Thursday 26th - all OK in the South - frog party

Just a few folks around. Visiting couple from Isle of Man very complimentary about the reserve. Not much litter. Adjusted side gate at Durngate entrance.

A frog party (fest, rave, orgy) going on in the pond.

Wednesday 25th February

 Blue sky and sunshine! A peacock butterfly abd two brimstone sunbathing! A red kite flying over northern end. Lots of small birds calling with wrens and great tits in competition for the loudest! Not much litter.

Several people walking round and one gentleman reading your notice Sam - result!

Thursday 19th Work Party

Our work party got through a large chunk of the cut material next to the willow in Swimming Pool Field and burnt through almost all of it!

Weds 11th of Feb Work Party

More cutting of Willow in Swimming pool meadow today. Quite hard to negotiate the dense branches but we made decent progress. A primary school group came through on a walk and I had a nice chat with the kids about what we were up to, they hopefully left less concerned about us cutting trees! 

I hadnt published this correctly it seems.

Less wet!

 Water levels down, & not so much over paths. 3 walkers, 1 runner, no regulars. No litter. Aside from watrrfowl, great tir, blue tit, siskin, robin very much in evidence

Sunday 22nd February

Several runners and some walkers. Most people are doing a detour along the river bank to avoid the pond puddle.

Some logs on the wavy bench at the Durngate end.

Had a nice chat with a gentlemen who was enjoying a morning walk (and the only person appropriately dressed with wellies, coat and brolly!).  Big fan of the reserve.

Flood defences still up in River Park by the art college and school.

Saturday 21st February

Wet, muddy and quiet. Only significant litter around Durngate. One large dog running around off the lead, she took it out when I spoke to her. Red elf cup out but no picture. Stepped into the river to get polystyrene out - I promise it was very shallow.

Thursday 19th

All quiet, Tom and working party burning some willow. No visitors and no litter. Water levels still high very slightly down on last Thursday.n

Wednesday 18th February

 Very quiet - dull and chilly. Still very wet at the pond junction A goldcrest flew down and joined me as I was picking up litter from the brambles by Durngate entrance. 

Met a group of 3 visitors in Swimming Pool Meadow who commented on chopping down the bushes as it was a loss of nesting habitat for small birds. I explained the reason and they then appreciated the work, turning a negative into a positive reaction.

SAM/TOM - I know you are very busy but it would be very useful if a temporary sign could be put up explaining what is happening and why on the reserves with public access. 

Sunny but wet

 After nearly 1 week's worth of rain in 24 hours: loads of water about and flowing - no surprise. Nice job on the cutting back in Swimming Pool Meadow. Lots of birdsong, almost no litter. 1 regular runner. The other 2 have half term child duties. 1 man urinating near telephone pole at Durngate entrance. As there were people around I said "not there, mate". He just stared and silently departed.

Sunday 15th February

 Less water on the paths than last week but still quite wet, especially around the pond junction.

Two walkers with the Wrong Shoes.

Hole in Red Bridge.

Thursday 12th

Water, water everywhere. Breaches along riverside and reedwalk paths several inches deep. Pond path junction more or less completely flooded. 

No visitors, several bits of litter but inaccessible unfortunately. 

Flood defences

 On Park Avenue entrance to North Walls Park. Bound to have an effect on the reserve.

Tuesday 10th feb work party

Hi all,

Our work party team tackled the scrub in swimming pool meadow today and will be back tomorrow. Mixture of pollarding and coppicing as scrub rotational management. Reducing scrub encroachment into the reedbed and providing denser scrub cover for bird nesting oppurtunities.

We will burn on a platform so we dont harm the peat soils below.

Lots of material so lots of burning over the next couple of weeks!

Thanks all,

Sam

Still wet

 And getting deeper. More flows over path as reported by others. Environment Agency levelz are reported steady but at the top of their range. 3 runners, 1 walker, fair amount if birdsong. And actually quite a good sunny morning.

Sunday 8th February

Some walkers, lots of runners.  One maintaining a fast pace and loudly informing people that he would be passing them.  I'm sure he thinks he is polite.

Lots of standing water on the east side.

A bird feeder with fatballs in a tree at ///trickster.storm.painter  I assume the WT didn't put it there.

Friday 6th February

​No visitors on site this morning just lots of birds again and lots of water across the paths. 

Thursday 5th February

All quiet, lots of water. no litter, two bird watchers, two general visitors and one young lad walking with a fishing rod. I let him know that fishing was not allowed, he was very polite about it but I suspect once I'd gone he continued to find somewhere to fish. 

Wednesday 4th February

 Lovely sunny and very mild morning. How lucky am I?!

Lots of bird song and several people out enjoying the reserve. River levels high but not actually overtopping. Lots of puddles especially by the pond junction but manageable to get round.

No litter!

Damp underfoot.

 Much the same as last week. Not much litter but plenty of birdsong. 1 runner. Bit of water over paths. Main channel high - ish

Sunday 1st May

Quiet.  One polite runner, one walker, one family letting their small child balance precariously near the water by the sluice for a photo.