More Hedge Care at West Beckham Old Allotments

During the day before there was a little bit of a debate whether this work party would go ahead due to winter taking its first real grip in the days before but, true to form, 15 volunteers turned up to see what it was like and at least have a go. We work by the maxim ‘never cancel too soon’ and as a result we were surprised by a chilly and clear morning - just right for getting into some work at West Beckham Old Allotments.

A good turnout means we can get more done, 15 volunteers x 3 hours = 45 hours work in a single morning! And another new volunteer, Jake, who brings our average age down considerably! Welcome, Jake!

The morning's work on the old Hawthorns was a continuation of our previous foray here removing Ivy from the old Hawthorns and cutting sections out of its main growth to minimise regeneration. Further words on this can be found in the blog preceding this.

Jake - hard at work

I spend a lot of time scything during work parties, but this time had a change, and joined in with the Ivy work. Well, it certainly keeps you warm on a cold day. Firstly, battle your way through intransigent brambles and dead Alexander and then couch or kneel to saw through the ivy, only to interestingly find that when you think you have, you haven’t, and so must keep sawing for what seems like ages. Obviously experience in these matters shows when at the end of the session I saw that Nigel and Simon were using kneeling mats - a little crafty that!

Over on the western boundary Ed was completing reducing the height of some of the taller hawthorns to extend their life and improve the quality of the hedge. This reduction we hope will have a spin-off effect by improving the chances of our bird ringer’s success by keeping the hedge at ‘net height’. Vast amount of Ivy and Hawthorne were dragged away to be burnt on another day.

While all this was going on Peter, Maria and Liz and took a look at West Beckham Green to check on things and to bash some bracken there before returning for the usual break and banter.

Bird sightings were a plenty during the morning with Blue. Coal and Great Tits, Red Kite, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Redwing, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, 250 Pink-footed Geese heading north and topped off by a location first, a Cattle Egret flying over seen by Trevor.

Only in the last few minutes did the sky turn black and hail fell - we were very fortunate to get a morning's work done and very pleased we ddin't give up earlier.

Our next work party will be at the Wood Norton site on Thursday December 4th - look out for details later.

Alan Stevens

20th November 2025