Week 5: 5th - 8th November

Monday

This morning we had our first official introduction with the Reserve Officer, Tom Eyles who explained some of the work we’d be carrying out at Silent Valley over the coming months.  We were also joined by a new trainee, Mickaël.

After this, we had a whole team meeting to keep everyone up to date on plans and events that are coming up over the following month.

In the afternoon we had our first welsh lesson!  The whole team have enrolled on a short course of 10 weeks (split into weekly, 2 hour sessions) to help build our language and communication skills.

Tuesday

We spent the whole day in Silent Valley Nature Reserve carrying out checks of the fence lines running around and through the reserve.  Any repairs that are required were noted along with the location of the repair and a list of equipment needed to carry out each task.  We also cleared a fallen oak tree branch from one of the trails.

Beth clearing fallen oak tree branch.

Wildlife sightings

Buzzard • Blackbird • Raven • Robin • Blue tit • Coal tit • Sparrowhawk • Red Kite (2)

Adult fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Image: ©Andy Sands; naturepl.com

Our wildlife sightings also included a flock of fieldfares.  The fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a winter migrant species, usually arriving in Britain during October and staying until late spring.  They are best seen in the countryside, in fields, and along hedges.  

This is the first sighting this year of a winter migrant species in Silent Valley!

Wednesday

Today we helped out at Magor Marsh again and the day was divided into various different tasks.  Firstly we swept and cleared leaves from the boardwalk leading through the reserve; a pile up of leaves of the boardwalk can make it extremely slippery and become a safety hazard.  After this we searched overgrown, grassy areas for harvest mouse nests as two were discovered a week previous.

After lunch, we helped manage an area of willow re-growth – previously cut trees had begun to sprout new saplings.  Using bow saws and loppers, we cleared the saplings from the area.

Sally sweeping leaves from the boardwalk in Magor Marsh

Beth after sweeping a section of the boardwalk.

Thursday

Today is our weekly office day; spent typing up our blog and putting together background research for the new project.