Sun 6th July

Muggy morning followed by a short downpour at noon, lovely warm rain.

Duck parade on red hole stream, I counted 31 total in the group!

Roe enjoying the foliage by the glade. 

Strimmed the glade so it's easier to litter pick and more inviting to visitors, immediately after I finished a family began exploring it which felt wonderful.

Very peaceful site today, only a couple of runners and no dogs/cyclists/swimmers. 

Sat 5th July

Super quiet and clean today, thank you litter pickers! Had a good cut back of overhanging branches/brambles today.

Sluice has been cleared of debris that was placed there by who knows, I've been advised that the sluice should remain open. 

The bane of gardeners but beautiful when wild, purple loosestrife is blooming.

Swans were back at pond crossroads and the greylag were back at the top loop but ran off before I could get a photo. 

Saturday 5th July

Is the dismantling of the sluice at the paddling stream legit? Stones were scattered around the bench so I wondered....

Exceptionally quiet this morning, low level litter, sorry to see Joey found needles yesterday.

Lovely to see the knapweed on the glade.

Fri 4th July

Started with a clear up of durngate, which had plenty of bottles and butts. Some needles and syringes found in the woods behind the durngate bench.

Shopping bag full of litter in the glade and bits about the rest of the reserve as well. 

Wonderfully fresh new species board for the month. I've started things off with a few birds and butterflies. 

Taped up the flimsy board on red hole bridge, hopefully should keep it from getting flimsier. 

Swans back at the pond crossroads again, cygnets are looking healthy. 

Cut down some overhanging branches as well, but doing a good cut back tomorrow. 

Thursday 3rd july

Quite a lot of litter this morning,  sadly I only had one bag so couldn't collect it all.

Still quite a bit top of swimming pool loup under the crazy tree. Hopefully someone can collect the rest asap. 

No other issues 

Thursday 3rd July

Quiet, just a few folks, no photographers or runners. Most of the reserve fairly litter free but a mess under the trees near the barrier into no-man’s land including a full size inflatable mattress, swimming shorts and bottles. Water sports, or what …

Maintenance: one board on the little bridge over Red Hole stream needs replacing soon. A roll of wire has “reappeared” in the swim trespass area (from where it disappeared a few months ago). And a lady complained about arriving at the Rec bridge only to find it shut - I explained, emphasised even, that it was the Council’s responsibility, but it might be an idea to put up a notice at the Durngate entrance.

Weak board on Red Hole stream bridge

Role of wire has reappeared

Wednesday 2nd July

 Very quiet. Sorry for late posting.