"Miscellaneous" ~ Rikki's Winter
During the winter of 2012 Rikki Seddon, a student at Sparsholt College, Hampshire, joined a number of tasks organised by The Conservation Volunteers and CROW. The following are a selection of the photo's Rikki took during that time.
Saturday, 14th January 2012 - Bugs Bottom, Gravel Hill, Emmer Green - Hedgelaying
Volunteers from CROW join those from The Conservation Volunteers to continue laying the hedge at Bugs Bottom on a cold and frosty morning.
Wednesday, 1st February 2012 - Bugs Bottom, Gravel Hill, Emmer Green - Hedgelaying
Another cold day as John tells of the one that got away, a story Phil and Dave have evidently heard before.
Saturday, 11th February 2012 - Furze Platt, Emmer Green - Coppice protection
The Conservation Volunteers task. This was a last minute change of task because of the icy weather.
Without protection the new growth on coppiced hazel stools would be nibbled by deer damaging the re-growth and potentially killing the stools.
Wednesday, 22nd February 2012 - Kings Meadow - Harvesting willow
Job done, lets go!
Sunday, 26th February 2012 - Bugs Bottom, Gravel Hill, Emmer Green - Hedgelaying
A rather belated training day with Clive Leeke, a local hedgelayer.
Wednesday, 29th February 2012 - Rushall Farm, Bradfield - Coppicing and layering
Standing dead wood is an important part of any woodland if biodiversity is to be maintained, and if it does not occur naturally why not create your own?
Use of the billhook has been noted!
Wednesday, 7th March 2012 - Bugs Bottom, Gravel Hill, Emmer Green - Hedgelaying
Saturday, 10th March 2012 - Kings Meadow - Litter picking
Again volunteers from CROW join those from The Conservation Volunteers this time litter picking at Kings Meadow as part of Reading Borough Council's annual RESCUE event (Rivers & Environment Spaces Clean Up Event).
Wednesday, 14th March 2012 - Padworth Common - Clearing fence line
Barbed wire which was part of the original fence and had been hidden by the gorse, had to be removed
Wednesday, 28th March 2012 - Maiden Erlegh - Hedgelaying
On this occasion the hedge was in a far more urban setting.
Wednesday, 4th April 2012 - The Cowsey, Whitley - Glade creation
Wednesday, 11th April 2012 - Bugs Bottom, Gravel Hill, Emmer Green - Hedgelaying
The final hedgelaying task for this winter; from the state of the volunteer wearing the yellow hard hat that's probably just as well.
As this was to be the last work on the hedge until autumn, we concentrated on completing the staking and binding.
Blooming blackthorn!
Our thanks to Rikki for providing these photo's, we wish you all the best with your studies.