Despite the weather forecast the session started quite warm and sunny with five of us (Alan, Judi, Masha, Mick and Peter)  gathered to fight our way around the tansy plants that grow around the Pond. The wet summer has  led to the Himalayan balsam, great willowherb , cleavers, bindweed and hogweed growing to great heights in the rich soil, shading or pulling down the tansy plants, so the task is to cut them back where they encroach. At the same time yellow and purple loosestrife, for all their prettiness and value for pollination are out-competing the tansy and have had to be removed where a threat to the tansy plants.

Mick went ahead with the scrub cutter to clear the path, that in places was surrounded by vegetation much taller than the workers. Despite it being the end of July a few Tansy Beetles were still visible, including a pair, along with larvae and many of the plants had signs of being eaten.

We just managed to get the Pond area largely complete, along with the cycle track edge as the rain started, so a good session!