Some Volunteers Like it Hot

But others don’t, so the afternoon’s labours at East Beckham Common were split between shady and sunny jobs. In the sun were Nick and Alan, scything around the pond and teaching David H how to scythe, Pete R and David H raking, and Peter M offering tender attention to the hedge plants. In the shade were Nigel, trimming the meandering path, and Val, tidying the path near the pond.

It was very hot – the hottest May 1st on record – and we took our break in the dappled shade around the bench in the centre of the common. The break extended a little longer than usual, partly on account of the heat but also because the conversation was so good. Afterwards, some returned to the hot area to complete the tree care begun by Peter M, while others stayed in the shade, trampling Bracken shoots to prevent them dominating the area. Since we cleared the Bracken last year, and removed brambles, the Bluebells have sprung up and they were truly beautiful today.

The chief sign of non-plant life was the swarms of St Mark’s Flies, hovering over the hedgerow near the pond, their long legs dangling. Val told us that they are called St Mark’s flies because they emerge around St Mark’s Day, which is on April 25th. They are also known as Hawthorn Flies.

This rare afternoon work party was a success – an experiment we will probably repeat, but only on a small site, as fewer people tend to turn out in the afternoon. Or is that simply because most volunteers are programmed to keep Thursday mornings free?

Our next work party is at West Beckham Old Allotments, on Thursday May 15th – in the morning.

Peter Maingay

May 1st 2025