I can’t believe that spring has ended and summer has arrived. I hope that you have all had a wonderful spring and look Forward to summer (lets hope it’s not too hot and dry). l have noticed that the birds in my garden all seem to have done well this spring with good numbers of fIedglings around. l don’t know how many of you took part in the ‘Make Your Nature Count` week from the 8 to I4 June but I was cheered by the birds, bees and butterflies in my garden.

We have carried out two more successful outdoor events, namely Hempstead Village Fete and The Friends of Broomhill Park Open Day. Although we did not manage to recruit any new members we were able to engage with the local communities and especially with the children aud, hopefully, raise awareness of the RSPB and its work.

Many thanks go to Des and Carol for organising and running both events. The next event for our group is Riverside Countryside Fayre on the 12 July.

Did you ever have one of those days!? Well Alan Johnson the RSPB North Kent Marshes Reserves Manger did on 18 June when he met with the group leaders of Medway and Bexley. Every few months Alan meets up with the group leaders to keep them informed of any developments of interest in the North Kent Marshes Reserves. This time the visit was going to be a preliminary look at the new car park at the Cliffe reserve and then a comparison look at grazing marshes, one at Shorne and the other at the eastern boundary of Northward Hill.

First we visited Shorne and Alan enthused on the success of the Shorne project and was able to announce that both lapwings and redshank breeding numbers had been significantly increased since the acquisition and its development back to grazing marsh. He told us that the short time taken to arrive at this stage was due to the fact that Shorne had been a grazing marsh in the past and therefore the foundations were there to return it to that status. However, he wanted to demonstrate that if an area had never been a grazing marsh it could not be turned into one easily. He wanted to show us the area to the east of Northwarcl Hill that they have been trying to convert to grazing marsh.

On the way we visited Cliffe to look at the work on the new car park which is going to be officially opened on the 5 August. The car park looks very smart although there are some nagging items that need addressing. Alan seemed hopeful that toilets and a small visitor centre were still on the cards, so watch this space.

To finish our visit Alan took us to look at the field that was being developed for grazing marsh to explain the problems in achieving this and the time it takes. The land is accessed at the end of a remote lane through a padlocked gate. lt was a beautiful spot with just one lone cottage at the entrance to the track, which apparently was once the RSPB warden`s cottage. The padlock to the gate was one that the emergency services have keys to as well as the RSPB and the neighbouring land-owner. Anyway the gate was unlocked and we passed through and it was carefully locked behind us.

The field Alan showed was quite delightful but he explained that they had been trying to convert the area to grazing marsh liar the past 18 years and although the field was full of wonderful grasses and wild flowers it was not the grazing marsh they had hoped for.

The structure of the ground has not developed enough to support the necessary invertebrates. It consists of a thin layer of topsoil and then clay. They are now thinking that they will have to plough through the ground to break up the clay.

Time was pressing on and we all climbed back into the truck and headed off to Bromhey Farm. This is where the fun started! When we got to the gate Alan jumped out to unlock the gate and we chatted about the day. After several minutes had passed we noticed Alan seemed to be having a spot of bother unlocking the gate! We all got out to see what the problem was. The key wasn’t working. It got us in but it wasn’t going to let us out! Des Felix now tried! That lock was wiggled waggled and knocked but to no avail! We were not getting out of that gate!

Un-phased by this Alan said that we would make the journey back across the reserve Safari style. After Alan called the office to equate them with the situation we set off to drive back across country. It was great to view the reserve from the four-wheel-drive vehicle and the grass in some places was as high as the cab but Alan was very careful to make sure we didn’t end up in a ditch, We crisscrossed our way back and were making good time when we came across some soft ground, well actually it was very soft ground and we got stuck. Alan did all the clever things that you do get out of mud, high gear, rocking - but the more we moved the deeper we sank.

Optimistically. we decided that we would leave the vehicle and walk back the remainder of the way. It would only take about 30mins or so. So off we set. A pleasant walk back and Des and I fell back a little as we did some sneaky bird watching. Alan and the group leader from Bexley walked on ahead. We noted that they had stopped at the gate ahead of us and I guessed they were waiting for us to catch up but they were gazing at the field of cattle! Unfortunately it did not only contain cows but a BULL as well. And by Alan’s account the farmer said that he had a bull that was not at all friendly to people when he was with his ladies!

None of us were up to the challenge of trying to out run a bull, so we said we would have to divert and walk the long way round! We were beginning to think that perhaps things were not going our way when there, in the distance, we saw the cavalry coming to rescue us! Well it was Sarah actually in the other RSPB truck. Hoorahl We all shouted. But one problem it’s only got two seats in it! Alan, Des and I climbed in the back for a bumpy ride back (apart from the little owl sighting).

Anyway I would like to thank Alan for the way he handled everything and it was quite an adventure. Hhmm! I wonder what will happen for next time!

Marie Tilley

INDOOR MEETING RAFFLES

A big thanks to all of you who have given items as prizes for the raffle as they significantly reduced our costs.

PLEASE NOTE

From September 2009 there will be just three categories of prize

 BISCUITS ~ CONFECTIONERY ~ BOTTLES

 Any gifts of these will be very welcome

EDITORS NOTES

Please let us have your articles ASAP or at the latest by 23 October 2009 for the Winter edition.

Editors: Des and Carol Felix.