On Benfield Hill the task was to remove dogwood and wild privet. The slope will be brush-cut and grazed later in the year. The dogwood and wild privet cuttings were bagged up and taken to one of the fire sites. The fire sites are handled carefully—the ash enriches the soil and this can encourage invasive plants. The work is hard—everyone is reminded to mind their backs and rest properly during breaks.
The piles of chalk are debris from the holes that were excavated to form bunkers for the old golf course—grass is growing over these aging relics of previous land use. A volunteer said her daughter likes to shelter from harsh weather by taking refuge in the disused bunkers during her walks across the hill.
Dave makes scythes. He says a scyther doesn’t need to bend – it’s more like the movement of a golf swing. He is part of a team that is invited to work in conservation areas.
