This week, work will continue on digging the ditches and bunds, as well as continuing to relocate the existing reeds from the site into the design area. This involves removing a whole clump of reeds and their rhizomes and placing them into the new locations across the site.

Where new ditches have been created, water from the existing ditch has been slowly let into the new ditch to allow for the passage of aquatic animals. Eels, frogs, newts and beetles have all been successfully relocated to some of the new ditches with more relocation work to follow. This existing pond water also contains micro organisms, all of which will help kick-start the ecology of the new reedbed.

Newly excavated ditches have already provided a great food source for birds such as Grey Wagtails, which have been seen regularly during construction, attracted to the insects in the newly uncovered soil. Indeed, a kingfisher has also been regularly seen fishing in the nearby Winterbourne stream and meadow ditches.

Last Sunday, the working group Minders of the Meadowland, moved by hand the remaining spoil in the former sidings area (which is rich in copper and zinc) back into the alluvial area behind the fence.

When the project is complete, there will be an access-for-all path running through and around the reedbed, the focus of which will be a wheelchair accessible pond-dipping platform.

week four -->