The Azerley estate was the venue for this week's task. 14 intrepid NCV explorers set off in search of one of our favourite plants, Himalayan Balsam.
If you are wondering why we need to pull up balsam then find out more by clicking HERE. People say that although it blankets out other plants it is good for the bees. Whilst it is the case that bees do enjoy its flowers its presence stops them from visiting our own native species, which are then at a second disadvantage. It's no good - IT HAS TO GO!!!
Balsam is easy to identify even without its pink
flowers so, if you ever see a plant like this, pull it up!
It wasn't long before we were fighting our way through the forest of balsam intermingled with equally huge nettles and blankets of cleavers.
Can you spot the NCVs amongst the balsam?
There you are Dave! We wondered where you'd got to.
Melissa got lost in the jungle...
...so everyone got searching for her.
Balsam got piled up and up, VERY HIGH.
We're a tough bunch and although our arms and, in some cases, legs tingled with nettle stings we battled on knowing that a sumptuous lunch of pheasant sausages awaited us. Our thanks go to Kevin Birch, the game keeper, and his wife Emma. Very delicious sausages they are too. Thanks also to Audrey for yet another tin of her world famous flapjack.
Knees under the table for a sausage butty.
Has Kath sprouted some antlers or
is it a new hat she's bought for Royal Ascot?
Kevin showed us some of the items in the game keeper's freezer.
A white pheasant (left), a mink and a stoat in its winter coat (right).
By the end of the day we had cleared a enormous area and were allowed to go home.
Before...
...and after.
Anita
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