Scrub Bashing Starts Again!

Many people are surprised by the number of warblers ringed at Stanford. In part it is due to the enthusiasm of the ringing team, who put in the hours of ringing that produce such valuable data. However, the team also put in many hours of habitat maintenance or scrub bashing as it is locally known, during the winter months. If left unmanaged the wetland area around the reservoir would turn from reeds and bramble to blackthorn and willow and eventually wet woodland would emerge. Many warbler species nest in low level vegetation so, unless woody vegetation is cut back, the numbers of breeding birds here would quickly decline. From January through to early April, instead of ringing, we turn up on a weekend morning armed with loppers, bowsaws and, for those who are licensed to use them, chainsaws, to work on site in anticipation of our summer visitors. 

Saturday started cold and frosty but at 8 am a team of 11 ringers and local volunteers arrived at the railtrack to start work. After a warming cuppa and brief chat, we split into teams to cut back the rampant blackthorn and encroaching willow and hawthorn. The sound of chainsaws soon reverberated around the reservoir. 

Beth suitably attired for hard work. A range of malcontents and recidivists in the background

One team, led by Adam, started a fire with donated cardboard and scavenged ash, which burns well even when green. Others used hand tools to attack the blackthorn.

Thick leather welding gloves are essential for this job to keep out the inch long thorns. Some of us dragged felled branches along the path to feed the fire. It was certainly warm work and good exercise. The fire soon gained enough heat to burn even the wet green willow.

Adam tends to the fire; very welcome on a cold morning

Regular tea breaks kept us going for nearly four hours and by the time we finished we had transformed an area so that that little remained above head height, except a few elegant birch trees.

Weather permitting, we will be repeating this every weekend until April in preparation for the
return of the migrant warblers and a bountiful ringing season in 2023.

Unceasing toil at Stanford!

Do you feel you could work this hard? We are always looking for volunteers to help us, contact details can be found on our website Stanford Ringing Group (stanfordrg.org.uk)

Posted by Kate M