Sheila and Jen joined 11 other volunteers from Friends of Haymill/BBOWT and headed to the reed beds where our main task was to bring some life back to the reed bed area.

This entailed digging channels to enable the water to spread further across the area, raking and removing the old reeds which had been cut down on Thursday, chopping back some vegetation and there was even scope for a litter pick and an attempt at refitting a gate which had been removed and dumped further in the reserve.

It was definitely a morning of heavy labour and good teamwork. It was so satisfying to see the clean, clear water running along the newly dug channels and to feel the newly watered ground squelching beneath our feet as we left.

Doing good, feels good; doing good outdoors, surrounded by nature, with the winter sun shining down - feels even better.