On Tuesday 1st July Rawcliffe Meadows played host to a group of students from Bootham School who we helping us as a part of the whole school’s day of volunteering.

The group, having walked along the River Ouse to us, were given a brief, informal introduction to the site, its importance as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Tansy Beetle population. The boys soon got to see and hold the beetles, and were fascinated by their colour, behaviour and life style.

They then initially helped with raking off and removing some rank hay that we’d been desperate to get off, before heading to the banks of the Blue Beck to do what they’d been looking forward to – bashing the Himalayan Balsam, whilst trying to avoid the tansy plants. They soon learned to recognize the balsam from the other plants and pulled it out energetically!

Our thanks go to the students and staff of Bootham School – they’re welcome back anytime.