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We had 9 workers doing various jobs on the reserve.

They got through a fair bit of work helping to re-chip our parking area, path maintenance, and a bit of wood and log moving. They saved me a lot of work for which I am very grateful, and they were a happy bunch too.


With the help of Conner from the Princes Trust, who made our letter templates, I have started to put up signage around the site. Still a way to go but we have started.



A big thank you to Francis and his team at the BAM construction site in Morpeth for their kind donation of materials. BAM are in the closing stages of building the new Goosehill Primary School next to County Hall.
John B and myself loaded several trailers of bricks and insulation materials that will be used for paths around the classroom and for building hide number 3 on the reserve.

The BAM crew were a very friendly and helpful bunch who took a genuine interest in what we were trying to achieve, thanks again.
Those kind folks at BAM have allowed us several more trips to their site:-

Many thanks again.
We made our final scavenging trip to the BAM school site at the end of last week as the school is due to open next month.
Once again BAM were very generous and we managed to obtain the following kit:-
10 chairs
5 tables
1 desk
3 noticeboards
6 pairs of wellies, one jacket, 2 high viz tabards, 6 pairs of work gloves
1 picnic table
1000 disposable cups
6 tubes of sealant
various signs
various packs of screws
stationary
Large glazed panel
Not a bad haul of goodies, so once again thanks to Francis and his team.
We had our first group of pond dippers on the reserve last week.

Goosehill Nursery sent a class of fourteen (plus three teachers) 4-5 year olds to discover what is in our pond. After a brief tour we tried our hand at pond dipping. The youngsters came down to the pond in pairs and each had a go.
It was great to see the youngsters getting close to nature and maybe sparked an interest in nature too!
Thanks to Holly and her team for bringing the youngsters, who were all very well behaved. We didn’t lose any in the pond, which is always a plus!
I can post some pictures of the beasties we discovered in the small pond:-











This week I have had 3 students from King Edward VI High School for a weeks work experience. I decided to give them a project to plan and execute over the week.
The project I gave them was to make and install gates at two points on the reserves boundary. These will allow us to more easily move materials in and out different parts of the reserve.
Thomas, Jake and Fin, with the supervision of myself and John Bell, managed to produce and install a couple of great looking gates.
After a couple of days work they produced the larger middle gate:-

Then onto the southern gate:-
The finished gate:-

Well done guys a job well done!
My 4th Morpeth Scout friends have been at work this week with three separate visits to work on the nature reserve paths and also to do a bit of nature watching.




I thought I would just post a few pictures of the various youngsters appearing now on the reserve,I hope they are of some interest!













