Swale Volunteers Update
The Swale Volunteer team enjoyed a summer walk at the end of June taking a circular route from Faversham to our own reserve at South Swale to enjoy walking the reserve as visitors (and checking on our sheep too!). The team spent the rest of July working at Holbeam Banks repairing fencing, scything thistles, building and filling a ragwort bin. The work at Holbeam revealed some pleasant surprises as we found over 40 pyramidal orchids in the lower field, the largest number in several years. The team shifted back to Oare for August, working around the reserve’s many compartments to repair ditch wings and gates (which the cows had helpfully tested out for us..) and undertaking a light cut back paths and Church Road vegetation. Renovations to the former west hide have started, with a look at the base to ensure it is suitable to rebuild a floor and handrail - to be reinstalled this autumn.
Swale Holbeam water butt fencing completed July 2024
Swale team moving gates july 2024
Swale team repair oare ditch wings aug 2024
Swale team summer walk june 2024
Swale team west hide platform renovation aug 2024
Swale vols finish church road aug 2024
Wednesday Roaming Team Update
The Wednesday Roaming team were busy over summer, working across Medway and Swale reserves. For the Swale warden the team scythed bracken on paths and rides at Cromers Wood and started the annual cut back of club rush and reed regrowth in scrapes at Oare Marshes, opening these up to hold more water over winter, as well as scything thistles. The team enjoyed a beautiful summer’s day on their summer outing, a circular walk around Godmersham, enjoying the stunning views in this part of Kent.
At oare marshes
Oare cut
Eloise and John at Oare scything
Godmersham walk