Fourteen Stalwarts all in a Row

On the morning of June 5th, 14 stalwart volunteers assembled at the Sustead complex to begin preparations for that most important day 72 hours later - the BioBlitz. Anticipating hordes of fascinated members of the public the following Sunday, we set about scything, raking, clipping and trimming so that the access pathways all around the complex were free and safe.

An easy, energetic, start. In the middle of Spurrell’s Wood it was a different matter. Meandering trails laid out for species recorders had not been used much this Spring, so clearing them relied on finding the lines of fallen wood that had been placed as guides either side of them. Easy, except where the spring gales had festooned the woodland floor with branches! Nevertheless, we persevered with the Nettle-hacking, usually following the correct path, occasionally corrected by the Boss.

Once again, doughnuts were a welcome addition to our own coffee when we took a short break in the middle of the morning; that, plus the conversations, rejuvenated us for another hour and a half’s hard work. By the time we finished the paths and the square where the gazebo would be erected, the birdsong as well as the organisers told us we’d all done a good job. We were all in a row (or so it seemed) along the main pathway into Spurrell’s Wood early on, and we were all ready to relax by the end.

David Harper

June 5th 2025