Can you name this wild flower? Read on to find out.
Wort a luverly bunch!....
There's a section of Catton Park running parallel with the bottom of Oak Lane that we call 'the nuttery'.
In December 2021 we planted lots of young hazel trees, which we've added to over time. However, like the subject of my last post, this too had become overgrown. So it was a case of trawling through the 'jungle' to find the hazels and cut back around them. I managed to strim a pathway through the thicket and had loppers at the ready for the inevitable brambles. Tabby and Chris set to work with shears.
We also coppiced a lot of young elm trees which had sprung up, shutting out the light.
Hopefully, we have given them more space and light in which to continue their development....
....some young hazelnuts are beginning to form (I bet the squirrels are keeping an eye on them)!
It's amazing what you find in the undergrowth....
Tabby certainly enjoyed the trip back to the lodge 😄
July 2025. I've started the month picking wild flowers, but I won't be making any floral arrangements.
Have you guessed it from the photo above?....
....Jacobaea Vulgaris or common Ragwort.
Actually, I've been pulling them up by their roots as it's poisonous to animals. Yes, it's that time of year again as we prepare for the hay baling harvest. I believe our hard work from previous years has so far reduced the abundance of this plant to a few handfuls (down from several barrow loads).
As Matt and Tabby were on a days training course, I also used the time to do a bit more cutting back and litter picking (never short of finding jobs).
The following week it was another hot day at the park. Tabby and I started with some work at the small lodge pond in the picnic area. The display board was past its best, so while I dismantled that, Tabby set about strimming the overgrown bits.
We followed this up by giving the end of the lodge a fresh coat of wood paint.
By jiminy!
I managed to snap this curious little Bush Cricket along the way.
As usual at this time of year, it's a constant battle to keep the nettles and brambles at bay. So, the rest of the day involved keeping the entrances to the west woods clear of the encroaching menaces - not so easy in the heat and full sun (if only we could control the rate of growth 😃).
Another constant battle is keeping Victoria pond clear of litter and debris.
Unfortunately, there are groups of mindless individuals who are hell bent on making as much trouble as possible, to the detriment of this award winning park.
This is what greeted me on my volunteering visit recently! ðŸ˜
Once again, other plans were put on hold in order to deal with this.
Chris donned the waders this time, as Tabby and I assisted in the latest clear-up.
Chris managed to find an ancient computer tower and monitor (what sort of person would go to the trouble of hauling this from wherever, just to chuck it in the pond!).
The final haul of the day, ready for removal.
A whole day spent on the wrong activity, but it shows the dedication needed to maintain this much loved open space.
As a precautionary measure, it was decided to remove as many dead logs and branches from the immediate vicinity that we could find.
A similar sized haul was gathered up and taken back to the works compound.
All the wood was disposed in the incinerator.
With yet another Green Flag Community Award, I am proud to be part of this successful and dedicated team.
I will have more news from behind the scenes in a few weeks time. Hope you can join me.
