Making Ready for Grazing 2015

With January already behind us, work for the early part of 2015 is aimed at completing a programme of fence replacement, tree pollarding and hedge laying. The charity has been fortunate to obtain some funding towards these works under its stewardship agreement for managing the riverside farmland but the programme has to be completed by the spring. Generally where a few fence posts are broken new ones are simply added but the grants provide an opportunity to replace significant stretches of decaying fence lines so the worst of these are being replaced ahead of the new grazing season. Ground condition dictate when these works can be carried out as driving the tractor and other equipment on waterlogged soils is to be avoided as much as possible.

Work which includes ditch and pond clearance in a sympathetic manner to encourage wildlife is being delayed until early March in the hope that ground conditions will be much more suitable for access with a JCB. Last year the programme was largely abandoned as a result of the very wet conditions during February.

For those interested in learning more about the comprehensive management that the charity carries out on the riverside, ably assisted by a crack team of volunteers, there will be an opportunity to come and find out at next month’s Sudbury on Show. Once again, the Sudbury Common Lands Charity, along with a great many other local organisations, will have a stand in the town hall on Saturday 7^th March.