The Marsh is getting progressively soggier. The water courses that run like veins between the River Kennet and the Holy Brook are, if not full, at least wet, and mostly flowing.
They were on their way to drying out in the summer, and we built a dam to hold back the last vestiges of water before it vanished.
The dam was an amazing success, and tadpoles and fish fry survived the drought in the water it held back. At least one Otter, several grass snakes, lots of frogs and toads and lots of dragonflies and many other invertebrates were grateful.
As the waters rose so did the dam, whenever we found a bit where the water went over or round we plugged it.
It’s now getting quite challenging to get to the dam and soon it will be impossible. Without a boat! If we get a lot of rain the whole area will be submerged and inaccessible until the spring. Or it begins to dry out, whenever that might be.
So we paid our last visit of the year, probably, and made the dam higher wider and stronger. Hopefully it will survive the winter and hold back water next year.
It’s almost entirely made from grass and twigs, much how a beaver would build it. We had the benefit of scythes and rakes so it didn’t take us long. Beavers would work all night and all day, busy little beavers.
Whilst we were there we found a Harvest mouse nest.
This is the first one we’ve found in this part of the marsh, and suggests that they are all over it. For such a rare animal this is really exciting.
Once the dam was done we left and came back again the next day to scythe the marsh we’ve been working on for weeks.
One of earth’s many viruses had struck me down, so I was encouraged to rest and take it easy. I sat drinking coffee and watched as others went to work. I could get used to this!
The big haystack got bigger and bigger, as did the area of open marsh as folks scythed and raked and hauled the cut reeds. We disturbed at least 20 Snipe who took off as we approached but I was able to watch them. They didn’t go far and landed in the area we cut the day before. They do seem to like the more open cut areas, but there may be many more hidden away in the parts of the marsh even we can’t reach.
Whilst we were adding the cut reeds to the old haystack some of us actually saw a Harvest mouse. I was unlucky. I’ve never actually seen one. But everyone else has now. A tiny golden ball of fur dashing about in our haystack.
While everyone but me was hard at work I spent a lot of time watching the marsh through my binoculars. We had cleaned the board that had November sightings. So I added everything I could spot to the December tally.
Quite a list for a few hour’s observations.
I also went and checked some of the trail cameras
One day I’ll catch an otter or a beaver. Just foxes and rats this time.
Once the days work was done and the marsh became peaceful once more the Starlings returned and put on a display as the daylight faded.
In a few weeks time we’ll be done with scything and raking and stomping, but we have one massive stomp coming up.
Perhaps we’ll move on to tree planting elsewhere on the marsh.
Or whatever we decide to do next.
Rural Reading 