Medway and Coastal Wetlands Volunteering Update - September 2022
Medway Wetlands Update - Rosemary Holden
In August, the Wednesday volunteers had the fun task of digging in solid chalk to replace three fence posts after a tree had fallen on a fence. There was plenty of competition as to who had the best looking hole and who dug their hole the fastest to keep spirits up, although a slice of Karol’s lemon cake helped too. Once the hard part of digging the holes was done, putting the fence back up was quick and easy. I’m sure the trust’s Hebridean sheep are grateful as now they can graze this compartment.
The volunteers have also worked at Holborough, pulling ragwort and goat’s rue. Goat’s rue is a tall invasive shrub that has started to take over one of the fields at Holborough. The ponies don’t eat it as it is unpalatable so they leave it to us to clear it. Although there was the option of using scythes and ragwort forks, hand pulling always becomes the preferred method.
Because of the very hot and dry summer, the majority of the ponds at Peters Pit are now dry, which means cutting the reed in the ponds can be done without waders. However, that can’t be said for the first pond cut, as it was deeper than it looked. The volunteers were able to cut around the edge whilst wearing wellies before admitting defeat and risking overtopping their wellies.
Over the next couple of weeks, the volunteers will work their way around the various ponds at Peters Pit, before moving on to scrub clearance and ride cutting at Holborough and Wouldham.
Swale Volunteer Team Summer 2022 - Nadia Ward
This summer has been hit and miss for the Swale volunteers with task days cancelled due to the hot weather and the warden getting covid! When we have been on task they’ve fixed various damaged gates at Cromer’s Wood and installed new partnership interpretation boards at Oare at the East and West pedestrian entrances. The team have also been systematically finding and clearing the pipe network across Oare Marshes. This coming autumn the team will be working at Oare on the reedbed fields.
A special shout out to the Swale Volunteer Team who won a Marsh Volunteer Award this year, which was collected by two of the volunteers at the Wilder Kent Awards held at Tyland Barn in July. Many congratulations to the Swale volunteers for much deserved recognition of their dedication, knowledge and passion for the Swale reserves over many years and which this award reflects. (They’re still debating what to spend their award funding on, though there’s a rumour of a dedicated tool box..)
Our Wednesday roaming team have been busy working across the Medway sites, and for the Swale warden at Oare replacing ditch fencing and fixing an interpretation board, and spending a very hot day dealing with invasive species such as ragwort and thistle. In autumn the team will be undertaking water vole surveys and ride management across the Swale sites.
