It was back to the Edge at Kinver on Sunday as the group turned out to say hello and welcome to new Assistant Ranger Alex. Then it was back up to the Hill Fort to continue the battle to reduce the impact of the spiky gorse on the archaeological site (yes, I can hear you asking – we’ve been there before) but there are still areas to cut back.
Forewarned, most came padded with thick clothing and even thicker gloves – except that was for Gordon and Lisa, who were clearly practising their New Year’s resolutions and cycled to and from the site in winter lycra! The gorse fights a good battle even as it’s dying off dropping the sharp, long brown spines down your neck or inside your gloves. But Ron was soon alerting the visiting public that work was underway, as smoke billowed from the growing flames in the metalled tumbril (which serves to keep the flames off the heathland)
NT’s Alex – an active supervisor – was kept busy all day dragging the chopped stems to the fire as the group felled the shrubby gorse bushes, chatted and caught up after Christmas, as the sun tried to shine to keep us warm.
The cutting and burning was interspersed with cake o’clock where – if I do say so myself – there was high praise for Russell’s homemade mince pies (much to Gordon’s astonishment).
We were doubtless very popular all day (not!), as smoke from the flames drifted towards the main track and the Edge viewpoint. A few site visitors came to ask what was happening, but so far few offered to lend a hand. Where there was no gorse, bracken had made a very successful attempt to get re-established. So all-in-all it was a prickly, scratchy day!
So much so that we left some greenery for Head Ranger Ewan’s weekday volunteers to have another go at from Monday! Nevertheless, Alex seemed confident that we’d made an impression on the site – can you tell from the pic’s, after all it’s all a shrubby green.
Thanks to all for their efforts! Next stop on the SSNTV timeline – Wenlock Edge – likely trees, not gorse this time!
Shropshire and Staffordshire National Trust Volunteers 