We had a change of plan today. Before we started work we discussed our options, go on to the marsh and carry on from last week, or head to Watermint bridge and build a haystack.

By a democratic process we elected to go to the bridge.

The edges of the bridge aren’t easy to see. It’s possible to stumble over the edge. Guess how I know?

So we cleared the path on the north side of the bridge and raked up the cut grass.

We scythed and hacked the vegetation and piled up what we’d cut.

We then carried it to the bridge and stacked it up on either side of it, filling in the ditch at the same time.

The bridge now passes through the haystack.

We did this for several reasons.

It makes the bridge a bit safer, it isn’t possible to fall off it into the ditch.

It provides somewhere for living things to hide away, and even in times of flood they can move up above the water if that’s what they want.

It helps slow and filter the water coming off the marsh when the levels are low. When the levels are high water will just flow around it.

And it makes good use of all the stuff we cut down whilst looking after the marsh. We’ve opened up some space to plant some willows.

These haystacks and any others we build will be little islands which will provide sanctuary. Hibernating frogs or toads or snakes, even voles and maybe other small mammals could hide away there. When the floodwater recedes they can come out and carry on their lives.

It also means we can see what’s going on. Every time we walk past we can look at them close up and see what we can find, and watch them as they decay. We could even plant willows in them!

But we could also make them much much bigger.

Giant Haystacks!