A busy day at the reserve

School visit to GT nature reserve

We set to work clearing the patch of meadow in front of the hut: it usually has a mix of wild flowers to welcome visitors, and that’s what we plan for it this year. We hoed out the weeds, raked out the stones, and sieved the earth to create a smooth seedbed.

Sieving earth for the demonstration wild flower meadow

Being at the front of the reserve, we got to see everyone who came in, and there were plenty of visitors!

Oliver the education officer asks a question. Hands seemed to pop up very quickly.

The reserve has 3 main purposes – to conserve nature, to educate children about nature, and to give the public a place to experience and enjoy nature. It’s a pleasure when all of these can be seen happening at once!

Sawing a board to length for boardwalk
Alexanders, Smyrnium olusatrum, coming speedily into leaf and flower beside the seasonal pond

Spring is rushing along with no time to lose. Areas that were bare a moment ago are covered in fresh green leaves. The water plants seem to be especially quick: the Iris blades are feet high already.

Fresh new Iris shoots in seasonal pond