Well we are almost there. Work in removing the loosestrife should be complete
by this weekend assuming that the rain doesn't get too heavy.

Then the fun begins, literally, there is still a bit of mopping up work to be
done - probably another 4-6 days worth, but that can be carried out in a
relatively piecemeal fashion over the course of the winter.

The important thing is the EXTREMELY HARD and EXHAUSTING work will be over
real soon. After that I think we will draw up a work program detailing all the
little tasks that are required to get the central pond in perfect condition
for the spoon-billed sandpiper that is due to arrive next August. (That's
assuming I manage to catch one and smuggle it through customs)

The regular Thursday and Sunday thing will probably stop soon and work
parties will be scheduled to deal with the tasks at hand. So once more, if
your interested in helping, please email me directly, then we can draw up a
list of volunteers and we can take it from there.


On a side note. There is an amazing flush of green on most of the areas we
have cleared. The remarkable thing is that there is relatively little
loosestrife sprouting. Lots of native species (well as far as I can tell).
These seedlings are sprouting in areas where the loosestrife was most dense,
so the seed must have been dormat in the soil for quite a number of years. I
don't think we spread the seeds, but it is possible.

Stuart - exhausted but happy.
--
Stuart MacKay, Ravenna Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105