Seasonal work plans and Summer Walkway update
The Summer Walkway is still open each day until further notice, it is likely to close later this month. Dry path access to the Goose House and seawall but the tidal side of the track to the point is very wet and muddy. Waterproof footwear is needed. The Shepherds Hut Hide has been brought in for the winter. Ground conditions in the fields had become wetter so we had to fetch it in earlier than we would like. A bench has been provided on the seawall.
Upcoming essential management tasks include.
Wednesday 23 October to Thursday 24 October
Work parties at back of the Rushy and in the Swan Pipe. We continue to coppice and pollard willows, prepare the Swan Pipe for winter catches and clear up the last of the cut vegetation. We will still need to check the bubbler system. The bubbler system allows us to keep the water from freezing over completely during cold weather to help the birds in tough times. A check of the Swan Pipe trap gate and re-tension the straining ropes. The trap is used for our scientific research especially in the study and health checks of the Bewick's Swans and Pochard. As it's been a few years we will also tractor flail cut the hedge along the western ditch and fence line at some point, possibly late in the month.
Apologies, this is essential annual work to ensure we deliver lots of birds and good views for the rest of the year and well into 2025.
Hedgerow cutting
Again this is an essential part of the management of the reserve, we have to keep our flight and sight lines open to support the 1000s of wintering waterbirds that visit us. Hedges are typically cut in sections every other year in these areas, inland away from the foreshore and connected wetlands the hedges are managed taller. When tractor flails are on site they will be cutting many areas on the same day so it might mean that the birds will move about the reserve. We don't have a date for this to begin but likely to be late October/early November.
Ditch clearance
The Internal Drainage board will be on site in November into December working on the ditches to ensure that the local villages do not flood.
