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We return to Dunmow Cutting from 9th to 18th March 2010
Every year we return to the cutting to clear the south facing banks of scrub and dog wood. This year we are spending four work parties on this task to ensure the banks are kept clear ready for the wildflowers that will be coming through very soon. On Tuesday 9th the first work party of 11 volunteers and the rangers Tom and Richard arrived to make a start. While William set the fire going with the help of James and Liam, John and Richard were brush cutting the edges of the banks. Andrew and Tom used the long reach hedge trimmers to clear the banks of scrub and Val and Carl climbed the opposite banks to cut out some of the dog wood and willow that had started to grow back. Before long we could see a difference and while Wendy, Pauline, Stan and Jim dragged the tarpaulines full of rakings to the fire the clearance continued on the banks. After lunch the whole team set to raking the banks and burning all the scrub and brush. We will be working here for the next few work parties to try and clear all three banks ready for the wildflowers in the spring. See more information on this important ongoing project "Sites visited Dunmow Cutting"
We arrive at the cutting to start on the first bank and light the fire, Pauline gets ready to rake up the debris and take it to the fire site.
Wendy, Jim and William set about raking the first bank
Carl gets right up the bank to the top to rake it down it is quite steep here
Val is intent on getting the stumps cut right down
Working as a team the group are making a real difference to this bank
At the end of the day there is quite a difference to be seen
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