Cawston Greenway

A little late in posting this up but here goes.

Three of us made it. Chris, Aaron and me. We cleared around the picnic clearing and up and down. Loads of brambles starting to grow across the path, despite earlier clearing.

This is kind of how it needs to look. brown path, grass and low plants, longer grass and plants, nettles and a bit of scrub, heavy shrubbery and trees on the edge.

We just need to keep pushing back the outer bits so that the inner bits don’t feel too much like they are on top of us.

Loads of butterflies and bees.

Pushing back the nettles.

We could not decide if these are ant hills or mole hills, but a sure sign that wildlife is happening on the greenway.

Next workday is Monday next week at 9am working on the section from the underpass to the Bear pub. We need to repair the drain and route the path around the wet bits. We will be starting back on weekends soon. Watch this space!!

Paul

Today reminded me of how hard life must of been, pre-industrial revolution. Manually thrashing back the nettles soon brought out blisters and made my arms ache. How people did it in fields to harvest crops from dawn to dusk makes you realise how easy we have it today.

Myself, Mick and Chris today and we cleared the sides of the path between the picnic clearing and new underpass.

Good day today and we avoided the rain, which was a bonus.

Shorter workday next week because I have an appointment late morning, so will be finishing at 10.

Paul

Whoever suggested doing this? Boy, do those stingers know how to fight back! Somehow they found their way up my arms and down my gloves, leaving me tingly at best and itchy at worst, for the rest of the day.

The bare ground should hopefully yield some wild flowers. Just the movement of pulling up the nettles and walking over the ground may well kick-start some dormant seeds into germination.

We are just about finished in this area now. Don’t know if I dare risk trying to burn off the piles of nettles and getting the Fire Brigade out on full alert, again. I will see how dry they look on the next workday.

Next week I think a litter pick might be a good idea. I will bring some black bags and we can start at the underpass and head south. This will also give us a chance to snip back any encroaching undergrowth. Bear in mind that we only have one litter pick stick. I will see if I can acquire a few more during the week.

Next workday Monday 18th May at 9am, as per usual.

Paul

We started burning off the very damp brash that was left over from last week. Just me and Chris today, until we were joined by the Warwickshire Fire Department.

But there was little to worry about. I have been doing this for six or so years..

So yeah, I kinda know what I am doing..

Next workday is Monday 11th May at 9am just looking at the other side of the underpass and seeing if we can cut back a bit.

See you then…

Paul