It was hard work today, but we made a good start at clearing some of the leaf debris and shale that gets washed into the pond constantly and quickly. We have undertaken this task earlier in the year than previously in an attempt to make the job easier. There was certainly less water to wade through but the mud was very sticky and on more than one occasion we got stuck and had to be dug out. The concrete base was exposed in one spot but we did not manage to clear all the sludge from near the dam wall. We plan to return later in the autumn to have another try.
It was a lovely early autumn day and it was good to bring together some of the Friends of Northcliffe volunteers with the BEES Friday group. The Wild Angelica was in flower, and attracting swarms of insects. This is one of the plants that have benefited from the removal of Himalayan balsam on the hillside.