The event run by Bolton NEWT today was hedge-laying on New House Farm Playing fields. Simon, Adele, Chris and Jasmine were joined by James, for a little while, Jess, Bev Fletcher and her son. It wasn't as cold as this time last year and the team got straight down to trimming the hedge in the morning so that it could be laid properly.
Adele commented that she felt like she had been dragged through a hedge forwards, after wrestling with the spiky hawthorn bushes. All volunteers were kitted out with thick gloves and eye protectors to prevent injuries from the vicious shrub. The aim of the hedge-laying is to promote new growth in the hedge and to provide flourishing habitats for wildlife, especially nesting for birds. We found two old, redundant nests from last year, which Jasmine has snaffled for an art project. Great to know that the work on the hedge last year, came to fruition. And it also marks nearly a year since Adele joined the team, as it was at the hedge-laying event when she first volunteered with NEWT.
Mushroom soup was warmed on a fire for dinner and then we set to clearing the chopped down branches and twigs, ready for more laying, using the techniques that Chris had demonstrated earlier. Lovely to get out and about, in the open air in the New Year.
We look forward to seeing new and old volunteers at NEWT events this year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR from the team!