If the Marshian way is to work, it needs a bridge.

At the end of the bit we made a month ago is a ditch with deep mud. It’s almost waist deep, and the mud is really thick.

An obstacle to be overcome.

We needed a bridge. Our plan was to build one out of willow.

We gathered in dribs and drabs, some old Marshians and some very new, some who had only seen a handful of springs. Just as we gathered we had a visit from a Marsh Harrier, surely an Avian blessing.

After a while we set to work. We had a bit of string a pocket knife and a saw.

We set off across the marsh with some willow branches

And laid them over the ditch.

We kept adding willow, some long thin flexible shoots woven into the twigs cut from the long branches.

Soon it was strong enough to support the smaller Marshians and they all disappeared into the part of the marsh that has been inaccessible for years. They explored and discovered great beds of water mint and thus the bridge was christened.

They also found a leech and several little beetles and we were visited by a lot of hoverflies who seemed very interested in our work.

Two weeks ago I put these twigs into water in a ditch and took them out today to plant, and they’ve already started to grow roots.

By the time we left the bridge was strong enough for heavier folk.

In the next few weeks all that willow will root, get stronger, send up shoots and become Watermint bridge, full of living things.

And the Marshian way will be a step closer.