FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Thursday 11th December 2025

Lyndon
35 minutes ago
3 min read

Hello Conservation Volunteers

For our final work morning of 2025 we had arranged for the Parks team to bring a flatbed van filled with mulch to be used on the flowerbed opposite the playground. With Andy and Darron helping along with our volunteers, the perennials were first cut back, any remaining buttercups and weeds dug out, and the mulch liberally applied making it look much tidier for the winter.

The flatbed van wasn't just for bringing the mulch though. The area behind the store had over the years turned into a dumping ground and was a right eyesore which needed a good clear out - hence the flat bed! Another group was tasked with pulling all the rubbish out into the loading area ready to be put onto the van when all the mulch had been emptied from it. Some of the stuff must have been there donkey's years - an old iron gate, large lumps of concrete with cut off iron legs (probably from old benches?), wooden bench slats, an old rotten wooden door......and a partridge in a pear tree!

It was all then loaded onto the back of the van (the black plastic grids which were taken up when the cafe outside seating area was replaced with breedon gravel this year were to be collected later). Looking rather like Steptoe's cart, all it then needed was for Darron to take it all away! (We were a little concerned when Darron said he would have to unload it all by himself, considering half a dozen of us had been loading it up, some of which took 2 people to carry!)

The tarmac path above the playground was covered in a thick layer of wet and slippery leaves and needed clearing. John and Tony who had earlier been working on the flowerbed volunteered and set off with brushes and spades. Not content with just clearing that path they were seen later in the morning clearing the path which drops down to the playground. A good job guys.

On the way down to meet in the morning we had spotted a large log floating in the dam so a little distraction from clearing out behind the store was in order for a small group to fish it out and dump it across the desire line in the north-west corner. A dead ash tree in that corner had snapped at ground level and was leaning precariously against a nearby tree so was pulled down for public safety.

Meanwhile Linda was leading a group clearing the old Health Authority path which was also covered in thick, slippery leaves. The team have done an amazing job clearing it (see the photos). (We did hear on the grapevine some workmen were working at the top end of the path and did some clearing too!)

The bad news was that Mandy the Baker who was working on the HA path had the Christmas bakes and wasn't coming to Forge Dam. Fortunately, Linda took on the role of Santa's Little Helper to bring a box full for the Forge Dam volunteer teams. And delicious it was too, a particular favourite for Christmas, crushed mince pie tiffin - thanks Mandy!

All in all, a good session to round off 2025. A big thank you to all the volunteers who have helped throughout the year on various tasks; wildflower seeding in Forge Dam, Bingham and Endcliffe Parks; clearing large leaved avens; clearing the gigantic Himalayan balsam we discovered on the Mayfield; painting railings; clearing ditches, drains and paths; clearing rhododendron and laurel; the odd dead hedge etc.

Thanks also to Ranger Matt, Andy and Darron from Parks, for all their help on the joint projects and in arranging tool drop-offs.

The first work morning of 2026 is on Thursday 8th January. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.

Lyndon

A Selection of photos from the work morning

Finishing off mulching of the flowerbed