Somervale Sidings Project Starts

The Somervale project is underway!  There were times during the drawn out planning application process when one could be forgiven for fearing this day might never come -  but it has.

The Ecologist supervised vegetation clearance started a week ago.  George Jones is the excellent Ecologist from Johns Associates.  He gave us clear and practical guidance as to how the cut should proceed.  He did not just stand there and supervise and was happy to take a turn on the grass strimmer; even shifting some heavy concrete posts to make sure no reptiles were present. 

Suitable places to install the hibernation structures we are obliged to create were agreed and work on these will commence shortly.

As we have come to expect, our team of volunteers lead by Trevor Hodge did an excellent job to complete the first level cut.  I even took a hand with raking up some of the cut vegetation which I found infinitely more satisfying than trying to get answers from Planning Officers says Roger Burfitt!

The work has since been completed to take the vegetation level down to the floor or ground level.  All work undertaken with George Jones our ecologist present overseeing the strimming activity and getting involved himself.  The details of creating a hibernacular for the invertebrates to live in rather than our undergrowth have been passed across to Trevor. 

We look forward to further progress with this important project.

From left to right the Team – George (the Ecologist) Jim, Phil, Trevor and Adrian.