Still no dozer, work proceeds slowly 30th September 2018

A Wednesday morning visit to the works was somewhat quiet. There were a couple of contractors working on Fleet Hill farm, just north of the Longwater road entrance, mowing and strimming around the saplings.  I took a look down a few of the protective plastic tubes on my Saturday visit. Most of the saplings do not appear to have survived the drought.

It's hard to tell as I am not an expert. Some appeared to have fat buds, but no leaves. Others did thrive and have branches growing out the top of the tubes. Others looked distinctly dead. However, I have had saplings in plant pots that I thought were gonners only to be surprised in spring when the burst into life.

Judging by the number of empty tubes in the bank of trees planted some years ago along the Longwater road, I'd say the death rate for saplings is quite high.

Hopping over the Longwater toad to Manor farm revealed a peaceful scene. A blue digger was resting by the former west shore of Finch pond, while a grab loader was serenely dropping a load of spoil next to it. I might have arrive at the works at early morning tea break.  Later on a couple of John Stacey lorries and some further grab loaders trundled by. Nothing like the armada I have seen before.

That restoration work has proceeded this week, though at a sedate pace, is evident. Piles of spoil have been scrapped into the depressed area and around the south shore of Finch pond. Other piles have appeared, and the huge pile in the north west corner of Manor farm has grown slightly. You'd have to compare photos to gain a proper appreciation of any work.

However, Saturday morning was misty and foggy. The fog would clear slightly to mist, only to regather itself and obscure everything.

The pump was quiet again, though water levels remain low, despite the recent rain. My nemesis (mud) was conspicuously absent, with the ground being rock hard, especially on the infill due to the heavy plant trundling on it.

Some 'arty' shots for you. There appeared to be little wildlife around. This might be due more to not being able to see them with all the fog and mist around. Even so, Cormorant lakes north and south, which normally teems with wild fowl, were remarkably empty.  There were a fair number of Egyptian geese around Cormorant lake south. They took off west, in dribs and drabs, to their feeding grounds in the west.