Out along the boardwalk onto the Moss
We had been vaguely aware for the previous week or so that there was serious digger activity out on the Moss and Dave had given us some basic information regarding this work. So, having picked our day: no wind, sunshine and some free time (you get the drift!), we got our big boots on, big anoraks, big cameras and in the best ‘newshound’ tradition, set forth.
There was still solid ice on the wetlands as there had been several days of hard frost - so there were no wildfowl to disturb and the going underfoot was good. Through the wood, onto the boardwalk and out onto the high moss, which looked splendid in its winter livery with its ochres, umbers, siennas and indigos … yes, I do read The Artist Magazine!
There were five diggers working in relatively close formation - Judith took several long shots of them. Then leaving the boardwalk to negotiate the Moss proper, we approached the diggers timorously … yes, we are well up to date with our Health and Safety procedures! Judith by now was fingering her close-combat camera, so I felt that the time had come to give a friendly wave to the diggermen. Result! One of them stopped, its digger arm high in the air, halfway through a gesture. The engine stopped and the cab door was flung open - a clear invitation for us to come forward and explain ourselves. Hesitant at first but gaining confidence, I pointed to the silver kingfisher badge on my cap and garbled that we helped Norman Holton run the Campfield Marsh Community Blog. Bingo! Our street cred had gone up immediately and the gentlemen’s face broke into a friendly grin. There then followed a good quarter hour conversation: explanations and all the issues of conservation under the sun ... and we all realised that we were singing from the same hymn sheet.
In a nutshell, this was Natural England cooperating with the RSPB in the gigantic project of rewetting the South Solway Mosses. The immediate one being the creation of water retaining bunds of various sizes which would guarantee these internationally valuable ‘Raised Bogs’ for the future. This digger operation represented the ‘heavy’ side of the work. Much previous hand work (scrub clearance and damming) had already been carried out by the Campfield Crew (i.e. Staff and Workparty) over a number of years. With this information firmly under our belts, we were given permission to take further photographs. Not wishing to hold up this important work further we said a friendly goodbye and retreated to the boardwalk - shooting from the hip with the cameras as we headed back to the safety and comforts of home.
On the way, we were entertained by small groups of Barnacles and Pinkfeet circling and crisscrossing the Moss. These were breakaway groups from the main flock which had been disturbed out on the estuary salt marsh by the activities of wildfowlers …the Barnacles and Pinkfeet obviously seeking the sanctuary of the the Campfield Marsh Reserve.
Sad to say wildfowling still continues on the Solway Estuary unabated even in these enlightened days!
Soon some of the diggers were to be seen from the boardwalk.
Work in progress.
Two working in unison.
Corner of one of the bunds being constructed - 10, 20 or 50 metre square bunds are being made for water retention purposes.
Further bund construction work.
Planning markers.
Heavy work, this!
Diggers are working from moveable wooden platforms.
Wooden platform plank being laid ahead to allow digger to move on.
Noticed a long skein of geese flying over the estuary in the direction of Anthorn and Longcroft.
Suddenly skein after skein started to fly over the moss in some disarray. Looked as if they had been disturbed by wildfowlers.
Barnacles flying over us.
Eventually they began to settle back, presumably on a safer part of the estuary.
Settling back down on the estuary beyond.