Wood Norton.

Andrew Stokes

November 21st 2024