Polmaily Scrub Clearance Work Party - September 14th 2019

BC Highland Branch members returned to Polmaily, near Drumnadrochit, for another session of habitat management work to benefit Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Dingy Skipper.  After missing a year in 2018, while Forestry Commission were extracting timber, there was a little catching up to do.

Disappointingly, only six people turned out for this event, which is usually the highlight of Highland Branch’s calendar!  Where were all you others?  Sure enough, the weather forecast had been gloomy – the tail end of Hurricane Dorian hitting the Highlands – but it wasn’t that bad, with only a little drizzle and a mild wind, albeit gusty.  Oh well, all the more cake for the select few of us who turned up.  And, was the cake good this year, but more of that later . . .

Tom, Brigid and Rob tackling the invasive gorse with Tree Poppers.

The first part of the track up from the turning circle was looking good – only scattered small sprigs of gorse to pull up and a few tiny birch and pine seedlings.  We made fast progress before lunch.  Then we hit a denser patch of gorse regeneration and progress was slow.  We could have done with more volunteers, especially young fit ones!  Or even just fit ones – never mind the young bit.  That’s not to say we weren’t fit, of course.  The fact that regular groans were being emitted, the reference to acid reflux on bending over after lunch, and “I can’t see that without my glasses” were just part of the banter . . .

Down tools for lunch

Work continued down from the turning circle, as well, and a good job was done by everyone, fuelled by cups of tea and pieces of cake.  Talking of which, this year’s entries were:

Coffee walnut cake, made by Dot.

Orange upside-down cake, made by Brigid.

Lemon drizzle cake, made by Tom (he was obviously expecting more people to turn up, judging by the amount he’d made).

Milk chocolate crunchies, made by Hilary.

As always, impossible to pick just one!  All that can be said is, you should have been there to judge for yourselves . . . maybe next year?

Brigid, Hilary, Tom, Ron, Dot and Rob - definitely quality not quantity!

Most importantly, the cakes!