Week 2: 15th - 18th October

Monday

We spent the start of the week up at Silent Valley.  The set of steps leading from the yellow trail to the blue trail required maintenance due to flooding from water running down the hillside into the stream at the valley bottom.  We decided that the best solution would be to dig a small trench alongside the steps to divert the water away from the public footpath.

Before commencing we carried out a risk assessment – risks included slipping in the mud on the edges of the steps, possibility of loose dead branches (as we were working under beech trees), and injuries from shovels.

After the risk assessment we began by visually planning the layout of the trench and cleared the area of debris such as broken branches and rocks.  Starting at the highest point of the steps, we began with one of us churning and loosening the mud, while the other cleared the loose mud.  After the trench had been completely dug out, we lined the sloping sides with flat rocks to prevent the mud collapsing in on the trench during bad weather. 

Wildlife Sightings

Robin • Blackbird • Blue Tit • Great Tit • Nuthatch • Raven • Jay • Buzzard • Great Spotted Woodpecker • Grey Squirrel

Before

During

After

Tuesday

Today we spent the day helping out at Solutia Meadows Reserve on the Gwent Levels. The reserve is roughly 36 hectares consisting of grazing marsh/hay meadows, crossed by a system of reens and grips (drainage features). The management regime at Solutia involves an annual hay cut and low intensity sheep grazing – resulting in the grass lands slowly becoming species rich.

We worked alongside volunteers from the ‘Kaleidoscope Project’ in Newport, spreading previously cut hay containing wildflower seeds over two newly acquired fields to produce new grassland habitat for the reserve.  The production of this new habitat is important as hay meadows have reduced by approximately 97% since WWII. This reduction was due to increased nutrients in the soil as a result of increased use of fertiliser – hay meadows don’t require high nutrient levels.

Beth spreading wildflower seeds, Solutia Meadows

Wednesday

Spending the day at Magor Marsh reserve, near Newport, we helped out alongside a team of regular volunteers with a relatively new project. 

At approximately 36+ hectares, Magor Marsh is the last relatively natural area of fenland on the Gwent Levels.  The reserve holds a special place in the Trust’s history as in 1963 threats to this area of wetland were felt so strongly by a groups of naturalists that they joined together and formed what is now Gwent Wildlife Trust.  Management of the reserve incorporates multiple techniques including the use of ponies and sheep to graze the area.

We worked in an area of recently purchased land, helping to clear land alongside a public road so that a new fence-line could be built.  The clearing involved brush-cutting brambles and felling willow trees.  The willow trees then had to be cut up into smaller lengths to be placed on a controlled fire.  Burning the willow trees was important as this species is able to regrow from any reasonable size cutting.  Before we began with the cutting and burning, we were given a health and safety talk.

Burning willow, Magor Marsh

Sally chopping willow branches ready for burning

Thursday

Today we spent our day individually...

Beth:  I spent my day completing a First Aid Training course with the British Red Cross.  I learnt how to place someone in the recovery position, correctly apply bandages and slings, perform CPR, and how to address situations including shock, heart attacks, and stroke.

Sally:  The same as the previous week, I spent the day coppicing in Croes-Robert Wood alongside a small group of volunteers.  I was made aware of health and safety and correct tool use while felling trees.