These are some of the pictures taken by Wendy Brown during January 2010 of the conservation work that has started on the water meadows. This is the second time the group have met, the first time 18 volunteers turned up. The group is led by Steve Dalliston from the Wensom Valley Trust and he will be helping volunteers turn the water meadows back to the place of beauty and haven for wildlife they should be. So far work has started on removing some of the willow trees which dry the soil and shade the area preventing the growth of some of the flowers and allowing weeds to flourish. The team also collected six sacks of litter, as well as a mattress from the stream. They enjoyed potatoes cooked in the embers of a felled willow trees for lunch. The group will also be undertaking some work on the Rush Meadow and other areas around Dereham that need attention.

The second tree to be removed.

Starting the bonfire.

All the men were supervising the fire!

Soon be ready for the jacket potatoes

The pile of sticks is growing

The tree is getting smaller

Time for a well earned rest, coffee and hot potatoes.

The piles of logs will be kept for a wood burner

The tree has been left like this for now.

Tidying up some prunings from some pollarded willows

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