Mark's Photographs.
Carrie's Photographs.
Reading back through recent GG blog pages, it seems that we have been spending much of our time "pulling up" unwanted species at sites across the Island. This week's session was to follow the same theme with sycamore seedlings and saplings being the target. The beautiful wooded area at this well known nature reserve has many established sycamore trees that, via their "helicopter winged" seeds, make an excellent job of spreading throughout the area. Left to themselves, they would soon overgrow the entire woods - so out task was to remove as many of the young trees as possible.
The better prepared GG members were soon rubbing insect repellant into their skin and pulling socks over trouser bottoms in a vain attempt to stop insect bites before heading into the woods...! With spades, forks and mattocks at the ready Team GG were soon "attacking" the enemy. Sycamore is a little like an iceburg, there might not be much showing at the surface but there is plenty underneath. Chopping the tops off is NOT an option as each branch chopped will grow many more shoots.
By the end of the session there were multiple piles of rooted saplings throughout the area so hopefully we have held back the enemy for another year. This was a hard work session so well done to all those who attended.
Many thanks to Carrie & Mark for the photographs.
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