Vegetation Clearance/Beach Clean at Maker/Portwinkle Beach--14th March 2015

A fun in the sun packed day today as we headed to Fort maker for a morning of bramble bashing before slapping on some sun lotion for a chilled afternoon along the coast at Portwinkle.

We all knew the day was gonna be a good one 
when Rob pulled out this tape as we boarded the minibus...

So to the muffled vocals of Diana Ross-on cassette-we set off for Maker....

The journey as always offered many beautiful views....
Someone forgot to get the milk for tea break....



But after many...many....muffled songs from Diana, we arrived at Maker 
and were provided by Jules with some delicious-and appropriately green cupcakes- to get us set up for the day!


The sun was blazing as we all got to work, 
and it didn't take long for our fire of bramble cuttings to follow suit...


And as everyone knows,
 where there's fire..There's MARSHMELLOWS...

Unless you're a Vegetarian of course...Ha ha ha...Ooops!

Soon though, we finished our work at Maker,
and headed back to the minibus for our trip to Portwinkle beach..

Esther: "Awh! What a cutie wittle pupp-BARK BARK!"

Yeah...He wasn't very friendly...


With such sunny weather, everybody agreed
 it was great eat lunch alfresco....
Humous and bread feast for these two..

We even did a spot of rock pooling...


 A one clawed crab we found...
We nicknamed him 'Lefty!'


After lunch it was onto the beach cleaning..
Gotta keep our beautiful coasts beautiful after all...



Unfortunately someone was regretting having all that
 'reduced price' humous...


Amongst our beach litter pick we found some rope,
 plastic, metal, clothes, and all manner of objects, but it was great to see the beach pristine clean we were done. 

With the sun still high in the sky we decided to hike down to Portwinkle quay..



Once there people some people decided to lounge in the sun

Whilst Rob and I decided to do a little bit of beach art...

Finally on the way back to the bus we found the way to put a cherry on top of this perfect Sunday...

We got icecream..Mmmmm boy....



Michael Gamble-PEA Team

Tree Planting at Wembury-14th March 2015

This week we went to Wembury to do some tree planting. Tree planting, I hear you say, can't be that hard!

                                                Well the first task was tea and flapjacks
They were, urm, lovely...

Moving on, the second task was to get the trees from the bottom of the field to the top

I think there is a Sam in there somewhere

This is the site where the trees were being planted on a beautiful sunny, but chilly, day.

The next task was to cut out chunks of grass for where the trees were going
 (done here with great skill by me and Hayley)

That was until a blade of grass got in the way of my shovel, tut

Hayley even found a mini beastie under the soil (we’re thinking it's beetle larvae) 

Before lunch, it was down to me and Laura to use the ‘compost loo’. 
                                                     An experience never to be forgotten

        Sam teaching children how to tell worms apart.           
              This will be featured in a new program 'The life of Worms.'

Laura helping with the frame that holds the tree

                              All that hard work of digging a hole, we finally got to plant a tree!

At the end of the day, a group photo of everyone that got involved

And........................................
The finished result


Until next time! :)

Samantha Norris-PEA Volunteer 

Volunteer Profile: Samantha




Hi, my name is Samantha and I have only been with PEA for a few months and I have already gained so much experience in the field of conservation. I have gained experience in tree planting, coppicing, reed bed management and meadow raking. Volunteering with PEA allows you gain new skills, meet new people and be in the fresh outdoors. I am currently finishing my degree in animal management and I am also applying for my teacher training and as I want to teach conservation, PEA is the perfect stepping stone. 

Salcombe Reed Bed Management 7th March 2015

Sorry about the delay in writing this, I bet you have been itching to 'reed' it!

Today we were working with Craig from South Devon Nature Trust on restoring a reed bed in Hangar Creek Nature reserve which is an important wetland habitat.


First thing was to have some of Julz's AMAZING cake-yummy! It even had a pea pod on it!

PEA's newest Volunteer, we did give her back to Craig at the end of the day


The site before work started!

Team PEA in action 
Hayley raking

Natural seating

FIRE Time!



Everyone was enjoying being outside, some more than others! 


What a lovely photo taken by Mike!

Catkins are out it must mean spring is on the way!


After the work was done we went to the beach just a 2 min walk. 
How lucky are we to have this on are door step!?

Chris Bond-PEA Project Officer





Raking at Ham Woods-(PEA PUPPY SPECIAL)-1st March 2015

Warning!: This Post contains images of varying degrees of 'Cuteness'-Those with a tendency to 'AWWH!!' and "Squeeee!!' loudly in Public upon the slightest signs of cuteness should read this with caution-You have been Warned! 

After the stormy weather of the previous week, the PEA team were blessed with warm, clear skies as we headed to local Plymouth nature spot, Ham woods, for session of slope meadow raking with Friends of Ham Woods.

We also had a very special mascot for the day-so as I get my metaphorical earplugs in place-allow me to introduce, Daisy.

Yes, yes melts your heart doesn't she?

 Though new to PEA, it didn't Daisy long to get settled into the group!

Starting with supervising the usual pre-work tea warmup!

Provided that she also got some refreshment of course!

 And was allowed to invite some friends over!

       This week we were lucky enough to have this 'delicious' Victoria 
sponge to get our blood rushing, kindly provided by Chris's Mum, Mrs Bond!

                                                                   
Compliments to le baker!

  It was so good some people got a bit stingie with their portions-
You're weren't gonna eat all that slice were you Rob?

Fuelled with cake we got to work raking!


At PEA we pride ourselves on teamwork-but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy a bit of friendly competition...
Ahem...I win...

With this sort of work though it really paid to have an extra pair of hands...
So natural Chris-Anyone'd think you were posing!

In order to get the grass cuttings down the hill, we found the 'swiss roll' method to work best!

On another 'cake' related' matter,
 Chris almost performed a serious crime during lunch....
DON'T..YOU...DARE!!

Luckily Esther is able to tame Chris's criminal confectionary urges!
Ain't dat face just precious?

After lunch Daisy joined us from her vantage point of our cosy coats 
at the top of the hill to review our work...

It was that...or she had an itch...


With all the grass raked...we couldn't resist not getting some use out of it...


5.5




6.2


4.5

Chris Needed a bit of encouragement for his 'Non-dive'



0.3

With our work and 'diving' competition over, we packed up our tools and bags.

We'll be back to Ham Woods later in the year to see how our raking efforts have hopefully transformed this slope into a naturally blossoming meadow. 


We then headed back to the bus to say farewell to our Ham Woods friends, and our special canine companion....


Who like us had a nice warm B-A-T-H in store for when we got home....

"DID SOMEONE MENTION THE 'B' WORD?!"


                                                                           Michael Gamble-PEA Team