This month we continued with hedge laying. This involves clearance ahead of the hedge, laying and preparing stakes, foraging for 3 metre binders to secure the hedge and of course laying the hedge.

Another party worked in the cattle field removing a small section of creeping thistles to control the spread. These thistles are a valuable food source to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Many insects feed on the plant, and some songbirds also feed on the thistle seeds. However the cattle don't eat them and if left unchecked they would reduce the grazing.

Our D of E group of young people carried out some planting of whips along the path of the cattle fields and preserving of fence posts.

Finally it remains to be said that the weather was atrocious, ranging between drizzle and heavy downpours. So many thanks to everybody for braving the appalling conditions - Nilesh Dodhia, Mike Lansdown, Phil Gibbs, Christine and Nick Gray, Philip and Julia Davies, Hazel Wickham-Youngs, Peter Ewer, Alex Popple, Mrs Quiroz-Patel, Nicola Pazdzierska, Russell Ball, Nigel Daley, Hattie, Hannah, Stanley and Chaya.

Jack Westbrook