A Year In The Days of Morston Pond
January '24
A rare blue sky in the photo above as the year began with rain, rain and more rain. The pond overflowed and entering the water at any time was deemed impossible (and unsafe).
February '24
There was little sign of the waters subsiding during February.
March '24
High water levels and stunning sunsets were, however, a boon for us amateur photography enthusiasts! Our team at S.W.A.M.P. were still safe on dry land!
April '24
Our first community group venture of '24 was held under blue skies with only a chill wind making it less than a perfect day. However, hot soup and hand-made sausage rolls were the tempting treats on offer once our tasks for the afternoon were complete.
With the pond itself too wet (and therefore too deep) to safely venture into, our exercise was to bundle up all the loose willow which had been cut from the trees back in December. Although we had carefully piled them up at the edge of the pond we had considered using willow bundles to float and capture loose Crassula when we eventually entered the water to begin removing the invasive species.
The willow was carefully sized and placed within stakes to help contain the bundles, before being bound with twine.
The slimmer bundles were then stored within a wooden crate, ready for our Crassula work later in the year.
Thicker and longer willow stems were then stored at the edge of the pond with stakes to keep them safely in position.
A selection of the longer stems were used to build up our dead hedge.
Some of the shorter pieces, together with an old stump, were used to top up our wood pile - a home for mini beasts and bugs.
Ridding the pond of the Crassula and Parrot's Feather was causing a headache, and, given a dry summer, would mean we may lose a considerable amount of water. This, in turn, would mean hardship for the biodiversity in the area.
May '24
Monday 13th May '24 saw a return to our regular Monday evening S.W.A.M.P. working parties, with the emphasis on extending our dead hedge at the northern side of the pond.
Using materials from our previous efforts to clear away debris with some new, sturdy stakes we were able to establish our hedge further, to benefit the biodiversity which inhabits our ponds environment.
The water levels are still too high for us to safely venture into the pond, but we continued to monitor the Crassula and Parrot's Feather and decided to attend to it as soon as was deemed safe.
June '24
On a changeable Sunday morning our intrepid volunteers at S.W.A.M.P. began the not-so inconsiderable task of removing the invasive Parrot's Feather from the deepest (and therefore the most problematic) part of Morston Pond.
A small tender had been secured and together with the requisite safety vests, waders, gloves and no amount of hardy determination we set about floating gently towards the mounds of plant life blighting the pond.
The technique which soon became obvious as the most prudent was for the crew person in the boat to grab an armful of the visibly flowering plant and then be pulled towards shore, dragging the offending weed with them.
The Parrot's Feather was carefully piled up at the pond's edge, to dry, to then be transported (and buried) in our pit. The tender was then carefully washed down so as not to contaminate the storage area.
June '24
S.W.A.M.P. wins The Rivers and Wetlands Award at a special ceremony at The Forum in Norwich.
This award celebrated groups or individuals who have inspired people to connect with their local river and wetland ecosystems. The judges were looking for activities that have helped communities understand the important role of Norfolk’s river catchments in supporting biodiversity - kindly sponsored by Norfolk Rivers Trust. SWAMP was recognised for our creativity and community involvement.
July '24
Would it ever stop raining? Undeterred by the inclement weather our indomitable spirited community volunteers once again climbed into their waders, pulled on long rubber gloves and ventured out into Morston Pond in an effort to rid ourselves of Crassula and Parrot's Feather.
With the water level (thankfully) still high, the tender was used to navigate towards the mounds of Parrot's Feather in the deepest areas. The meticulous and thoughtful use of the tender had the added benefit of not having heavy, wader boots trampling down (and therefore bedding down) Crassula. Otherwise, we used floating buckets to gather and then transport the netted Crassula to the bankside.
August '24
The south end of the pond, which also houses our store, enjoyed a massive clear up on this day. We continued the 'step-down' approach to the northern end as we have been (quietly) celebrating stopping the Crassula spreading upwards.
We also began to weed the Crassula in an arc around the north side - hence the pile drying there!
September '24
We had previously taken good advice on not to disturb any newt population dwelling in 'Parrot's Feather Island' - which had occupied its position in the deepest section of the pond for some time - until September. We decided time was right to attempt removal - which was successfully achieved by dragging the entire mass to the edge of the pond where upon it was cut up, piled high and covered on our draining crates.
We dedicated our efforts by industriously working on eradicating the invasive plant species that has taken root on both the northern and southern banks of the village pond. Our mission has always been not just about removing these intruders, but also about nurturing the native flora and fauna that call this area home. We aim to create a welcoming environment where indigenous plants could thrive once again, reclaiming their rightful place in the natural landscape with our profound commitment to preserving the biodiversity of this precious habitat for generations to come.
October '24
With Autumn rain having landed in Morston it was necessary to once again don waders and head towards deep water, to try to clear a path from the south end to the the northside - taking in the eastern side which we had previously been unable to reach.
After a mammoth removal, it remained essential to net the floating debris, to avoid as much contamination as possible.
November '24
As the nights draw in, earlier starts were the way to go for the S.W.A.M.P. team, getting in the hard work of removing bags of dredged out Crassula and Parrot's Feather before darkness descended on Norfolk.
The final load of bagged invasive species was transported via trailer to our now infamous 'pit' for burial.
Discussions continued as to how we will continue with our long-term project to ensure the beauty of our village pond remains but also how best to manage the environment so that all biodiversity can thrive.
December '24
There's still so much Crassula in the depths of Morston Pond waters - much of it not visible below the surface. Regular attention to removing the invasive species is essential to not only conserve what we have already achieved and maintain the pond's environment but also to prevent the Crassula and Parrot's Feather from overtaking once again.
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