An enormous thank you to the 14 enthusiastic souls who came to our Sunday volunteers’ work “taster day” and made it such a success.
Zoe hard at work
We spent the time clearing an area of overgrown vegetation at the south-west corner of Flasks Lake. Hard, honest endeavour which was certainly appreciated by LUCT as we seek to re-introduce bog-loving plants which were once common to the area.
What was especially pleasing was the number of new faces who appeared ....and younger ones too! People like Kerry and Guy who travelled from Easingwold for the day. They love wildlife, have been to Nosterfield before to appreciate our 250-acre reserve and this was their opportunity to give something back.
During a break from pulling up dead stalks of rose bay willow herb, Kerry said she delighted in being outdoors on what was a cracking day weather-wise; far better than a windowless laboratory where she spends her time Monday to Friday.
Others came from Ripon, Brompton, Wensleydale and Swaledale. We have a hard core of volunteers who turn up on Tuesdays and Fridays, but this was an opportunity for people who work full-time on those days to lend a hand, when they have time to do so.
We will organise further weekend volunteer working days in 2018 and what we will try to do is to invite the same group back when it comes to planting up the area they helped clear on the last Sunday in October. What could be better than to enjoy the positive, constructive side of conservation work and not just the initial clearing of an area?
Many thanks, once again, to all of you who turned up.