Inert start on west side of north bridle path. Fill in bits where they extracted gravel. 3rd October 2023

September was one of, if not the, hottest on record. The warmth spilled over into October, meaning Inert could continue to crack on with work. So much is happening so quickly it is hard for me to keep up, especially as I only visit the site once or twice a week. I have to infer what Inert and other contractors have completed through detective work.

One aspect of the bridle path I was reminded of: These will be newly created Public Rights of Way. Brilliant! Long may it last. Unfortunately, it wont put property developers attempting to get their grubby little hands on the site and erect luxury housing. The north part of the site, particularly the grasslands, offer fantastic views of the area, with relatively dry, flood free ground. We need a preservation order and management organisation tout suite to keep the site a nature reserve.

This morning, I spied a digger cutting a trench alongside the Longwater road, starting North of the Colebrook culvert. It had only just started this morning, judging by the piles of spoil alongside it.

Other plant were working on the middle and east sides of the north bridle path, but I couldn't see what they were doing. Too much vegetation in the way. I can't enter the site whilst Inert or other contractors are working.

A blue tractor was sitting, doing nothing, on the north bridle path north of the copse.

A rather large, black, plastic drainage pipe was visible, sat neatly near the boggy area on the north side of the site, north of the copse. It looks long enough to bridge this boggy area, and provide a nice base for the bridle path to cross it. A couple of birders told me they watched the pipes being transported across the site.

I was able to spot, from the Bailey bridge, that Inert have infill a part of the hole they extracted gravel from.

What did surprise me was that a big mower had been taken to all of the west side of  Manor farm, basically where the once mighty Finch pond once stood. It's brilliant, as the area was getting overgrown, especially with trees like Willow and shrubs like gorse. Trouble is, the willow and gorse and birch (if any) will grow back rapidly unless their roots are either dug out or killed off. Been here when volunteering with MGLG.

Photos to follow, as it's back to sanding the banisters for a bit.

Last set of spindles sanded. Banisters washed down to get rid of dust, and now await onerous task of painting gloss white. I hate painting spindles.