Spring update
Spring has truly arrived at Mark’s Country Place, bringing the full experience of sunshine, wind, rain and even hail!
With the warmer weather, grass and weeds are growing rapidly, and the trees planted last year are showing plenty of new growth. Even some of those previously chewed back to ground level by rabbits are beginning to shoot again! We have been busy protecting this fresh growth by installing new stakes and tree guards.
Our work day on 31 October was nearly rained out, with overnight rain continuing into the morning. Fortunately, we managed to get an hour of planting done before the rain returned. All the reeds and sedges were successfully planted in part of the wetland area. Many thanks to the volunteers for their efforts. Over the past month, we have also planted more trees, primarily replacing those that were lost previously.
A fair amount of mowing has been done, although there is still more to do before the grass goes to seed! The landscaping work to tidy up and reshape the swales was particularly well timed, being completed just before the rain at the end of October and beginning of November.
A culvert was also installed across the swale that carries overflow water from the wetland. This will make access around the wetland much easier, particularly when the ground is wet. The recent rain provided a good test of the improvements, and it was pleasing to see the upgraded swales managing the flow of water much more effectively.
There is always plenty to do as Mark’s Country Place continues to develop, and opportunities for volunteer assistance are ongoing—particularly as the ground begins to dry out. If you can spare some time to lend a hand, we would love to hear from you!
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