This post continues on from the earlier one and covers the south bridlepath.

The lack of bridge over the Colebrook cut meant a little excursion on to the reserve. Not overly difficult to achieve as the fencing isn't complete. I also know of a good crossing point. Some areas of the Colebrook cut are still very boggy.

It was nice, however, so see how much vegetation had taken hold.

Fencing continues along the south bridlepath, but once again only along its inside edge. There are quite a few areas of the south bridlepath that could do with fencing on both sides of it, and this is one such place.

Sadly, I did not see any Lapwings as I walked past the sewage works and on to the Yellow bridge. This part of the reserve was heaving with them last year. I cannot say if they bred successfully as I have not been on site since April 6th. Though, two months is more than enough time for incubation, hatching and fledging (i.e. chicks capable of some flight) to occur.

On the other hand, dogs may have put the Lapwings off.

Anyway, fencing continues all the way to the yellow bridge. Here, a five bar and kissing gate combination have been installed to give access to the central path through the site. Only there is no path.

A short way to the east of these gates the fencing comes to an abrupt halt. A small gap, followed by nothing but fence posts. No mesh or top wires. This continues for a number of yards, before completed fencing appears. This continues all the way to an entrance on the east side of the reserve.

One very curious omission I've only just realised. There is no access to the reserve via the Bailey bridge. As the bridge is to remain, and can take vehicles, it does make sense to have a gate here. Vehicles have a long detour to gates on the west and east sides of the reserve.

Near the east entrance is a five bar and kissing gate combination. This is to allow access to a short path or causeway on the east side of the reserve, but only up to a bridge near the MGLG hide. I find this design very, very odd. Also, the path/causeway isn't in place.

I always wondered how the south bridlepath would end at the east side of the reserve. There was an existing foot bridge that went over a ditch. The solution has been to fill in the ditch and extend the bridlepath over it. The foot bridge has been removed. Interesting that Cemex got planning permission to fill in the ditch. WBC tend to be a bit touchy about drainage ditches being filled in.

Of other features like sluice gates, nothing is known. They certainly haven't appeared.

There is a feint possibility that the reserve and PRW will be officially opened this summer, but don't hold your breath.

Well folks, I'm back. I haven't visited the site for weeks. We've been decorating our house. The weather's been foul. Road works require a long detour. The weather's been foul. We went on holiday during May. The weather's been foul. I was informed that fencing would commence in May. The weather's been foul. With many postponements, there was no guarantee that fencing would commence in May.

Did I tell you the weather has been foul?

I emailed a Moor Green Lakes Group member about whether fencing had started. He replied that not only had it started in May, it was quite well advanced.

I made an effort and dragged myself down to Manor farm, yesterday, arriving at 5:30am. The weather was warmish, with no cloud or, more importantly, rain.

This update looks at fencing along the North bridlepath. It appears to have commenced in May and , according to one MGLG, stop-start in nature, with the contractors working part time. Not sure how accurate this is as I know contractors tend to bounce all around the site. They don't seem to start at point A and work their way in a linear fashion to point B.

I am not totally surprised that fencing work was delay so long. The winter storms blew a lot of fencing down, particularly the last one. This meant fencing contractors were in high demand. It took our neighbours ages to get contractors to fix their fence.

Parked my car at the site entrance opposite Dell Road. There's just enough space to park one smallish car here. Clambering over the five bar gate was tricky.

At the end of a path to the north bridle path, was a five bar gate, all alone, by itself. Obviously contractors had installed it in advance of fencing. Various access gates are scattered about the reserve.
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There was no fencing to the MGLG car park. Fencing started on the west side of Hawthorn lake, by the culvert. However, the fencing was only along the 'inside' of the bridlepath i.e. the side bordering the vast bulk of the reserve.

This strategy is sensible, presuming that, where necessary, both sides of the bridlepath will have fencing. Breeding birds need protection from dogs asap. The 'outer' part of the bridlepath can be fenced when the bulk of the reserve has been protected.

I can only assume that both sides of the bridlepaths will be fenced. Whilst the benefits of doing so along some parts of the south bridlepath are dubious where it passes close to the Blackwater valley footpath, it is very important for many parts of the north bridlepath.

There are a few gaps in the completed sections of the north bridlepath. These occur around culverts.

A kissing gate has been installed just to the west of Hawthorn lake. I remember talking to an Inert site manage about this path. He was informed that this path would appear on updated plans he was waiting for. I saw no signs of gravel pathways constructed through the middle of the reserve, so assumed the central footpath would not happen.

Well, it appears this path, along with vehicle access, will occur. Only, there is no gravel. I guess this is on the to do list. There is a huge pile of gravel on Chandlers farm, next to the Bailey bridge.

One major surprise is that a kissing gate has been installed in the northwest corner of the site to give pedestrian access via the Longwater road. Does this mean that the current Longwater road entrance will not be used for pedestrian access? Very strange.

Oh, there still isn't a bridge over the Colebrook cut at the Longwater road entrance. Should be interesting what route will be devised for horse riders to exit the reserve onto the Longwater road.