Arriving at the office for 9am it was clear the rolling gray clouds overhead where brewing up a special treat for our trip to Shapwick Heath. Following the 30 minute coach trip to the site we where greated by a tractor with a trailer exposed to the increasingly threatening skys as indeed the drizzle started, changing into wellies and coats we piled on for the 10 minute journey onwards to the site and the drizzle turned into rain spirits remained high.
Arriving at the site we had a brief introduction to the portaloo as we walked down through the reserve. With no powerlines crossing and far away from the main road there was little sign of civilization aside from the excited chatter as everyone realised their mobile phones all had excellent signal in the middle of nowhere ! After a final short walk to the area we would be working in the rain had now done its job and everyone was pretty much as wet as they where going to be, at least as wet from rain as they could be anyway.
We where introduced to piles of collected reeds, fire and our tools for the day by Paul the site manager after a safety talk on handling the sithes, rakes and pitchforks in the wet we all made our choice and spread out across the site.
The first to discover how deep the marshland is was a rapidly retreating Paul Rossiter who beared left towards the reedline only to discover the mud was deeper than his wellies.
As the rain continued to lash down filling up gloves, boots, trousers and mp3 players we battled on through with everyone thoroughly enjoying the hard work. Systems and teams started to spring up with a person cutting, someone behind raking the reeds away into a pile then being carried away by a final person weilding a pitchfork.
The first break for tea was welcomed by all as it finally looked like the rain was going to let up. The site managers had put a Saxon style kettle onto one of the reed fires, and even with its damp source it boiled in no time. As people then moved around the site trying different tools it was clear we where making progress.
It was explained to us by clearing the reeds away we ensure they do not naturually die which would fall to the ground drying out the marshland, this would enable the woodland to encrouch loosing the habitate for the species that had made the marshland their home including otters – which despite much hope we failed to witness.
As the Sun finally broke through we where treated to a Rainbow we quickly reached Lunch which was had by most in the hide used by twitchers (birdwatchers). Ready to get on with the afternoon it was clear the morning downpour had drained everyones energy, after a quick get together we agreed a compromise led by Carolyn on continuing for another hour to finish at 3pm. Everyone stepped up to the challange and ensure the hide and site where cleared. Liam and Ashley managed to join together two tunnels that had been dug through the reeds reminisent of the joining of the Channel Tunnel !
Everyone was proud of the work done and the comments by pretty much everyone was that they would love to this again.
Our thanks go out to the Shapwick Heath team for their provision of hot tea and coffee as well as ensuring we where happy with the work we where doing.
And yes we did see some nature:
