CROW (Conserve Reading on Wednesdays)
Wednesday, 5th November 2014
Wolf Conservation Trust, Beenham ~ Hedgelaying (and bonfire)

CROW returned to the Wolf Trust to complete the hedgelaying started two weeks earlier and to burn the brash created on that occasion.

In fact only a short section of hedge remained to be laid and work was soon underway to get that finished.

Most of the outstanding work on the hedge related to the staking and binding.

As the laying was quickly completed it was decided to lay a short additional section of hedge. This was overgrown with bramble which Dave began to clear.

Elsewhere the bonfire was getting going.

On almost every visit to the site deer have been seen feeding in the distance in an adjacent field.

John and Anna commence staking one section of the hedge.

Stakes are positioned along the line of the hedge supporting the laid material and spaced so they can be bound.

Jan has armed himself with a lump hammer and is also busy putting in stakes.

While John positions stakes, Anna has opted for a wooden mallet to drive them home.

As the morning progresses good progress is being made.

By twelve there is a mound of hot ash into which potatoes are placed to cook.

After thirty minutes we decided to check the state of the potatoes, not quite ready was the conclusion and lunch was deferred for fifteen minutes.

Next to where we were working was the first hedge we laid at the site which is growing well.

Lunch at last, the only problem was retrieving the potatoes from the fire which was by now extremely hot.

Job done!

Yummy!

With lunch finished Jan tried his hand at binding under John's guidance.

Having decided it was his right leg he valued most, Marcus positioned himself to help Dave - who was wielding his favourite tool - lay the last of the hedge.

The residents of the Wolf Trust looked exceedingly amiable from our side of the fence.

The end was nigh as Dave demonstrated binding to Marcus.

Anna and Jan put a shine on the stakes, sawing off surplus material so they are all the same height above the binding and angled in line with the laid hedge.

Hot embers were almost all that remained of the fire, the brash having been cleared.

Great job!

As the task came to a close the group gathered to watch the final touches.

Brilliant!

Mary suggested a group photo but Alan went for a more informal gathering. Our thanks to all who joined us for the day: Peter, Jan, Marcus, John, Dave, Barry, Mike, Terry, Mike, Anna, Mary and David. Also to Bob who came along but then decided his front door and a tin of paint should have priority.

As John began to offer suggestions as to what others might like to do with Alan's new camera it become clear that our departure was overdue.

Created: Saturday, 8th November 2014
Photographs: Alan Stevens, Mary Wallman