Great turn-out for our weekend workday. Tom, Victoria, Tim, Marcus, Aaron and Paul made it to the steps down to the reservoir and we cracked on with replacing the steps that had come loose – which was most of them, to be honest!!
Plenty of thought going into making the steps a bit more permanent.
And a million times better than having to slide down the slope on your backside, like what everyone has had to do for the last decade or so.
Tom and Victoria kept the top of the path litter-free and snipped back any bramble runners trying to fill the void.
There are plenty of wildflowers growing where the scrub and heavy canopy has been pushed back. This is great for wildlife and biodiversity, and the open nature of the path means it is not intimidating and cramped for users.
It’s a known fact that if people cannot see ahead of themselves for a hundred yards or so, they do start to feel apprehensive and worried, so there are many reasons for keeping the path nice and wide, not forgetting the really encouraging sight of the spread of the buttercup meadow, up onto the cleared areas.
It shows what happens when we help to manage the balance with scrub and wildflowers.
Flora and Fauna Spotted:
(If you see any ID errors please shout out)

germander speedwell

Great Burnet

herb bennet

ground ivy

dandelion and Fat Thighed Flower Beetle

buttercup

dove’s-foot crane’s-bill
Plenty of things for people to get excited about on the greenway – walking, cycling, running, photography, wildlife, wildflower ID and recording, picnics, countryside, bug-life, community, working together, coffee and biscuits, exercise and outdoor-life, bats, birds and butterflies.
Come on down and get involved with this community project!
Paul
If I’m ever passing your way I will certainly be stopping by.
Hi Paul,the plant ID’s as Bugle is Ground Ivy,Glechoma hederacea. Crush the leaves and have a sniff. I like it but it’s a bit of a marmite thing. Great early nectar source.
And that’s a Fat Thighed Flower beetle on the dandelion Oedemera nobilis. A male one with the “pantaloons”.
Thank-you 🙂