FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Thursday 9th October 2025

Hello Conservation Volunteers

We had a few different jobs going for our various groups of volunteers for our latest work morning around Forge Dam and Wire Mill Dam.

First up was for a small group to plant meadowsweet and teasels in the wildflower meadow area at Forge Dam. Helena had kindly grown some plants from seedheads collected in the valley and trundled up a wheelbarrow load for planting. With a lot of soft rush growing in the bottom half of the meadow the meadowsweet has been planted in clumps to give it the best chance to establish. The teasels have been planted along the drier edges and should grow well next year. Strangely, the soft rush if viewed from the side are all in nice neat rows as though they have been planted (which they haven't) - very bizarre!

Before joining the other main groups, another group first had a small task to remove some remnants of floating logs spotted in the corner of Forge Dam a few days earlier, but they had drifted out of reach. However, whilst there a shout of "Ahoy down there!" came from the path above from a couple of walkers who said a tree had just fallen across the path. On checking, a large multi trunk small leaved lime tree covered in ivy had fallen and blocked the path but was in scope for cutting up by hand. After collecting bow saws and loppers the team set to work to remove branches and cut the trunks up, before moving them out of the way to restore the path. On the way back brambles growing across the path were trimmed back.

The goit was in dire need of a good clear out after all the recent deluges and our eager goit clearing team were in full swing removing all the branches and debris. With a full dam and water flowing over the spillway there was a really good flow in the goit for Wire Mill Dam. On the far side of the goit the fly agaric fungi was showing off! (see photos)

Over at Wire Mill Dam it was time for a bit of tidy up. The team have removed alder and other plants growing out of the side wall of the dam which needed removing to prevent damage. In the cracks along the dam pathway the grass and weeds have been taken out. To finish off some debris in the dam was removed. It all looks much better!

With Mandy missing Rowena had kindly brought some ginger nuts and chocolate digestive biscuits for the workers. Thanks Rowena!

Many thanks to all the volunteers who came to help on the all the various tasks.

The next work morning is on Tuesday 28th October where we will be in Endcliffe Park. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.

Lyndon

A Selection of photos from the work morning

The fallen small leaved lime blocking the path before clearing

Chris, Mike and Rebecca starting to remove branches

Mike cutting up the multi trunks

An interesting split on a branch as the tree fell

Removing the trunks

All removed and path cleared

Removing grass and weeds on the path edge at Wire Mill Dam

A neat and tidy dam path!

Wire Mill team winding up ready for coffee and biscuits!

Fly agaric on the opposite side of the goit to Wire Mill Dam