The Sustead Sixteen

Surprisingly wet to begin with, the morning slowly improved until we ended in sunshine, but with a chilly wind. Sixteen of us received instructions and marched off in different directions: a fair number, armed with scythes and rakes, descended on the Common and the Surveyor’s Allotment to give them their April trim, but were surprised to find less growth than expected. After the coffee break, they moved across to Spurrell’s Wood to scythe small areas there.

At the start of the morning, Bev set to sorting out the Surveyor’s Allotment bird feeders, one having recently been demolished by over-eager squirrels, resulting in an easier to reach feeder – and, possibly, less squirrel vandalism, though we doubt that! Also, on the Allotment, David H, our resident limnologist, donned wellies and took to the scrape, wielding a Secchi disc (see the upcoming April newsletter for more detail) to ascertain the transparency and colour of the water as well as the pond’s depth. His fascinating findings as to what is in our various areas of water on the Sustead sites will be revealed in the newsletter.

David Pond Dipping

Meanwhile, on the other side of the road, in Spurrell’s Wood, Stu, Bev, Jan (welcome, new volunteer!) and Peter moved on to both coppicing a couple of hazels and building another Honeysuckle tripod. This structure, made of three forked lengths of branch, allows Honeysuckle – of which there is a great deal on the northern path – to grow up and out.  Whilst working on this, Stu’s birding expertise enabled us to see or hear two Blackcap, a Goldfinch, four Robins, a Long-tailed tit, a Great Tit and a pair of Blue Tits entering and leaving a nearby nest box.

Honeysuckle Tripod

And, finally … Trevor dashed off to Gressenhall to collect a hundred whips donated to Felbeck Trust, and took them back to WBOA where Sean and Elizabeth were waiting to help heel them in.

Thank you, all, for coming. Our next work party will be in the Beckhams (meet at West Beckham Old Allotments) on Thursday April 16th.

P.S. For the first time, a post-work-party pub lunch took place at the Cricketers on the Green in Aldborough. Eight of us went and enjoyed very good food. This will be an occasional event, open to anybody who attends the preceding work party.

Peter Maingay

April 2nd 2026