My first visit to Muxton Marshes and we were here for a 2-week stint to do some much needed hedge-laying, thinning and scrub-clearing. Bat-boxes were also to be placed as it's a popular place for these flying rodents particularly the Brown-Eared variety.
The hedge-laying is quite a major task in itself. This hedgerow is around 200 years old and is being laid in order to create a segregated area at strategic times in order to control the horse grazing. 3 Horses and 2 ponies have recently been introduced to the site to help maintain the natural habitat.
Even in the midst of winter it's a fascinating place and when I look around I can imagine in all other seasons the whole area teeming with wildlife especially in the natural swamp alongside the brook. But even in winter the area is a mecca for many species of birds. Within just a few minutes I spotted chaffinch, long-tailed tit, crow, buzzard, dunnock, robin and blackbird.
6 bat boxes were placed in 2 groups of 3 in areas where bats are known to fly and roost
The area (part of which is a SSSI) coupled with the nearby Granville Nature Reserve is one of past coal-mining complete with large spoil mound forming what looks like a natural hillside and now sports fine woodland. Spoil-dumping during it's industrial period hampered drainage creating a natural swamp which is now home to a wide variety of sedges, rushes and grasses with some quite uncommon species such as bristle club-rush (Isolepis setacea), marsh arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) and a species of marsh orchid thought to be Dactylorhiza incarnata.
A fine ancient willow - probably the oldest on site
Close to the foot of the slope grey willow dominates with smaller amounts of crack-willow and alder with bog mosses forming a carpet beneath the willows. Oak and silver birch are prevalent on the slope itself with woodland plants like wood anemone, yellow archangel and dog' s mercury thriving in this fine habitat.
And so to work...
I missed a great photo opportunity on our first visit to the site as we climbed the stile leading to the main site; Alistair slipped on the far step of the stile and performed an almost perfect backward somersault with 2 half-twists landing face up at my feet! Just caught us all by surprise so no pic I'm afraid. Anyway, I'm pleased to report although shaken and stirred he's fit and well and survives until the next trip!
And then along comes Matt...
'I'm not lying down! I fell!'
Matt is a very enthusiast helper and never afraid to ask questions. With us for just 4 weeks work experience he seems to be enjoying 'mucking in' with the rest of us!
And then there's Pete...
Sorry Pete!
No Howler this week but here's the previous winner...
Well done for spotting that I'd renamed the Fly Agaric as Fly Erratic
Penny never fails to supply a fabulous but inadvertent pose
I think that's Alistair with his foot on Pete's back!
I 'saw' it first! No you didn't - I did!
Homeward Bound and the end of another great WuFuV day!Click the collage below to see more pics...
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