Pump back on. More stuff delivered to Chandlers farm. Greening up special. 11th August 2019

Inert are still staying off Manor farm. It will take a couple or three weeks for the pump to get water levels down to safe depths for the plant to operate on the site. Looks like Manor farm will not be completed this year.

I think the last time I stomped around the west side of Manor farm was about the beginning of December 2018. Partly as restoration had shifted to Cormorant lake (south) and partly because of the breeding season from April this year.

Well, I decided to revisit Manor farm west to show how quickly the area greens up, without any human intervention.

Was I in for a nasty surprise. The abundant rainfall and reasonable temperatures has caused nettles, brambles and thistles to grow to crazy heights. I would normally clamber up the west embankment at the Longwater road entrance, then stroll along said embankment taking photos. Not today, I didn't.

Yes I fought my way up, though brambles 15' (5m) long, and nettles and thistles over 2m high. I managed some photos from the south end of the west embankment, but made my way down gingerly. For why? From what I could see, I would have to fight my way through dense thistles, nettles and brambles, taller than me, all the way to the north embankment.

I chose to walk along the former shore of Finch pond, which had nothing more nasty than daisies and Oxford ragwort.

However, I did have to fight my way through nettles and thistles over 2m tall along half the north embankment. It took me some 8 to 10 minutes to battle my way some 50m through this stuff. I'd normally stroll that distance in about 40 seconds. Thankfully I had elected to wear my wellies and a heavy duty fleece.  Unfortunately, I was wearing summer weight walking trousers. Thistles had no trouble getting through these, while the odd old nettles managed also to get through the thin material.

Luckily, from about halfway east along the north embankment the thistles dissipated, the nettles only came knee or chest high, and from about three quarters of the way east, I had nice grass.  The ridge was covered in nettles, over 2m high in places, but no where near as thick or dense as on the west side of the north embankment.

I pity any surveyor who has to make their way along the north embankment to check on restoration progress.

Now, it may take a bit of time to update this posting, as I have many before greening and after greening photos to post.  The before greening photos mostly come from 10th November 2018.

Perversely, I have put the after image before the before image. Sorry about that, but it was the after images I started with, and so have to try and find the before images.  Just use your imagination.

Firstly, some photos of the nasty stuff I had to fight my way through. The camera was held at head height.

3-Nov-2018

East from Longwater road entrance

20-Oct-2018

South south east from Longwater road entrance.

27-Oct-2018

North north east from west embankment next to Longwater road entrance.

East from west embankment next to Longwater road entrance.

South from west embankment next to Longwater road entrance. I'll try and find a better 'before' image that is more south facing.

North from along side west embankment next to Longwater road entrance.

13-Oct-2018

East south east from west end of north embankment

6-10-2018

South from west end of north embankment.

South east from midway along North embankment

South from midway along north embankment

South west from midway along north embankment

West from midway along north embankment

South east from 3/4 way along north embankment

South from 3/4 way along north embankment

South west from 3/4 way along north embankment

South from up against the ridge

South west from up against the ridge

East over Cormorant lake (north) from the south end of the ridge

South from the south end of the ridge over channel to 'land mass' aka previous infill of Cormorant lake (south)

South west from the south end of the ridge over what is left of Finch pond.

3-Nov-2018

Sort of west north west from south end of ridge

---

North back along the ridge. Yes, those nettles are taller than me.

Although green, the plants are quite sparse on the infill of Finch pond. The nettles and thistles haven't had a time to get established.

South to the copse from the new east shore of Finch pond

West over what is left of Finch pond from the middle of the new north shore of Finch pond.

17-Nov-2018

North west over the infill from the middle of the new north shore of Finch pond.

East over infill and what is left of Finch pond from the new west shore of Finch pond. Note, I've put the same before image in as it covers both the after images.

South east over infill and what is left of Finch pond from the new west shore of Finch pond. Note, I've put the same before image in as it covers both the after images.

20-Oct-2018

South over infill and what is left of Finch pond from the new west shore of Finch pond

I'm not entirely sure I photographed these lumps of concrete. Anyway they were always just inside the Longwater road entrance. I always wondered what it was - and still do.