"As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colours enough to paint the beautiful things I see" – Vincent Van Gogh

Late October Autumn sunshine at Morston Pond

With some welcome rain arriving in Morston over the past couple of weeks it was imperative that the team at S.W.A.M.P. got to grips (by way of getting on their hands and knees and bending their backs) to remove as much Crassula as possible while it was within easy reach. This also included burning off the biggest area of roots before the pond's floor became too saturated.

Getting the spadework done

With the low water level, the Crassula creeping up the bank at southern side of the pond could be dug and removed as if it were turf (with the added obstacles of flint!).

Last week's dried Crassula with bags ready to be filled

With piles of Crassula having (hopefully) dried sufficiently over the week, the team set about transferring the invasive aquatic plant into green bags.

More dried Crassula from the north side of the pond

Bagged Crassula ready to be transported to the 'pit'

All the green bags were then wheelbarrowed to the northern end of the pond, where they will be collected by mechanical transporter and sent for burial in the nearby 'pit'. A considerable amount of aquatic plant debris collected over the last couple of weeks, by hand trowel and spade and a good deal of hard work. Splendid effort everyone!

Morston Pond as the sun sets on a lovely Autumn day

As the water level rises with (we hope) the coming rains, the pond should begin to regather its natural beauty, with the amount of Crassula and Parrot's Feather severely diminished from the suffocating levels 3 or 4 years ago! (see pics below for comparison)

Morston Pond 23 October 2022

Morston Pond 27 October 2025