FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Tuesday 28th July 2026

Lyndon
Aug 6
2 min read

Hello Conservation Volunteers

It was a bit of deja vu for our latest work morning as we were back in the Wet Woodland for a little more balsam pulling, although the weather was slightly cooler than our previous couple of sessions.

Our focus was again on the same area we had targeted last time at the top end of the WW to remove what was left. There were many small plants scattered around, not in flower and more difficult to spot, but our conscientious volunteers spread out looking for any balsam to pull.

Part of the group had exhausted all the balsam around them and made their way over to the Mayfield where we had found gigantic balsam last year and they found plenty again, but probably not as dense as last year. At least these are easier to spot!

Eventually, those in the WW made their way towards the small open glade we had come across on our first foray two sessions ago which was full of balsam and where we had posed for a photo of draped balsam over a tree branch. That balsam was now well dried out and dead, but more balsam had sprung up in the past month with a dense patch nearby. It was interesting to see some healthy thistles with deep purple flowers starting to appear in this area now.

It's not an easy task working in the WW, easy to become disorientated, struggling to get through the undergrowth (as demonstrated by my tumbling over a log backwards, legs up in the air with a pair of loppers in one hand and a white painted cane in the other, struggling to get back up!), so getting out can sometimes mean a few wrong turns. There was a little dissent in the ranks as on making for the higher ground to get out we were blocked by thick undergrowth and had to retrace our steps, but on recognising first some tree trunks and branches we had passed on the way in, and then the feather remains of a pigeon had by some fox or bird of prey maybe (we saw a bird of prey flying out when we entered the WW), we were back on track and at the dam!

Elsewhere, Peter was back with a new hip but wisely chose not to go into the WW and instead cut back the brambles and nettles around the large rhododendron bushes at the top of the park so the children can run around the clump and get into it to play without getting scratched. A worthwhile job.

A big thank you to everybody who came along. Mandy's bakes were also back and very enjoyable. Thanks Mandy.

The next work morning is on Thursday 13th August. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.

Lyndon

A Selection of photos from the work morning

Dried out balsam in the glade...