Back in June, we welcomed pigs to Nashenden! These are Kent Wildlife Trust's first pigs and will help with management of the site by disturbing the ground and enabling a wider assemblage of plants to appear.
As with all of our sites, ash dieback surveys have been taking place, with preparations for works to remove hazardous trees later this year.
Here are some stories from our Sevenoaks Trainees:
Ruth:
Collapsed stock fence at Sevenoaks
Task day at Cowden Pound Pastures, Edenbridge, 19th August 2021. Volunteers carried out general fence maintenance and ragwort pulling, Warden Paul Glanfield and trainee wardens Suzie and Ruth reconstructed stock fencing.
In preparation for livestock grazing at Cowden Pound Pastures, we recently rebuilt the stock fence across the stream at the bottom of the reserve. The task involved removing the old fence which was collapsed and strewn across the stream, salvaging materials to be reused in the new fence. New fence posts were put in as the old ones had rotted. The bank was very soft mud, so it was a slippery, muddy job. Wellies and waders non-optional!
Two new fence posts, cross beams and ‘danglers’ were installed. The ‘danglers’ stop smaller livestock such as sheep, lambs and calves from escaping whilst preventing debris in the stream from building up, causing flooding or pushing the fence over (again), and allowing the stream's water level to fluctuate through the seasons uninhibited. The posts, cross beam and danglers were made out of repurposed hand railings and a disused metal chain. Much of the existing wire netting was still in good condition so was removed from the old rotting fence posts, straightened out and reattached. Repurposing materials, and using natural materials such as wood, as much as possible is important for minimising waste and environmental impact and keeping costs down.
All photos by Ruth Bidgood
Susan:
I am one of the two new Sevenoaks trainee wardens. I started at the beginning of July & do three days a week. I am lucky enough to be mentored by the eternally patient, and perpetually prepared, Paul Glanfield. My partner in crime is peanut butter loving, destroyer of Skunk cabbages, is Ruth Bidgood.
It has only been two months, but already we have experienced a variety of tasks & learning opportunities, with first aid, brush cutter & chainsaw courses all booked for the next few months. I have been part of team 'rake & burn' 'drain dig' & 'fence' but missed the excitingly named 'Thigh Wader' team this time round.
I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to work, with a wonderful group of people. I previously worked in retail & customer service. I gave up full time work & moved back with my mother on the cusp of turning 40 to enable me to do this role, many may have thought (& loudly said) I was mad, maybe I am, but so far, I’m enjoying every minute!